Reviews and Praise

​To  share your thoughts, about  Betsy Thorpe, or about The Day the Whistles Cried, here please use our contact form to send a few sentences along with your name and the name of the city and state where you live.

 April 20, 2020
Betsy Thorpe is a dynamic speaker and writer whose public speaking engagements carry her to many parts of our state. Her gift for retelling historical events quickly grabs the attention of her audiences and leaves them wanting to know more. She is a master of questioning drawing her audience in by captivating their minds as she weaves the tapestry of stories of the past.  I have heard Betsy many times and always enjoy being with her on historical tours and listening to her presentations. She is passionate, well-read, and an avid student for truthfulness and correctness of historical information. Betsy is a dedicated mother and grandmother who will keep you informed and entertained through her delightful presentation style. --Fran Gregory, president, Beta Chapter Delta Kappa Gamma Society International  

March 22, 2020
“Great book! It is a great book and gives great  a explanation on what happened.” Michael
 
November 3, 2019
“Holds your attentions. Very interesting and well written. I had never heard about this incident until one of my neighbors told me about it. As in the book description, it is about the worst train wreck in US history with a very high loss of life. tragic. Train wreck caused by a “perfect” cascade of human errors.” Thistle
 
January 7, 2019
“Well researched piece of Nashville history about the biggest train wreck in American history. It occurred in Nashville just beyond St Mary's on White Bridge Rd. on what was called Dutchman's Curve in 1918. So, a woman from Oregon researches it, writes about it, and in 2008, has a marker placed that remembers this tragic event! Way to go Betsy Thorpe!” Adair Schippers
 
December 22, 2018
“I first became aware of the Dutchman's Curve Train Wreck the day the Historical Marker was dedicated in 2008.
Being a long time resident of West Nashville and having the Greenway a literal block from my front door, I had no idea, until then, that this trail I had walked hundreds of times was the same location where this tragic event took place a century ago.
The first section of the book presents the well-researched timeline leading up and including 'The Wreck'. Just as engaging is the remainder of the read; 'Placing Blame'. Here the author uses actual transcripts from the 1920 trial in Nashville: the widow of the deceased engineer vs. the NC&StL Railway. Well written and filled with reminders of how interesting and important our history is (especially local history).”  Rob Stanley
 
 December 31, 2017
“Great book. Got for my son-in-law and he loved it.”
Charline Greer


January 28, 2015​
"I received a copy of The Day the Whistles Cried for my birthday and could not put it down.  It is
a great read.  While I knew some details of the wreck, the problem with the Jim Crow cars did not
cross my mind until I read the book.  I knew that at least some of the cars were of wooden
construction, in fact there were wooden baggage cars in use till the start of Amtrak, although these
had been fitted with steel underframes.  Betsy has accomplished a significant expansion of the
railroad history of Tennessee.  As one who grew up in Nashville, knew several NC&St.L employees,
and had heard of the wreck, I did not know any details until the article in TRAINS a few years back
and now this completes the picture."--Jerry Sullivan, P.E. (retired from CSX and Southern Rwy.), Jacksonville, FL

November 24, 2014
"I have been fascinated with the Dutchman's Curve train wreck for many years, in part because my grandfather was a conductor on the NC& St.L during that time. I considered myself to be well versed on the subject, but your book revealed a number of details of which I was unfamiliar. The testimony in the Kennedy trial was particularly enlightening. I now have a much better understanding of the series of events that led to the catastrophe." --Robert Jordan, Brentwood, TN

September 10, 2014
"Betsy did her homework on this one---Great read for history buffs and train enthusiasts alike."--Chris E. Lambos Jr., Nashville, TN

​September 9, 2014
"This is one of American history's great tragedies well told. The author makes it possible for the reader to know those involved personally. I couldn't put it down! This book should be in every library and every railroad museum."--Lettita Buckingham, San Diego, CA

August 15, 2014
"I read The Day the Whistles Cried in an all-day marathon sitting, and as an attorney and railroad operator who has been involved in many accident cases I found the courtroom drama to be most fascinating and compelling."--David A Mclean, former chairman of the board,  Canadian National Railway, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 

August 10, 2014​
"I have known Betsy for over 16 years, we share a granddaughter, when I heard of her book I could not wait to read it. I started to read it and could not put it down until I finished it today. I was not disappointed. It was well written and the storyline kept me interested until the end. I can't wait to read her next one. I am not a historical reader and I read mostly fiction but I am a history fan now and very curious about trains because as a child I would ride on a train almost every summer going from Chattanooga to Chicago. Best wishes and much success Betsy, you have earned your place of recognition in the history of great writers."--Dee Clark, Antioch, TN 

July 28, 2014
"The Day the Whistle Cried was an amazing book. All the time and research put together to make a beautifully written account of history.  It was hard to put down and I enjoyed every page of it. You get five stars from me!"--Julie Bolkan,  Springfield, OR

July 25, 2014
"I just wanted you to know how much I am enjoying reading your book, The Day the Whistles Cried, that I ordered!! Not only am I learning about the terrible train wreck, but also learning so much about daily life in my hometown of Nashville in 1918 !!"--Sue Adams, Mayfield, KY

July 23, 2014
"Wow!  What a tremendous gift you have shared with others! I received your book two
days ago and am torn between reading it quickly or savoring each page; I guess
I'll just have to re-read it once I get to the end! I look forward to what's
written on the next page, next paragraph, next words that bring to life a story
that I've only known as a one-line fact; 'your father's father died in a
horrific train wreck in Tennessee.'"--Tom Nolan, grandson of NC&StL Railway train engineer, John Nolan, Duarte, CA

July 16, 2014​
"I have known Betsy for a number of years and I must say that she has done a 
monumental job of researching every detail connected with the wreck and 
it’s aftermath in this book.  Her research has been turned into a fascinating work.   Betsy took
 the facts and in turn gave voice to the participates involved. I have studied this accident for a 
number of years and considered myself very learned about this accident. Now, after finishing 
the book, I know that I gained insight into details I had not up to this point known about this event."--Terry Coats, president Nashville Chattanooga Preservation Society, Nashville, TN

July 12, 2014
"I found your book last weekend and have been reading it ever since...almost finished! 
You have written a wonderful book. Very 'readable.' I have been telling everyone I
 know about your book. Bravo!"--Cindy Wedel, Nashville, TN

July  12, 2014
"I finished The Day The Whistles Cried. I loved it! It was so informative
and I learned things about that day and Nashville I had not known. I plan to
reread it. Thank you so much for writing this book!! I am so glad I found you on
Facebook! Otherwise, I would have missed out on a wonderful book."--Shelia Smith Sasser, Cumming, GA

July 11, 2014
"I just finished reading The Day the Whistles Cried.  I could not put it down and
read every page in one sitting." --Debi Oser Cox, Nashville, TN, retired archivist, Metro Nashville Archives