"The True and Trembling Brakeman" is an American ballad, possibly written by Orville J. Jenks after a real incident in 1915. Jenks was one of those involved in taking the brakeman's body from the wreckage. Cohen observes that this may be a case where a singer took traditional materials and reworked them, but there is no clear evidence of a version of this song (as opposed to "The Dying Californian" and its relatives) predating Jenks. It was printed in Laws' Native American Balladry: A descriptive study and bibliographical syllabus (1964) as "The Dying Mine Brakeman", Cohen's Long Steel Rail (1981/2001), Randolph's Ozark Folksongs (1946-1950), Lyle's Scalded to Death by the Steam (1983, 1988, 1991) and Cohen, Seeger and Wood's Old Time String Band Songbook (1964) (Previously published as The New Lost City Ramblers Songbook). It is included in the Roud Folk Song Index as #8599. It was recorded by Carter Family as "The Reckless Motorman" (1938), Bradley Kincaid (1931, 1933, 1934, 1937), Paul Mason (1930), New Lost City Ramblers on The New Lost City Ramblers, Vol. 5. (1963) Aulton Ray (1927), Mike Seeger as "The Reckless Motorman" on Oldtime Country Music (1962) and Mary Trusty as "The Wild and Reckless Motorman" (1937).