These two photographs were found among some old papers belonging to the Julian B. Watson family of Pickens. There has always been doubt about their authenticity. The telegraph poles are on the wrong side in the first photo. Also, the track in that area has always been lower than the land around it. In both photos, the track is built up above the surrounding terrain.

In 1943, Life magazine published a story about Casey Jones which included a photo of the north switch (last photo below). It clearly shows the track is well below the level of the land around it.

Recently a railroad enthusiast with expertise in passenger equipment wrote to comment that the cars in the photos are from a later period than 1900. He also commented that the cars shown in the second photo do not appear to be the same type as in the first.