im interested in the cival war locomotive stolen by the union called the genral so i would be verry happy for any info.
Check the following websites to start with:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_General_(locomotive)
http://www.locomotivegeneral.com/
http://ngeorgia.com/history/raiders.html
Regards
Ed
Genral? is this Richard Gere’s locomotive?
I think you mean the “General” yes? See above listed links and no mention of this topic would be complete without the 2 movies on the subject, Disney’s “The Great Locomotive Chase” or Buster Keatons silent masterpiece “The General” which is by far the best of the two, while not quite historically accurate, is far far more enjoyable than the rather stiff Disney version.
The General is on display at the Civil War Locomotive and Railroad museum in Kennesaw, Georgia, not far from the last known location of Big Shanty. (Big Shanty was the station where Andrews and his raiders stole the train.)
I was surprised at how large the actual locomotive was- from smokestack rim to track, it’s nearly as tall as a diesel switch engine. Including the tender, it’s probably about three quarters the length of a modern diesel. There were no air brakes on the original General… there is an odd sort of spring contraption that presses brake shoes against the drivers.
The last time the General actually ran was in the 60’s, for the Southern Railroad. I’ve been told that it will most likely never run again; the people who donated the land and funded the museum stipulated that the locomotive must remain in place. So it’s on a piece of track about 75 yards away from the CSX mainline running from Atlanta to Chattanooga. The locomotive does have air compressors and brakes on it now, as well as Janney style couplers- the original variant did not, as it was equipped with link and pin couplers.
Erik
I’ve seen it in georgia
and when i was there i was like about o idk 9 or 10 and i remember a CSX train and for me it was my first CSX to see so i saw: The general, and my first CSX
lol
I thot it was “Jinrul” . . .
Ole Timer
Don’t forget the engine that was chasing her. Like the General, what’s left of the Texas is on display in Atlanta along with the Atlanta Cyclorama. I’m sure there are multiple web sites for the Texax as well.
How you right is how duh worl seize u. If yew kin wryte gud yew will not be a Yonah on somebuddy’s back…
Erik
PS The original mine site for the Yonah is still there, but is nothing more than a hole (literally) in the ground.
Erik: During the 1960’s the Locomotive “General” was campaigned around it’s system by the L&N railroad. I may have briefly appeared on Southern Rwy property, but make no mistake it was operated and controlled by the L&N RR (Now CSX ).
The General and tender were “kidnapped” by L&N employees in the middle of the night out of the basement of the Passenger Station in Chattganooga, Tn. The station was either about to be remodeled or change ownership.[ Don’t remember those details]. At anyrate it was a BIG deal in Chattanooga at the time. Which is why the L&N whisked it out of town quickly and took it to their comapny shops, out of the state.
The L&N shops crews rebuilt her as per the web site:
http://www.locomotivegeneral.com/
so the railroad employes stole it ? i don’t quite get this. then a again i am 13. lol how is the great locomotive chase is it on dvd??
Lionel and MTH have both made O-Guage models of the General. The Lionel models are highly colectable.
The Great Locomotive Chase is OK (Walt Disney version) It wasn’t shot anywhere near the original route… distinct lack of Georgia pine trees. The last time I was in Kennesaw, three weeks ago, the museum store had it on DVD.
Erik
Samfp- Thanks for the information. The General’s home is now the final resting place for the archives of the Southern Railway, so I must have gotten the final tour mixed up. (At least the SRHS, of which I am a proud member, did not paint the General green with gold pinstripes…)
Erik
The General we see today isnt the same General that took part in the chase, it was originally a 5 foot gauger but was extensivley rebuilt after the war to standard guage. Its this Postwar engine that is on display today and is much more representational of a 1870s engine and not the 1860’s vintage engine that Andrews stole.