The iconic Western & Atlantic "General"
Here's a broadside view of what is arguably one of the most famous steam locomotives of all time, albeit for the events of just one day of its nearly 160 years of existence. For the past half century, the Western & Atlantic "General", the star of the "Great Locomotive Chase" has been enshrined here at the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History in Kennesaw, GA. From where she sits, the 1855 Rogers 4-4-0 is perhaps 100 yards or less from the spot where, on April 12th of 1862, James J. Andrews and a team of Federal Soldiers stole her right out from under the noses of both a W&ARR crew and several hundred, armed, Confederate Soldiers. It's the place where she belongs.
As you see her today, the iconic "General" looks somewhat different than she did on that day in 1862. Gone are the Radley & Hunter balloon stack, the strap-iron pilot, the three-dome configuration and the axle-height running boards. As with most steam locomotives that served long careers, she was modified and rebuilt a number of times from the day she rolled out of the shops in New Jersey until she was retired in 1891, and she's changed even more in the years since. The General is perhaps the ultimate incarnation of "George Washington's axe." The handle has been replaced 5 times and the blade has been replaced 2 times....but we still see it as George Washington's axe.
The iconic Western & Atlantic "General"
Here's a broadside view of what is arguably one of the most famous steam locomotives of all time, albeit for the events of just one day of its nearly 160 years of existence. For the past half century, the Western & Atlantic "General", the star of the "Great Locomotive Chase" has been enshrined here at the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History in Kennesaw, GA. From where she sits, the 1855 Rogers 4-4-0 is perhaps 100 yards or less from the spot where, on April 12th of 1862, James J. Andrews and a team of Federal Soldiers stole her right out from under the noses of both a W&ARR crew and several hundred, armed, Confederate Soldiers. It's the place where she belongs.
As you see her today, the iconic "General" looks somewhat different than she did on that day in 1862. Gone are the Radley & Hunter balloon stack, the strap-iron pilot, the three-dome configuration and the axle-height running boards. As with most steam locomotives that served long careers, she was modified and rebuilt a number of times from the day she rolled out of the shops in New Jersey until she was retired in 1891, and she's changed even more in the years since. The General is perhaps the ultimate incarnation of "George Washington's axe." The handle has been replaced 5 times and the blade has been replaced 2 times....but we still see it as George Washington's axe.