Posted on 04/10/2006 12:45:32 PM PDT by stainlessbanner
This year, 2006, is the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney Picture's classic "The Great Locomotive Chase" starring Fess Parker and Jeffrey Hunter. This movie was made during the golden age of Hollywood when films were still made for the entire family.
When it comes to locomotives many of us are children at heart. Don't you love a good story about the bygone era of passenger trains that once were America's fastest way to travel?
America's most famous locomotive "The General" is now home at the Kennesaw, Georgia Civil War Museum. Kennesaw, Georgia is is just 45 miles from Atlanta. Located across the railroad tracks from Kennesaw's main street of business, that is Old Highway 41, is the museum. There is a train story here if you have the time to listen.
Please share this story with family and friends.
April 12, is the 144th anniversary of the Great Locomotive Chase that made "the General" famous.
Jefferson Cain, an employee of the Western and Atlantic Railroad, was Engineer of the General. At 4:15AM on April 12, 1862, Cain pushed the throttle forward and drove the train out of Atlanta, Georgia for Chattanooga as a cool spring rain fell on the city.
In the spring of 1862, the peaceful town of Big Shanty (now Kennesaw) Georgia was paid not-so-peaceful visit by Union spies that were led by James Andrews, who brought with him plans to disrupt Confederate supply lines. Andrews and his men boarded the train in Marietta, Georgia. They had spent the night before at the Fletcher House (now the Kennesaw House.) Twenty boarded the train and two were left behind.
The next stop was the Lacy Hotel in Big Shanty (now Kennesaw) for a 20 minute breakfast break where the General was stolen in view of Camp McDonald that was home to many enlisted men and officers. There was no telegraph there which was one reason Andrews chose this site.
James Andrews, a Kentuckian, had made a name for himself by smuggling the much needed quinine through Union lines for Confederate soldiers and Southern civilians. There were with him three experienced engineer's, William Knight, Wilson Brown and John Wilson. When asked where they were from their reply was, I am from Fleming County, Kentucky." They also said they were going to join the Confederate army.
The official plan to steal the General was approved by Union General Ormsby Michael. The plan was to take the locomotive north on the Western and Atlantic Railroad and destroy tracks, bridges and tunnels along the way. General Michael agreed that he would take Huntsville on April 11, 1862, and then would wait for Andrews before moving into Chattanooga, Tennessee.
"Someone...has stolen our train," William Fuller, Conductor of the General said in amazement as the train was stolen and was pulling away from the train depot. Men of the Atlantic and Western Railroad immediately began the chase with Engineer Jefferson Cain, William Fuller and machine foreman Anthony Murphy close behind.
With no telegraph at Big Shanty, the men ran north for two miles to Moon Station and procured a platform handcar, then went on until they found the locomotive "Yonah." The second train used was "the William R. Smith."
The last locomotive Fuller used was the famous "Texas" that was heading south. The Texas is now housed at the Cyclorama at Grant Park in Atlanta, Georgia. With no time to spare, the Texas was run in reverse through the entire chase.
James Andrews and his Raiders were slowed down by South Bound trains that had to pass before they could continue. With the telegraph out of service, Fuller was fortunate to catch telegraph operator Edward Henderson. Fuller gave the young Henderson a hand up on the train, still in motion, to take a message that he would send to General Ledbetter from Dalton, Georgia.
Andrews and his raiders failed to destroy the bridges over Georgia's Chickamauga Creek, Etowah River at Tunnel Hill. They also failed to slow down their pursuers by setting the cars of the General on fire and sending them back down the railroad tracks.The end came when they ran out of wood and lost power about 18 miles South of Chattanooga.
It took about two weeks for the Confederates to capture the Union spies. Some of them made it as far as Bridgeport, Alabama. All 20 of Andrews Raiders were captured. James Andrews and 6 of his men were hung in Atlanta, eight escaped and others were paroled.
The United States Congress created the Medal of Honor in 1862 and it was awarded to some of the raiders. James Andrews was not eligible because he was not a part of the military service.
The South's William Fuller, who is buried in Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery, was recognized by the Confederate government, Georgia's Governor Joseph Brown and Georgia State Legislature for his act of heroism.
Lest We Forget Our Heritage!
Nobody does family movies like the Walt Disney Company of yester-year, not even the Walt Disney Co. of today!
I used to read railroad stories endlessly when I was a kid. "The Phantom Brakeman" and "The Upper Berth" are two I remember, along with every legend I could get my hands on about Casey Jones. To this day, I'm still in awe of those big steam engines. And here in Omaha, the UP has one of the biggest: the Big Boy.
"This is not 38, but it's Old 97, You must put her into Spencer on time."
LIONEL made an 027 guage version of the GENERAL, tender and three or four cars.Gray and Red plastic [My old LIONEL Penn Central was metal]. I gave it away a few years later. A few more years [more than I care to think about], I found out it was a collectible worth some bucks.
I remember the movie well. Two of the Union spies were played by John Lupton [of the TV series BROKEN ARROW] and Jeff York(?), the guy who played Mike Fink in the Disney DAVY CROCKETT TV series. Typical Disney movie. Decent acting, good action - and you could learn something.
I've never seen the movie. Does it stay pretty close to the actual events?
Aside from dramatic license [fistfights, character conflicts among the spies that work out at the end], it was pretty much on the money, as I recall. Not a bad job.
I'll check it out sometime.
Well they gave him his orders at Monroe Virginia
Saying Steve you're way behind time
This is not 38 but it's old 97 you must put her into Spencer on time
Well he turned around and said to his fireman shovel in a little more coal
And when we cross this big White Mountain we'll watch old 97 roll
[ dobro ]
It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville and a line on a three mile grade
It's on that grade that he lost his airbrakes you see what a jump he made
They were goin' down the grade makin' 90 miles an hour
When his whistle broke into a scream
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle
A scalded to death by the steam
[ fiddle ]
Then the telegram come to Washington city and this is how it read
The brave engineer that run old 97 he's a laying in old Danville dead
Now all you ladies we take a warning from this time now and learn
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband
and the steam engine that played the general (and was the steam engine in the wild, wild west movie) is in the B&O railroad museum in baltimore, maryland down by camden yards.
Another good one, along with "Them" and "Forbidden Planet" that I saw in the original release.
I never saw that movie but I loved watching "The General" with Buster Keaton.
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