Kennesaw

Here we are in Kennesaw, home of the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History. The main claim to fame of the museum is that it is home to The General one of the locomotives used in what has become known as The Great Locomotive Chase. Formerly known as the Kennesaw Civil War Museum, the facility underwent some significant remodeling a few years ago.

Near the museum are railroad tracks. It was on these tracks that The General was stolen by James Andrews and his raiding party, back whent he town was known as Big Shanty. Soon, they were pursued by William Fuller, a conductor on the railroad, and the chase was on. This is all documented in an informative, exciting film inside the museum.

The railroad tracks are still in use, as can be seen in this shot, which was taken from the front steps of the museum. Trains pass by fairly frequently, and everything in the area, from businesses to street signs, seems to have a railroad theme. You can see a man standing behind the bus taking video footage of the passing train. No doubt a tourist and railfan like us. And in the left of the picture is the depot.

A view of the track side of the depot. While not necessarily a part of the museum, the depot has been lovingly restored to great condition. It provides a great place to sit and watch the trains pass by. And you can almost feel the excitement of trains arriving in days gone by.

The depot is open during the day, and it contains several historical displays related to railroads and Kennesaw. While things have changed slightly from their original state due to modern code requirements, you can still get a feel of how an actual depot was set up. And a plan on one wall shows the original configuration. Here you can see one of the waiting benches, along with a display over in the window.

Outside of the museum is a caboose that is open for inspection. It is a great opportunity for those who have not been inside the car that everyone used to look for on a passing train. It also offers close inspection of the makings of a railcar, including the couplings, wheels, and more.

There are many fascinating displays in the museum, including a recreated locomotive factory. But the main attraction is The General. The locomotive has been lovingly restored to excellent condition, and it has a great home. Visitors are able to walk all around the engine to inspect it. Sound effects give the impression that the engine is steamed up, ready to run.

It is hard from these pictures to get a sense of scale of The General. But in person, its large size makes it even more an impressive sight, on top of knowing its place in history, which is provided by the film. The story has been retold in many books and movies, most famously the book Daring and Suffering, a first-hand account by raider William Pittenger, and the Disney movie The Great Locomotive Chase. The museum provides a great home for this historic locomotive.

For more information about the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, be sure to visit southernmuseum.com, or drop by and visit in person.