CSX in Kennesaw, Georgia

Kennesaw, Georgia (CSX)

CXS Engine 7812, used on the Bush Presendential Campaign Train and still bearing the American Flag, heads south by the Kennesaw Depot.

Kennesaw, formerly Big Shanty, was where the Great Locomotive Chase started early on April 12, 1862, during USA's civil war. James J. Andrews, a Union man, and 20 men had infiltrated Georgia with the intent to wreck this railroad. When a northbound train stopped here so crew and passengers could breakfast at the Lacy Hotel, Andrews & gang stole the engine "General" and three boxcars and headed north. They had not reckoned on the temper of William A. Fuller, the conductor of the stolen train. Fuller pursued his engine first on foot (for 2 1/2 miles!) then by pushcar, then with engines Yonah, William R. Smith, and Texas before finally catching his engine north of Ringgold.

Today the Lacy Hotel site is a parking lot. The General has a better, and more interesting, fate. Retired in 1886, it was stored in Chattanooga's Union Station when not exhibited elsewhere. Chattanooga came to like the little engine and put it on the city seal. During the night of June 6, 1961, it was "stolen" by L&N (a CSX predecessor), this time for restoration in preparation for the Civil War centennial. Chattanooga was not amused, especially when L&N announced the engine was property of Georgia and eventually returned the engine to Georgia in 1967. Chattanooga removed the engine from their seal.

The General now resides in the Big Shanty Museum, just a couple of hundred feet from where it was stolen in 1862. The museum's parking lot, next to Kennesaw's depot, is adjacent to where the Lacy Hotel once stood. The Texas also ended up on display in Atlanta's Cyclorama, about 30 miles from Kennesaw.

Kennesaw sits along a stretch of double-track that is frequently used for meets. It is on top of a hill and northbounds often throttle back as they pass. The postwar depot has a big shady porch which invites the traveler to sit a spell.

South of town, at Day, is a talking defect detector. It gives it's location as "milepost 25.9" and can easily be heard on a scanner. This provides ample warning of northbounds. Southbounds can be heard announcing signals at Acworth and Moon. Moon is 2 1/2 miles north.

The photo shows CSX 7812, used with the Bush Presendential Campaign Train, heading south toward Atlanta. The lettering is "Spirit of America." That's the depot on the right.

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Kennesaw, Georgia (CSX)

Kennesaw, formerly Big Shanty, was where the Great Locomotive Chase started early on April 12, 1862, during USA's civil war. James J. Andrews, a Union man, and 20 men had infiltrated Georgia with the intent to wreck this railroad. When a northbound train stopped here so crew and passengers could breakfast at the Lacy Hotel, Andrews & gang stole the engine "General" and three boxcars and headed north. They had not reckoned on the temper of William A. Fuller, the conductor of the stolen train. Fuller pursued his engine first on foot (for 2 1/2 miles!) then by pushcar, then with engines Yonah, William R. Smith, and Texas before finally catching his engine north of Ringgold. Today the Lacy Hotel site is a parking lot. The General has a better, and more interesting, fate. Retired in 1886, it was stored in Chattanooga's Union Station when not exhibited elsewhere. Chattanooga came to like the little engine and put it on the city seal. During the night of June 6, 1961, it was "stolen" by L&N (a CSX predecessor), this time for restoration in preparation for the Civil War centennial. Chattanooga was not amused, especially when L&N announced the engine was property of Georgia and eventually returned the engine to Georgia in 1967. Chattanooga removed the engine from their seal.	The General now resides in the Big Shanty Museum, just a couple of hundred feet from where it was stolen in 1862. The museum's parking lot, next to Kennesaw's depot, is adjacent to where the Lacy Hotel once stood. The Texas also ended up on display in Atlanta's Cyclorama, about 30 miles from Kennesaw. Kennesaw sits along a stretch of double-track that is frequently used for meets. It is on top of a hill and northbounds often throttle back as they pass. The postwar depot has a big shady porch which invites the traveler to sit a spell. South of town, at Day, is a talking defect detector. It gives it's location as "milepost 25.9" and can easily be heard on a scanner. This provides ample warning of northbounds. Southbounds can be heard announcing signals at Acworth and Moon. Moon is 2 1/2 miles north. The photo shows CSX 7812, used with the Bush Presendential Campaign Train, heading south toward Atlanta. The lettering is "Spirit of America." That's the depot on the right.

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