The smallest locomotive model in the National Museum (figure 67) is of
the wood-burning locomotive _General_ that figured so prominently in the
famous Civil War locomotive chase of April 12, 1862. (In William
Pittenger’s “The Great Locomotive Chase” is told the complete story of
this epic adventure, which took place when a group of Northern raiders
stole the _General_ and its train at Big Shanty, Ga. The Confederates
finally recaptured the _General_ minus the cars, which had been cut
loose to delay the pursuers, but with most of the raiders, after a
thrilling pursuit that led them 90 miles away, to Ringgold, Ga., just
south of Chattanooga, Tenn.)
The Museum’s display is constructed from a pair of model kits, to which
a great many engineering details have been added. It shows two
beautifully made reproductions, scaled ⅛ inch to the foot, passing in
opposite directions on a slight curve. Each is 7 inches long. The
builder, Adolph H. Schutz of Washington, D. C., in 1955 presented the
model to the Museum (USNM 313724), where it had been on exhibit as a
loan since 1951.
Built by the Rogers, Ketchum & Grosvenor plant at Paterson, N. J., in
1855, the original _General_ was used on the Western and Atlantic
Railroad for many years. It is now on permanent exhibit at Chattanooga
in the Union Station of the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway.
A 4-4-0, or American type, it is the earliest of this particular type
represented in the Museum’s collection of models.
[Illustration: Figure 67.—Model of Rogers, Ketchum & Grosvenor
_General_, 1855.]