Brief History of: The Great Locomotive Chase

Help the Channel Grow Like, Comment & Subscribe!
Hello fellow history fans and welcome back to this weeks video and today we will be looking at a brief history of the great locomotive chase.
Some could say I like bizarre historical events and mixing bizarre history with a mode of transport is even better. So thank you for the suggestion for this subject I found it really fun researching it plus it's been awhile since we've done a video on the american civil war, so let's get into it!
How would you think to bring the fight to the enemy? Bearing in mind the limitation of the 1860’s? The two options that I would think to come to mind would be by horse or by foot? Well there is a third option and it is arguably a brilliant one, steal a Railway locomotive and go on a destruction derby for the best part of 83 miles!!
The Movie within this video was Buster Keaton's The general, links down below!
Subscribe Here: kzbin.info/door/b0M...
Help support the channel: / plainlydifficult
Check out My Twitter:
/ plainly_d
Sources:
www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/ar...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_L...
blueandgraytrail.com/event/Wes...
georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/to...
www.aboutnorthgeorgia.com/ang/...
• Video

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Anyone got any good puns let me know in the comments!!

[@BHuang92]

Plainly Difficult You could say the Confederates went *loco* when the General was stolen. The Union pretty much *derailed* much of Confederates *train* of thought during the war.

[@williamou417]

That engine is the Yonah, not the William R. Smith.

[@airraid9614]

Plainly Difficult We never got any TRAINing for this

[@CassassinCatto]

Was this the inspiration for the Chattanooga Choo Choo?

[@ryandunham1047]

It’s really amazing that this event is SEVERELY overlooked as these were the very first medals of honor ever awarded by congress.

[@rbailey1240]

Big Shanty is now known as Kennesaw. The General is currently on display at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History.

[@sanguiniusonvacation1803]

I got another one for ya. The publicity stunt known as Crush, Texas . In 1896 a temporary city was established for 40,000 people coming to view 2 retired steam engines crashing into eachother at top speed. This however did injure several people .

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Awesome! Thanks for the suggestion and the comment!

[@sirrliv]

Ooh, that's a good one! Well spotted, sir.

[@Arturobrito0502]

Also got one, the 1989, 1994 and 1996 cajon pass runaway train disasters, i suggest you look it up and make a video for these 3, what do you think?

[@themadplotter]

The bbc derailed a train on purpose once, it was hilariously shit.

[@mikegilbert2329]

My uncle worked on the restoration of the General for the 100th anniversary of the Chase. It was updated with modern brakes and an oil fuel system and toured the nation in the early 1970's.. It is now in a museum in Kenneshaw, Georgia.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

What did they replace the brakes with Westinghouse?

[@bluelady2757]

Kennesaw GA is the modern name for Big Shanty.

[@benwetzel8449]

Plainly Difficult most likely a Westinghouse. That’s what most replicas and reconstructions use.

[@mikegilbert2329]

@@PlainlyDifficult I'm not sure of the brand. All I know is that back when the General was in operation the only way they could brake was to slam the locomotive in reverse.

[@benflammer7217]

Mad Max: Fury Rail

[@PlainlyDifficult]

XD!!

[@r.c.r.rproductions8462]

Yes

[@louielouie6259]

Much better than Mad Max:Furry Tails

[@markfrench8892]

The locomotives on the Western & Atlantic Railroad were wood burners, not coal burners, but fuel consumption be it either type of fuel was a consideration.

[@dougalexander5871]

Mark French also a consideration was that it had been raining and the wood in the bins they stopped at to get fuel was wet and wouldn’t burn hot enough.

[@pilotbug6100]

and was in fact actually higher for the wood as the reason steam locomotives do not burn wood anymore is that well Wood burns cooler than coal, and you need a hotter fire to build steam pressure, so they ended up with higher fuel consumption than if the General was a coal burner

[@Nathriel]

Exactly. The first locomotive shown in the video segment has the tell-tale large-topped chimney, which is designed to reduce flaming embers from flying out and creating fires.

[@XxDuckofDoomxX]

I only know about this because I've had to play the musical piece

[@ashvv]

sameeee

[@SaxandRelax]

it’s my social studies fair project lmao

[@irishman9713]

I hate the part when he have to say haa

[@DK-qy9xb]

My friend has to play it in his band

[@blackarmyslittlelady9832]

sameee

[@RaceProducer11]

But yes, as a small channel you are very interesting. It is more interesting to support small channels than large ones; the fact that you focus on strange history events is novel and unique and interesting.

[@aaronfields1200]

Wow, nothing like the song by Robert. W. Smith. . .

[@janmcguire5268]

Nice job! Having lived in Dalton for many years, this story has always fascinated me. Thank you for covering it.

[@wargame2play]

Hello ! I am John Robert Pittenger of Lancaster , Ohio. My Great Great Uncle was William Pittenger one of Andrew’s Raiders. He wrote the book Daring and Suffering which was the basis of the Walt Disney 1956 movie “ The Great Locomotive Chase “ starring Fess Parker as J.J.Andrews . One of the main reasons the raid was unsuccessful was the same storms that delayed the mission for a day made the bridges too wet to burn!

[@Krisostomo25]

Man that some steamy business , heueheuehej

[@PlainlyDifficult]

XD!!!!

[@Menda_Lerenda]

GTE: grand theft steam

[@PlainlyDifficult]

XD!!! Next Rockstar game confirmed!

[@ShahjahanMasood]

Joselo Aero 😂😂😂

[@RaceProducer11]

Now on Steam

[@JamesWillmus]

hit "Y" and Trevor will throw the engineer and fireman out of the cab.

[@TheObsidianX]

Joselo Aero grand theft loco sounds better

[@baronvonjo1929]

The battle between a cargo passenger ship named Beaverford vs a pocket German battleship. The Beaverford fought all by itself to let its convoy escape

[@TakeMeToYourLida]

I just realized you always start by welcoming history fans… I would’ve never called myself that but videos like yours on KZbin are so fascinating. It turns out it was only boring for me in school! Thank you.

[@iwbaracker]

The best musical piece of all time

[@martinazrile]

This makes me understand this a lot better and I’m playing The Great Locomotive Chase for band

[@dubspool]

Chattanooga? More like Chattachooga. I'm sorry

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Awesome loving the pun!!!

[@user-qp2nk9qm8w]

Choo Choo

[@gotoyourroomlove-yourdad6016]

The Chattanooga Choo Choo is a real thing. It's now a museum and hotel. Also, anyone remember the NES game Blue vs Gray where this was a level?

[@tobymassoom]

I was supposed to be doing homework but you derailed my train of thought

[@RailPreserver2K]

I've seen the real locomotives, general and texas in 2008, the general is on permanent display in kennesaw Ga, & the Texas is on permanent display in the Atlanta cycleroma which also tells the story about the battle of Atlanta, Walt Disney made a film telling the story of the chase in 1955 and the railroad used as the stand in for the western and Atlantic railroad in the film was the Tallulah falls railroad which would be abandoned 7 years later in 1961 Also I subscribed

[@dougalexander5871]

Railroad,Preserver,2000 The Texas and the Cyclorama painting of the Battle of Atlanta are now in new quarters at the Atlanta History Museum in the Buckhead part of the city. You should come back and see.

[@penginator88]

the texas new look looks not very good cuz its just plain black I think maybe red and some silver touches are good@@dougalexander5871

[@zoombini1831]

It’s in a museum in Kennesaw, Georgia around where I grew up. I remember being scared of The general’s whistle when it would go off every now and then

[@abou824]

Love the way you describe things, really well done. Always excited when I see you've uploaded!

[@matthewsmith9358]

this is a really interesting story im surprised I hadn't heard it before, thanks for the great video

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thanks glad you enjoyed it!! Thanks for the comment!

[@bonku9863]

And with this whole train chase ended up to be a fun band piece by Robert W. Smith

[@AlexSDU]

I say, sir, you just got yourself a subscriber. Keep up the good work.

[@ttr998]

Thanks for making the video I suggested. I've always been interested in this unique part of history after riding on the actual train (yes the steam locomotive still exists and runs)

[@jarredcox6714]

2:03 I'm related to one of the men, Samuel Slavins (bottom row second to the right). He sadly died after capture being hanged before the remaining men were exchanged for confederate prisoners.

[@AngryJesus6383]

was researching my great great great grandfather and came across this video thanks for the video!!!

[@gui18bif]

Who

[@fallenmango8420]

Don't leave us hanging!

[@docholliday5472]

The Texas Locomotive was cosmetically restored back in April. She lives now in a museum in Atlanta, GA.

[@gotoyourroomlove-yourdad6016]

Is it that one or the General that was in The Cyclorama?

[@hikiy]

its the same engine from the chase albeit with a lot of original parts replaced@@gotoyourroomlove-yourdad6016

[@danielboone3770]

I love this brief history!

[@eliotreader8220]

great documentary

[@emmetthowell899]

It’s so stupid but since I live in/near Chattanooga it makes me so happy to hear about it and about something that for some reason is overlooked. Chattanooga’s rail history is fascinating and I recommend that anyone visiting should go to the choo choo which is kinda a museum about rail travel and still has one of the original engines which looks exactly like the images used but idk if they’re the same

[@thehillbillyhilton3557]

Growing up in Georgia and traveling to East Tennessee to see family any time I was out of school for 3+ days back in the day this story was always a cool piece of history. My parents have a picture of "The Chase" that's autographed to me by the artist. I'll be we've had that it for 30+ years now.

[@UScarsinSweden]

Diddent know that the classic Buster Keaton movie was inspiered by real events!

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Its a great movie! I ended up on a Keaton binge whilst making this video! Thanks for the comment!

[@passthebutterrobot2600]

@@PlainlyDifficult Seeing Keaton always gives me a lift! Thanks for including the clips

[@generalhorse493]

@@PlainlyDifficult There's also a lesser known color sound film from 1956 by Walt Disney studios, using locomtives loaned from the Baltimore railroad museum.

[@NizarAlAufi]

Great video! Great like ratio! Keep it up.

[@medical3031]

In band we played the song written about it and it was just amazingly fun to play. You could almost hear what was happening through the music.

[@andyanon4081]

This was a railly good video... I'm sorry.

[@imalittlejuicebox7367]

You really need to keep track of your puns

[@halimceria]

give him some space. it's not like he derailed from the topic.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Hahahahahaah Keep them coming!

[@andyanon4081]

I don't think I can. I'm running out of steam.

[@RaceProducer11]

I'm boiling my brain trying to make one.

[@TycoonTitian01]

How have i never seen this video

[@carsonking5549]

Great story, I've never heard of it. Really enjoyed the video, top banana, I watched you ahead of 'techmoan', which in my world is a great compliment

[@somedude3766]

They should have used Doc's special logs to reach 88 mph!

[@thelegion_within]

The General is probably my favorite Keaton film

[@heyitshuttz3705]

I live one hour from Chattanooga I live in Knoxville

[@sudriansignalman9387]

I'm restoring a Mantua general right now, I've got 2 others, so this is my third one

[@johnhuron5989]

FYI - Civil War locomotives were wood fired. Other than that very well done. Thanks.

[@syahmikadira6832]

Man this topic got me railed up from the beginning.Always thought that these train chases were simply shown in TV or cowboy movies but who would've known!

[@stefanatliorvaldsson3563]

great video

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thanks man glad you enjoyed it!! Hows work?

[@stefanatliorvaldsson3563]

work is over and school has started :(

[@TheNuckinFoob]

3:40 The great locomotive chase had begun! This is hilariously fantastic. 😂

[@cableyoutuber]

This is just me and my friends in Red Dead Online. Steal a train, one drives, the others shoot as we pass towns.

[@blueplankton1779]

I don't really know if it would make a good video but have you heard of the Bone Wars between Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh?

[@RailPreserver2K]

I've had the privilege of seeing both locomotives long after they were preserved of course on two occasions the first time I saw them I was 10 years old and back then the Texas was still in the Atlanta zoo in its original restored form, the second time I saw them was in 2018 the locomotive General hadn't changed much at all but the Texas had been completely restored cosmetically a year prior to its postwar look

[@jhonjhon6677]

You should do a video on the Glasgow ice cream wars!

[@McKeelix]

Chattanooga Choo-Choo, won't you carry me hoooome~

[@yuriismywaifu203]

I have played the song in band before. It's fun to play as it has a lot of trombone heavy parts.

[@tncorgi92]

You can see The General at the civil war museum in Kennesaw, GA

[@robbiestock3590]

You should do a video on the ironclads

[@brothernick7964]

This story had a HAPPY ENDING!!!!

[@matthewbearden2959]

so Buster Keaton's The General is based off a true story

[@Callsign_Prophet]

Need a modern movie of this. I look like my great great great grandfather I could totally reprise his role.

[@NoYouAreNotDreaming]

why do you sound like SciManDan...love the channel BTW...:)

[@jgilligan1576]

Would work well as a Pythonesque short

[@Hamsterjuices]

One piece of American history I'm very proud of. Edit: Okay not the whole hanging thing.

[@sirrliv]

Suggestion for a future bizarre railway based episode: Fowler's Ghost.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Sounds interesting thanks for the suggestion!! Thanks for the comment!

[@sirrliv]

Thanks for the reply! Thanks for the excellent work!! Thanks for covering one of my favorite historic events!!! :P

[@sirrliv]

Also, I hate to be that nitpicky guy, but if you were relying on Wikipedia for your info about this event, I'm sorry to say that they're not entirely accurate, particularly when estimating the capabilities of Civil War locomotives. The claim of trains of that era being capable of only 15 mph is just patently false; 25-30 mph was commonplace in the US at the time, and some accounts of the Chase suggest that the General and Texas may at times have hit speeds as high as 60. 15 - 20 mph might be a roughly accurate *average* speed when also factoring in stops for water, which would have been required roughly every 40 miles, American locomotives not having very large water tanks back then, but to call that the true maximum speed is simply not true. Also, the General, Texas, and indeed most American locomotives of the period outside of the northeast burned wood, not coal, hence the need for the large diamond or balloon shaped smokestacks, which contained screens and baffles to catch hot ash and cinders and prevent lineside fires. Overall though, the broad strokes of your video were spot on. And the few mistakes there were were Wikipedia's fault, not yours.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Nothing wrong with correcting errors! Thanks for letting me know, I should have researched a bit harder, I never knew they were wood burning. I think I got confused with line speed and capable speed of the locos, but it could just be me not being as thorough as i should have been. Sorry for the inaccuracies but I'm glad you enjoyed the video overall :)

[@jarredcox6714]

2:05 bottom row second from the right is my great grandpa times I dont know how many years Samuel Slavins.

[@florjanbrudar692]

Amazing to know one of Andrew's Raiders is your ancestor.

[@Catglittercrafts]

My state! Coolio

[@eliotreader8220]

it was not a steam valve that failed the captured engine was run professionally during the chase and after it ended when she was inspected it was later found that the bearings had run hot and had melted due to not getting any oil i just thought you mite want to know this

[@DamoBloggs]

sorry, no puns, but it does remind me of the crazy finale of The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery :)

[@felixaquino1508]

Would love to see something about the raid on plantations led by Harriet Tubman that brought about the liberation of over 700 slaves.

[@ShahjahanMasood]

Q: What kind of a car does a crazy man drive? A: A LOCOmotive

[@ShahjahanMasood]

I have another one! Did you hear about the boy who had to do a project on trains? He had to keep track of everything!

[@codyblea3638]

That explains my uncle.

[@JazzyJoeJohnson]

Never heard that story before

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thanks Joe glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment man!

[@passthebutterrobot2600]

I assume the classic Glen Miller song is not in any way related to this incident?

[@dougalexander5871]

Pass The Butter Robot yes, you assume correctly. The General would have never travelled from New York, and the Pennsylvania Station wasn’t built until decades after the conflict. Also, there were no dining cars in the 1860’s, so it’s difficult to have “dinner in the diner, nothing could be finer than to gave your ham and eggs in Carolina” in those days.

[@aidanbarnes4290]

this was a great plan but if they planned it out better maybe it would've worked. They could've used dynamite to blow up the bridge instead of slowly burning it, maybe if they had more volunteers half of them could hijack the train and the other half could walk on foot(or ride horses) and destroy the telegraph wires that way no messages could be sent before anyone noticed the train was stolen

[@whoever6458]

I probably shouldn't feel this way but I find it incredibly hilarious to steal an actual locomotive. lmao

[@afranca1825]

I only know about this because of ol Buster Keaton.

[@Travelinmatt1976]

There's a Disney movie too.

[@EvanONS1]

The station in my profile pic is the train station in Chattanooga that connected to Atlanta in this video.

[@widowpeak6142]

I was not aware Buster Keaton's film was based on a real event.

[@user-mp2el7ln1n]

The great locomotive chase is also in a buster keaton movie cald buster ceaton the general

[@probablynotmyname8521]

Cue the benny hill chase music... also release the topless girls...

[@furbymations1159]

3:43 Can somebody please tell me what the locomotive he's talking about is called? I can't quite make out the words he's saying, and the captions aren't helping at all. Can someone help me?

[@Travelinmatt1976]

The Yonah en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Locomotive_Chase There is an old Buster Keaton movie called "The General" and a Disney movie called "The Great Locomotive Chase"

[@stephencody6088]

Auspicious timing considering what's happening in the US right now.Great video tho,love the old movie shots,what are they from?

[@stephencody6088]

Found it in the description,The General.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

It is unfortunate timing, I work on a 4 week schedule, thanks for the comment and the Buster keaton film is great!

[@RubyDragoness.]

I’m band I have a song we play called the great locomotive chase I didn’t know this was a real event that happened

[@sudriansignalman9387]

The general uses wood, not coal

[@wobblybobengland]

I'm from England. Is that the Chattanooga choo choo?

[@graboid78]

Keep chugging out videos

[@jgilligan1576]

Brilliant usage of stock old timey folks footage

[@ipg2486]

I can hear the train track that this started at from my bedroom

[@Ironsides_Dalek_12]

i was born in 2013 on the very same day the Andrews Raiders started their raid.

[@kadet2027]

My band song

[@generalhorse493]

A second film on the incident was filmed 30 years after Buster Keaton films, though this second film is largely forgotten. Even though it was made and released by Whoot Disney Steamios.

[@RailPreserver2K]

Don't worry I've got both of them and have seen the remains of the railroad that was used to film the second movie regarding the Andrews raid

[@bluelady2757]

The raiders who were hung are now buried in Chattanooga National cemetery. The 1st recipient of the medal of honor was Jacob Parrott. He was from Kenton Ohio.

[@pepe6666]

i'd like to drivel a locomotive but i dont have the training

[@gambleoakranch]

Watch the movie that Buster Keaton did on this

[@aarondivel1752]

pardon me reb, is that the chattanooga choo choo? track 29, breakfast sure is mighty fine. it'll be fine, we'll leave the loco unattended. right boys let's go, those rebels they'll never know. we'll leave the marietta station bout a quarter to 3 open up the throttle buddy build me some steam. wood pile in the fire nothin could be finer than to have the johnny rebels right behind ya. when you hear the whistle blowin like it is mad. then you know the johnny rebs are right on your ass. we're all out of wood, this sure isn't good woo woo yankie spies there you are.

[@youtubeSuckssNow]

Surprised they didn't bring dynamite to blow the rails and shit

[@sockshandle]

Just saying Steam locomotives like these two (and indeed all other american built steam locos in this era used Wood (hence the gigantic funnel which had a spark arrester) and water

[@Tom-xk5jb]

A good model railroad of this event exists at the central new jersey garden state railroad club. Look up Thom radice w&a rr on youtube.

[@FourCreator]

0:40, theres 4, actually.

[@TakeMeToYourLida]

lol this guy stealing 3 trains back to back

[@maxischew514]

Only if they had mutil track drifting.

[@williamtoad8040]

All We Had To Do Was Follow The Damn Train