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Miscellaneous

Southern Museum Wraps Up Successful Railroad Rendezvous

KENNESAW, Ga. — More than 600 people turned out Saturday for the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History’s first ever Railroad Rendezvous event. During the event, museum visitors were able to participate in games such as sack races and a bean bag toss, learn about railroads and safety precautions to take around them, and even de-code hobo symbols and learn about living life on the rails. “We want thank each and every person who came out to support us to help make our first ever Railroad Rendezvous a tremendous success,” said Valerie Serra, events coordinator for the Southern

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Miscellaneous

Hundreds turn out for Southern Museum’s inaugural Museum Night

KENNESAW, Ga. — The ominous threat of bad weather wasn’t enough to deter the more than 300 people who turned out to the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History to help celebrate its 10th birthday. During the inaugural Museum Night, guests had the rare chance to climb aboard The General locomotive made famous during the Civil War’s Great Locomotive Chase. Visitors also partook in a multitude of family-friendly activities – including a railroad camp, slot cars and an operating model train layout – and could view a pair of antique vehicles on display – a 1940 Packard and

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Miscellaneous

Climb aboard the General during Southern Museum’s ‘Museum Night’

The Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History is celebrating its 10th birthday with an evening of family-friendly activities aimed at offering visitors a unique look at the museum and its exhibits. The inaugural Museum Night: Trains, Planes and Cars, scheduled for 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, will feature an evening of family- and history-centered activities in addition to providing visitors an up-close look at museum artifacts. The museum will be closing at 3 p.m. on March 23. During the event, guests will have the rare opportunity to climb aboard the General locomotive made famous during the Civil

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Miscellaneous

Southern Museum’s Annual Trains Event Attracts Railfans, Hobbyists and Families

KENNESAW, Ga. – The Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History will kick off its packed 2013 calendar of events with a family day focusing on all aspects of trains and featuring a model train expo. The “Trains, Trains, Trains” event will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, in the museum’s Jolley Education Center and throughout the museum. This family friendly event will feature crafts, tips and techniques for building a home layout and a variety of different model train layouts that can be operated by children of all ages. The daylong event

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History

City honors switch operater for role in Civil War chase

The north Georgia city of Kingston on Thursday honored a former city resident for his role in the Great Locomotive Chase of 1862. Kingston was a turning point in the Great Locomotive Chase of 1862, in part, because station agent/switch operator Uriah Stephens declined to hand over the switch keys to James J. Andrews. Hours earlier, Andrews and a group of Union spies stole The General locomotive from what is now Kennesaw, Ga., while the train stopped for breakfast. Andrews’ goal was to destroy the Western & Atlantic Railroad, a major Confederate road that connected Atlanta and Chattanooga. “In this day

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Miscellaneous

The Andrews Raid: A Timeline of Events

KENNESAW, Ga. – April 12, 1862. It was the one-year anniversary of the start of the Civil War, and the morning passenger train – pulled by the locomotive General – arrived in town. A band of Union spies led by James J. Andrews, the men planned to steal the locomotive and then destroy the Western & Atlantic Railroad, a vital link between Atlanta and Chattanooga, Tenn., in the heart of the Confederacy. The Andrews Raid, also known as The Great Locomotive Chase, ultimately failed. More than an “astounding adventure,” the raid was near genius. Thursday marks the 150th anniversary of