A crowd gathered Friday, April 28, to see the grand unveiling of the American Civil War-era locomotive after a lengthy cosmetic restoration at the North Carolina Transportation Museum. The controversy, critics say, comes from the Atlanta History Center’s choice of a late-19th century to early-20th century all-black appearance for the locomotive instead of its bright Civil War-era colors. Those critics say the center is trying to erase Civil War history. History center officials counter that is not the case and that they are working with the historic fabric that is available. Officials also say they compromised by keeping the Texas name on the locomotive instead of using it’s post-war name, Cincinnati.
The Great Locomotive Chase of Civil War fame, in which the Texas chased the stolen locomotive General across north Georgia, was but a few hours on one day, but the locomotive had a 50-year history on the Western & Atlantic Railroad, the Atlanta History Center’s Gordon Jones told the crowd gathered to witness the debut. He pointed out that the General is restored to its Civil War appearance and is on display where the chase began in Kennesaw, Ga.
“We’ve already got one locomotive telling the story of the Great Locomotive Chase,” he said. “We can utilize the Texas to tell a different story.”
The crowd that gathered Friday at the N.C. Transportation Museum to see the engine seemed oblivious to the debate over the locomotive’s presentation and grateful to see the diminutive engine restored by Steam Operations Corp., a well-established contractor that also restored Norfolk & Western 4-8-4 No. 611 at Spencer. The Texas posed with 611 and John and Barney Gramling’s Lehigh Coal 0-6-0T No. 126 to mark 100 years of steam history, from the 1850s to the 1950s.
The Texas is on display with a CSX Transportation diesel, the Franklin M. Garrett, a GP38-2 No. 2702, named for the famed Atlanta historian and Atlanta History Center icon. The locomotive returns to the History Center on a truck Tuesday, May 2, and will be installed in a new display building, where it will be visible from the outside 24-hours a day.
The Texas Returns event continues Saturday and Sunday, April 29 and 30.
So how soon before the PC world demands it be melted down because it glorifys the South and the Civil war?
Apparently, there’s not much original left on this locomotive – 50 years of maintenance and mods will do that. The restoration and paint are true to what currently exists, they say.
As, for the Atlanta History Museum wishing away the Civil War – nonsense! They have the best Civil War history display I’ve ever seen. It’s worth going there just for that.
I would hope that we can rejoice that regardless of paint be grateful the locomotive still with us and for those who follow us. With both major locomotives in careful
preservation the story of what happened that April morning will not fade and for that I salute all who had a hand in getting the TEXAS to this time and place.
The Texas is famous for it’s part in the Great Locomotive Chase and nothing else. This ‘restoration’ is just another example of warped political correctness trying to erase anything that represents the South. After 60 years of enjoying seeing the Texas I was very much looking forward to this refresh, now I’m just saddened.
Thats cool! Still fascinated how it was “unearthed!”
I live along the W&A tracks, just a few miles from Resaca, where them damn yankees tried to burn the bridge. Call it rascist and the memories painful if you want, but erasing the memory of the Civil War is a huge mistake. Didn’t someone famous once say that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it?
The General and the Texas are famous exactly because of the famous chase which happened during the Civil War. Because of this fact alone, it should have been restored to its look from the incident that brought it fame.
Irregardless of the controversy, restoring the train to its most attractive and original look should have been a no-brainer. The beautiful ornate and striking color schemes of Civil War era steam engines are very special and should not be erased because of political correctness.
If they had restored it to its civil war appearance, critics would say that they were trying to glorify its southern civil war heritage… There’s no way to avoid controversy where the civil war is concerned.
I think the idea that the General is sufficient to tell the story of the chase and the Texas should tell a different story is compelling, and I like the black paint. However, I don’t agree with the compromise of keeping the “Texas” lettering. If it was called “Cincinnati” during the period that it was painted black, then that’s what they should have lettered it.
Anyways, it’s a beautiful locomotive and it looks like they did a great job on the restoration. Hopefully i’ll get to see it next time I’m there.