“Great Locomotive Chase” on Tallulah Falls RR

[DenWoz]

Am seeking location identification on the Tallulah Falls RR where the scenes of Disney’s movie The Great Locomotive Chase took place.  I learn that Atlanta was depicted in Clayton GA.

 

-          On the Tallulah Falls RR, where was the Marietta and Big Shanty (Lacy Hotel) scenes?

-          The scene where Fuller (Jeffrey Hunter) and his men pick up the pushcar?

-          The rails destroyed derailing the pushcar?

-          The Allatoona station scene?

-          Etowah where Fuller began using the Yonah?

-          The meaning of CIWRR on the Yonah tender?

-          Kingston?

-          The scenes where the box cars were dropped and pushed back toward Fuller?

-          Calhoun station?

-          Dalton station?

-          The tunnel?

-          Box car on fire left locked on bridge?

-          Ringgold where the General was left abandoned?

-          Chattanooga and the Crutchfield House?

Any other significant scenes?

Please let me know. Thanks, and blessings, Denny

[samfp1943]

Denny:

    Found the following information on a site for the 'Walt Disney Museum'

Linked @ http://www.waltdisney.org/blog/making-great-locomotive-chase

FTL:[snipped] "...The Tallulah Falls Railroad, or “Old TF” in local parlance, seems itself like something out of one of Walt’s rural fantasies. Incorporated in 1897, by 1907 the TF would stretch fifty-eight miles from Cornelia, Georgia to Franklin, North Carolina. The TF opened the isolated area to the outside world, allowing visitors to witness the majesty of the Tallulah Falls (marketed as the “Niagara of the South”).[snip]  - site also hashand drawn map of area, and more information-

And on this site: linked @ http://www.andrewsraid.com/disney1.html    Some information on the role of the B&O Museum in the production.

Here is a 'BLOG" entry with a list of Cast and other pertinent  information. Linked  @  http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=6216

And this site has several pages of information and photos of the now abandoned TF RR.

See linked @ http://www.rabunhistory.org/photo-gallery/tallulah-falls-railroad/

Here is a topographical reperesntation of the TF between Cornelia,Ga and Franklin,N.C,

See Linked @ http://www.abandonedrails.com/Tallulah_Falls_Railroad

 

Hope this information will help.

Regards;

 

 

[DenWoz]

Thanks for your reply.

Do you know specifically which stations or those nearby along the Tallulah Falls RR these scenes mentioned in the original message, Marietta, Big Shanty, Allatoona, Kingston, Calhoun, Dalton, Ringgold, where the rails were destroyed, and so on, were located? I think the Kingston scene was at the town of Tallulah Falls; and the make-shift tunnel, south of Lakemont, if I'm not mistaken.

Also has it been mentioned whether or not James Andrews, William Campbell, and others who were hanged, were ever awarded a congressional medal of honor?

Please let me know. Thanks.

[samfp1943]

DenWoz

Thanks for your reply.

Do you know specifically which stations or those nearby along the Tallulah Falls RR these scenes mentioned in the original message, Marietta, Big Shanty, Allatoona, Kingston, Calhoun, Dalton, Ringgold, where the rails were destroyed, and so on, were located? I think the Kingston scene was at the town of Tallulah Falls; and the make-shift tunnel, south of Lakemont, if I'm not mistaken.

Also has it been mentioned whether or not James Andrews, William Campbell, and others who were hanged, were ever awarded a congressional medal of honor?

Please let me know. Thanks.

 

DenWoz: Check out this website @ http://www.southernmuseum.org/exhibits/the-general/

From that link: "...After a day-long chase, the spies were stopped just before reaching Chattanooga. Those who were caught, including Andrews and Sgt. John Scott, were hanged. The Union participants of this Great Locomotive Chase were later among the first recipients of the Medal of Honor, many posthumously..."    I think, (?) That JamesJ. Andrew would not have been eligible for the MOH, as he was a civilian (a spy), not military, therefore ineligible for the award. 

The Station at Big Shanty was later called Kennesaw,Ga.  The Western and Atlantic RR connected Atlanta and Chattanooga.

As to Tallulah Falls, Ga.  IT is located more or less North and East of the route of the W&A, in the mountains of north Georgia; serving only as "Location" for the Movie Company to represent "The Chase" cinematically.  See this linked site @ http://www.abandonedrails.com/Tallulah_Falls_Railroad

also from this linked site @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Routelrg_r1_c1.gif

this map of the route of the Great Locomotive Chase on the W&A:

[garr]

The Southern Railway Historical Society had articles about the Tallulah Falls Railway in their 4th quarter 2013 and 1st quarter 2014 issues. Both are well worth trying to find if you do not have them and feature plenty of photos and maps.

The Clayton, GA depot served as the Marietta, GA depot in the Great Locomotive Chase. Clayton was also Disney's headquarters during the filming of the movie.

4 years before The Great Locomotive Chase was filmed, the Tallulah Falls also served as railroad scenes in the 1951 movie, I'd Climb the Highest Mountain. The scenes were backdated to 1910 and the opening scenes featured TF 75 and the Demorest depot. Georgia native Susan Heyward starred in this movie.

The publishers of the Foxfire series of books also had a nice book about the TF.

A tidbit of trivia, Franklin, NC area is the hometown of Trains editor, Jim Wrinn.

Jay