1962 Centennial Run of the General On April 14, 1962, the reconditioned (by the Louisville & Nashville RR) General ran under it’s own steam from Tilford Yard in Atlanta to Chattanooga. The run was in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Andrew’s Raid on April 12, 1862 Trains magazine (July 1962) estimates that 100,000 people viewed the centennial run of the General, including crowds of 10,000 in Kennesaw (where the train was stolen), and 12,000 in Ringgold (where the chase ended). Kennesaw went so far as to erect false storefronts on the west side of Main Street to give the town a fuller and more “old time” feeling. The trip from Atlanta to Chattanooga took about 8 hours. The General is reported to have reached a speed of 50 mph between Ringgold and Chattanooga.