Its the 151st anniversary of the Great LOCOMOTIVE Race involving the Union and Confederate troops. The General was one of those locomotives involved. Guess where it was built? Paterson NJ in what is now the Paterson Museum. Here is a press release about a pretty cool project we are involved in.
LCCA's 151ST Anniversary of The Great Train Chase of 1862 Special Event
The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) is proud to announce a Special Event commemorating the 151st Anniversary of The Great Train Chase of 1862. We will host an all day event (April 13, 2013) in Paterson NJ to commemorate the 151st Anniversary of the Great Train Chase of 1862. We will have several activities planned at the Paterson Museum throughout the day with activities in the afternoon at the NJ Hi-Railers club followed by a private buffet dinner in the evening (see schedule of events below) . Our featured guest speaker, Dr. Richard Banz, Executive Director of Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw GA will make two brief, informative and entertaining "Stealing a General in Georgia" presentations. Bring the entire family and enjoy an entire day of Lionel Trains, Real Train history and Civil War Re-enactment activities and music.
Paterson Museum Activities
The Paterson Museum which will be open (with Free Admission) from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM is the site of the Rogers Works Factory for the Rogers, Ketchum & Grosvenor Company where the original General steam locomotives were built. The 12th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Company "K" Reenactment group will be on-site demonstrating encampment and daily life back in 1862. This group will do a demonstrations at 12:00 PM and then again at 2:00 PM. At 1:00 our featured guest speaker, Dr. Richard Banz, Executive Director of Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw GA will make a brief, informative and entertaining "Stealing a General in Georgia" presentation.
NJ Hi-Railers Club Activities
We will be at the NJ Hi-Railers Club in Paterson NJ for "The General Day" from 10:00-4:00 PM. Come and run your General trains on the 185' long NJ Hi-Railer's layout. The public is welcome and encouraged to come and enjoy the massive and highly detailed toy train layout. Come and see the layout used in the filming of a season ending episode of the HBO popular Cable TV Series "The Sopranos". The NJ Hi-Railers Club is also the home of the Standard Gage Lionel layout which was previously owned and operated by the late night TV show personality and avid Lionel train enthusiast, Tom Snyder. After Tom Snyder passed away, his lifelong companion Pam Burke donated this layout to the club.
At 3:00 PM LCCA Director Bill Schmeelk will provide a demonstration of the new LCCA/Lionel FasTrack Modular Railroad system. We believe this new, national modular layout standard will help introduce Lionel Trains and our toy train hobby to new people and to allow for people who do not have the space in their home for a full operating layout to run and enjoy their Lionel trains. Any company, group, school, city, or Scout organization can have a group project and participate in future LCCA Special Events with this new Lionel FasTrack Modular Railroad system.
Public $7/adult, kids free with accompanying parent.
LCCA members $3/adult, kids free. Cash food bar.
Featuring and encouraging people to run their Generals on your layout.
Evening Dinner Event Commemorating the 151st Anniversary of the Great Train Chase
On Saturday, 4-13-13 from 5:00- ??? LCCA & NJ Hi-Railer members are invited for a private evening dinner and entertainment event commemorating the 151st Anniversary of the Great Train Chase of 1862.
This evening event is limited to LCCA and NJ Hi-Railers members only. For only $35/adult, kids under age of 18 years old $15/each members will have a full buffet dinner accompanied with a full schedule of entertainment and guest speakers.
Just before dinner, The 12th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Company "K" Reenactment group will provide a color guard. Guests will be entertained with Civil war themed music performed by The Libby Prison Minstrels. LCCA's Bill Schmeelk is also scheduled to perform his magic act. Our featured guest speaker Dr. Richard Banz, will give a presentation entitled "Stealing a General in Georgia" , A more detailed talk about the plot and drama of the Great Locomotive Chase as told by the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History. This daring adventure of Union spies to infiltrate behind enemy lines and capture a Confederate locomotive resulted in some of our nation's first Medals of Honor. What were the Raiders motives; why did their scheme fail, and how is the Chase still significant 151 years later?
To register for this special evening event, please contact Ben Fioriello at blueline4@yahoo.com<mailto:blueline4@yahoo.com> or go to the NJ Hi-Railers Club's website www.njhirailers.com. Please go to the LCCA's website at www.lionelcollectors.org<http://www.lionelcollectors.org> for future updates about our activities and schedule of events. If you have any questions, please contact Ben Fioriello at bluelinec4@yahoo.com<mailto:bluelinec4@yahoo.com> 646-335-6444 or Al Kolis at 248-709-4137 or agkolis@comcast.net<mailto:agkolis@comcast.net>
We hope you bring your entire family and spend your whole day learning, enjoying and experiencing some living Civil War Railroad history at the Paterson Museum and experiencing the magic of Lionel trains at the NJ Hi-Railers club. We guarantee this will be a special, entertaining, educational, and most of all, a Fun-filled day. We hope to see you in Paterson NJ on April 13, 2013 to commemorate the 151st Anniversary of the Great Train Chase of 1862. See you there!
Al Kolis
Immediate Past President and Special Events Manager
Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA)
4-13-13 LCCA Schedule of Events
Open House at Paterson Museum Free admission (museum hours 9:00 AM -5:00 PM)
12:00 PM Demonstration by the 12th NJ Volunteer Infantry Company "K"
Reenactment Group
1:00 Introduction of Dr. Richard Banz, Executive Director of Southern
Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw GA. Richard will
Provide a very brief "Stealing a General in Georgia" presentation.
2:00 PM Demonstration by the 12th NJ Volunteer Infantry Company "K"
Reenactment Group
3:00 PM 30 minute concert by the Libby Prison Minstrels
NJ Hi-Railers Club Open House 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Run your "General" Trains on the NJ Hi-Railers Club's Impressive 185' long layout.
Cash bar for lunch
Public admission$7/adult, kids free with accompany adult
LCCA member admission: $3 adults, kids free.
3:00 LCCA's Bill Schmeelk giving a LCCA/Lionel FasTrack Modular Railroad
System introduction and demonstration.
Club Closes at 4:00 PM, Re-opens at 5:00 for private LCCA/NJ Hi-Railers Private Dinner event.
Adults $35/adult, 15$ kids under age of 18 years
Buffet dinner & entertainment
Dinner Evening event at NJ Hi-Railers Club
LCCA introductions
5:30 just before dinner Company K Color Guard presentation.
Pledge of allegiance
5:30-7:00 Buffet dinner
6:00-7:00 Music by Libby Prison Minstrels
7:00-7:15 Acknowledgement of Horning family
7:15 -7:45 Dr Richard Banz, Executive Director of Southern
Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw GA, will provide a
more detailed speech "Stealing a General in Georgia"
7:45:-8:15 Magic Act by Bill Schmeelk
8; 15 -8:45 Music by Libby Prison Minstrels.
8:45 -9:00 closing comments
9:00 - ??? Run trains and fun.
.[and don't give me that crap about Southerners and grits--I first ate grits at my Grandparents farm in Dennison, Ohio--but no shrimp
].
to celebrate the 150th anniversary last year, or are they the fun-loving type of group that looks for any reason
