At the New York World's Fair

At the conclusion of the tour in 1963, the L&NRR management felt that more people could see and enjoy the General if she was placed on exhibit at the New York World's Fair scheduled for 1964. Accordingly, the General spent the summer of 1964 in New York. Actually, she began her tour in 1964 at Louisville, April 26 to May 2, as one of the attractions for Derby Week. During this period, the General steamed along the Louisville waterfront and was photographed with the famous riverboat Delta Queen in the background.

Following the festivities in Louisville, the General took herself to the New York World's Fair. While there, the General again went to sea. She was transported by railroad car ferry across New York harbor, reminiscent of her trip from Philadelphia in 1855 when she sailed to Savannah. The General was fired up in New York and on Memorial Day, May 30th, steamed across the scenic Hell's Gate Bridge which joins the New York boroughs of Bronx and Queens. Again on June 1st she proceeded over the tracks of the Long Island Railroad under her own steam to the Fair gate. After this run she was transported to the plaza of Better Living Center at the Fair for display for the duration of the Fair.

In the fall of 1964, the General was brought to Chattanooga to be on hand for that historic city's 150 Birthday Celebration during the week of September 10th to 17th. The General was not under steam for this occasion.

The last time the General appeared under her own steam was 1966. The occasion was the 32nd Southern Governor's Conference which was held at Kentucky Dam Village near Paducah, and the General was on hand to give the conferees a fine panoramic view of the dams, locks, and power plants and the lakes the dams created. The date was September 17 - 21, 1966, and this time the General traveled over the rails of the Illinois Central Railroad whose Kentucky Division tracks go right over the top of the dams. It had been more than two years since the General was out under steam, and she performed like the veteran that she was.

Drivers of the General, Louisville, Kentucky, September 17, 1966.

– Edison H. Thomas photo