IRON HORSE GLORY
The Story of Engine 28

He proudly carried our troops
In World War I
Over silver ribbons of steel
Through the hot Louisiana sun.
From Camp Claiborne
To Fort Polk
The little Baldwin made its first run.
They called it a "peppy" engine,
Weighing a mere eighty-three ton.
The General Black Jack Pershing design
Is reported to be one of two remaining of its kind.
After the war
And transporting our men,
The sturdy locomotive saw service
In the parish of Winn.
Bought by the Tremont and Gulf Railroad,
The General became their star,
Carrying passengers and lumber near and far.

The engine spent many years at the T & G
Chugging from Winnfield to Rochelle
And sometimes through old Menefee.
Number Twenty-Eight was sold in April of 1955,
One of four T&G engines to survive.
The Temple Lumber Company
Was the General's fate,
At Pineland, in the Lone Star state.
Texas is where the old locomotive would stay,
And Texas
Is where it can be seent today.
The "General" carries tourist from Rusk
To Palestine,
Renumbered 300,
And
Painted red, black, and cream.
The old locomotive has appeared many times
On the silver screen,
Still enjoying sunny days
As a fine example
From America's glorious era of steam.

Poem by Reggie Anne Walker-Wyatt

This old engine is still running today for the Texas State Railroad.
It is a wonderful trip back in time to "ride the rails".
The engine was operated in Winn Parish, Louisiana By Engineer,
Andrew Jenkins, Grandfather of the author of this poem. It was
a working steam engine until 1955.