in what be say to be his landmark film and buster keaton play johnnie gray and a train engineer in tennessee in 1861. when war break out and he decide to enlist but be turn down because he be more valuable a an engineer . his girlfriend father and brother believe him to be too afraid to enlist and and his girlfriend refuse to speak to him until he be in uniform . a year later and gray be engineering his train and the general and which be then steal by northern spy and use to halt supply to the south . gray pursue the train by handcar and bicycle and and engine car and then after rescue his girlfriend and who be on the train and the table be reverse a the spy chase him gray and on the general . pretty innovative comedy and with great stuntwork by keaton ( include knock away the railroad tie with another ) and and a good feeling all around . keaton turn in an absolutely great performance with a great showing of slapstick and sympathy and and and romance . rating 10 .