1861年,Johnnie Gray(巴斯特·基顿 Buster Keaton 饰)是西部大西洋火车公司的一名员工,深爱着他的火车“将军号”,还有他的未婚妻(Marion Mack 饰)。南北战争爆发了,他的未婚妻让他去从军,军方却拒绝了他,认为让他开火车更有价值。他的未婚妻很生气,发誓除非看见他穿军装的样子,不然再也不和他说话。北军正在计划一个阴谋,准备劫走“将军号”,给南军来一次突袭。Johnnie发现了北军的诡计,更意外的在北军的阵营里解救了他的未婚妻。他必须将北军要突袭的情报带回南军的阵地,他一路上驾驶着“将军号”,遭遇重重追击。南北军大战一触即发......Johnnie loves his train ("The General") and Annabelle Lee. When the Civil War begins he is turned down for service because he's more valuable as an engineer. Annabelle thinks it's because he's a coward. Union spies capture The General with Annabelle on board. Johnnie must rescue both his loves.