The easiest way to get to it is from the Sand Spring Trail (light pink blazes) off of Route 325 in Clark's Valley. Head straight up over the mountain and follow the signs (not advisable for young children).
Steam shovel? Probably the biggest misconception about The General is that it's a rusted old steam shovel in the middle of the woods. Actually The General is a gasoline-powered shovel, probably used in the strip (coal) mining operations. Various owners of The General were from the Pine Grove area, and the "power box" for the shovel is supposed to be somewhere north of Stony Valley (according to local lore).