Says the person whose posts almost never have anything to do with actual preserved railway objects, and everything to do with discredited economic theories or old 1990s culture war crap. When (if) the moderators finally show up we'll see what you are entitled to.

Readers can judge for themselves.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=48844

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This one about sums it up: viewtopic.php?p=351203#p351203

You deleted several of the worst posts (they now just say 404).

Popcorn! Popcorn! Who wants popcorn?!

When the defamation stops, I stop.

This thread got off track because some folks needed to defame the deceased and think their personal indignities overrule the common decency of the dictum "never speak ill of the dead". That sort of thing used to be flagged as "flaming".

Then the NPC directed his calumny to me. I am very much alive and capable of defending my semi-disclosed pseudonym. A man has very little that perdures-and one of those things is his reputation. People can call me abrasive, bellicose, combative, derogatory, entrenched, fatalistic, garrulous, haughty, intransigent, jaundiced, knotty, loathesome, martial, nasty, obstreperous, peevish, quarrelsome.. those are subjective.

However, what was written was meant to be factual. While I very much doubt I will ever again sign a duty roster, I never say never and should this forum survive the AI crawlbots and technical obsolescence, I will not be sullied by blatant lies.

Until there was a dramatic change in personal circumstances a couple months ago, I was considering making a donation to 5550 large enough to be given a "participation invitation". It is possible the issue in question may be resolved and if I were to get involved somewhere, I'd like it to be unencumbered by libel.

Meanwhile….
I am not a fan of Ross, but submit his greatest legacy is the successful revival of SP 4449. The engine has traveled far and wide in the 50 years since AFT.

~Wesley

WESP - Thanks for the reminder. I neglected to mention 4449 in my previous post. We enjoyed NRHS' 2011 convention as a family. A lot of great trips behind 4449 in the cars that are now at Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. I know, I know. Sealed windows. What did Ross used to say, "Like kissing your sister"? Anyway, another great family rail memory that goes back to Mr. Rowland's hard work on AFT.

Years ago, I had the opportunity to meet Ross Rowland. At the time, Ross (and his 614) had been out of the mainline steam scene for at least a decade. In my mind, he was a hall of famer - railroad royalty one might say, not unlike Gene Autry or Hank Aaron. In his time, he did buckets of good for the railroad community, a goodwill ambassador for the railroad and preservation community, and not with a goal to line his own pockets either. My chance encounter didn't disappoint. Ross was magnanimous, approachable and a great storyteller.

My respect for the man diminished when I read his tropes on this forum in recent years. I found his liberal political leanings disheartening - and everything that goes along with that culture, including devout racism and bigotry. Controlling and "disabling" the minorities by making them live off the government welfare teet is not the American dream that my ancestors came here for at the turn of the century. But as Ross would tell you, he truly believed that minorities can't self govern and supported the politicians who aligned with his beliefs.

It's too bad Ross didn't keep his politics to himself. May he rest in peace.

As moderator, I am locking this thread... It has little to do with railway preservation, and is a wonderful example of name calling.

Apparently you 'al can't be trusted to behave at a funeral.

Your always friendly moderator, Randy