By permanent display, do you mean once this project is over 614 retired to the display or will it still be possible for her to hit the road?

Three years of almost constant running is an impressive idea, but what are the effects of that on a locomotive - In what shape were the 2101/4449 after their time on the Freedom Train?

Either way it sounds like it'll be an impressive show and as others have said if anyone can pull it off it'll be you Mr. Rowland. Good luck.

-Justin Franz

Mr. Rowland,

I was rather excited to see in the August 1975 issue of Trains Magazine to see the 4449 running with a freight along the Columbia River Gorge on the day I was "hatched" (been reading up on ATSF 2-10-4's). While I was around for the AFT, I have no first hand knowledge. Can you elaborate here or back channel on how the maintenance issues were addressed due to being away from your home terminal? Was it difficult to make these arrangements? Thanks.

Guys - if the 50 million shows up, the maintenence issues will take care of themselves. Let's revel in the big-picture possibilities on this one.

dave

In response to the above questions/comments;
1. We will make a concious effort to employ the MANY lessons learned from the epic journey of the AFT to make the YRE a better product from every point of view. A few examples are;
a. The YRE will operate between display stops during daylight hours only vs. the AFT which ran almost always during the wee hours of the night. The AFT was totally dependant on admission revenues to pay its way through the nation and thus needed to maximize its display days. The YRE's DBOM budget (design,build,operate&maintain) will be met by the $50 million in sponsorships (we hope) so that all the admission revenues will stay in the Foundation to help those vets who come home severely wounded and their families.
By moving during daylight only hours the general public will have a much better chance of coming down trackside (at pre-selected,well managed locations) to cheer her on!
b. It is planned to always have a "guest" helper steam engine on the train with the 614 so that by staggering their mandatory boiler serviceing dates one of them will always be live on display and that the other one can be serviced away from the crowd. On the AFT we roped off the area around the locomotive and did the boiler wash on site. It worked ok but it meant that the engine had to be closed to the guests for at least a good part of one day etc. Also, by having 2 capable engines on the point we further diminish the chance of an over the road failure.
c. The AFT carried on board all the "things" needed to make a display site complete (entrance/exit ramps, ticket/concession stands, portable lighting, site management office, on site vehicles etc.,etc.) whereas the YRE will be built so that all those things will be made in duplicate and transported over the road thus allowing us to "leapfrog" all the critical site support buildings and systems. Thus, when the YRE pulls in it will be ready to open in approx. 2 hours vs. 9 hours with the AFT.
d. Thanks to the incredible advances in entertainment technology and computer technology the 22 minute ride thru the 10 display cars will truly be mind boggling. With 3D hallography projection you'll swear that those famous people who talked you through the story of 300 years of the American experiment in democracy WERE REAL!!! That technology coupled with a vast collection of ORIGINAL priceless artifacts/memorabilia will make it truly a once in a lifetime experience.
e. As was the case with the AFT we will carry a shop/tool car cramed full of the tools/parts/lubricants needed to keep the 614 and our "guest" helper engines in top notch condition.
f. Both the 2101 and the 4449 came back from the AFT in better shape then when they started their tours of duty. Reason is simple-on a "gig" such as this, the movements are relatively short distances (average 175 miles) and there are lots of display days and thus plenty of time for the crew dedicated to the engine to "fine tune" any bugs that may develope.
g. The permanent display site for the YRE train& the 614 will be connected to live rail and the 614 will be put away in such a manner that she will be readily serviceable and available for other opportunites should they arise.

Thanks for the good questions/comments.
Ross Rowland

It is truly heartening to see so many people getting behind this project. It is certainly a worthy cause.

Unfortunately, some earlier posters have characterized Mr. Rowland's bold YRE proposal as his embarking on yet 'another escapade'. I submit that to do so is to simply not understand the stark distinction between 'escapade' and another 'e' word: ENDEAVOR.

An escapade can be defined as "a risky venture", "a dangerous undertaking" or even "any carefree episode". In other words, a "lark".

In contrast, an endeavor describes having "to exert one's self to work for a certain end", "to exert physical or intellectual strength for the attainment of", "to use efforts to effect", "to strive to achieve or reach".

I believe most posters here -- and I'll stick my neck way out -- would define what Ross has done in the past and proposes to do in the future as fitting the second set of definitions very closely, and the first set, not at all. This man has pulled 'railroad rabbits' out of his hat for decades. Some of those go back nearly 40 years (to The Golden Spike Limited of 1969) and still have people shaking their heads in disbelief that he really *was* able to pull any of them off. It would be ridiculous to suggest that the American Freedom Train was done on a 'lark'.

As with anyone who achieves great success, even when it is on behalf of others (which the YRE train will be), there are always the ubiquitous "Nattering Nabobs of Negativism" in close proximity, always ready to throw handfuls of marbles under the feet of those who would achieve, in an attempt to thwart them. This is one gentleman, however, who in common with all other successful people, pays no heed to the naysayers. And, his record clearly shows the results.

Indeed, as this dream *does* take form, I'll bet Kodak is even wishing, right about now, that digital cameras hadn't quite yet come along and all but replaced film photography. There will be a LOT of images recorded of this tour. There is virtually no doubt in my mind (or the minds of those who observe Mr. Rowland's results in an honest light) that this is a train that IS going to 'happen'. What a stirring, patriotic moment it will be, when each of us first lays eyes on this steam-powered tribute to our troops. My guess is that few of those eyes will be able to remain dry, when it 'sinks in' what this is REALLY all about...

Mr. Rowland,

Thanks for taking the time to explain your plan on maintenance. I was curious how this worked out.

Do you have plans on getting the younger generation of the up and coming steam community involved? If so, can you elaborate? Most of the fine folks that the YRE will be honoring are in the under 40 age bracket. To me, this would be critical. The under 40 crowd would not have a memory of their own of anything like the AFT (or YRE) anywhere else other than a history book or from a person that was there. To include the new generation in this would give them the ability to contribute to a worth while cause.

I look forward to how this will unfold.

Firstly I'd like to say thank you to Mr.(or Ms.?) ex-con for his/her kind remarks. Your posting got me to thinking about the nay-sayers I've encountered through the years, particularly in this "industry", and that got me to reflecting on the reaction to my announcement that began this thread.
It seems to me that its pretty amazing that in just a very few days this thread has generated nearly 17,000 views and over 60 postings and less than a handful of those postings came from the NNN's ( really love that label-so descriptive!!) of our world. That's REALLY encouraging to me!!
Yes, we will aggressively solicit the involvement of young people both on the paid crew and in the volunteer ranks. Trust me, living out of a suitcase for 3 years is a young persons game!!
It took a company of approx. 80 people to man the AFT on the road plus a HQ. contingent of an additional 35 folks. The average age of the AFT road crew was about 23 and I'm sure that will be about the average for the YRE.
It is interesting to note that the AFT crew still gets together every 2 years for a reunion at a different city and even 32 yrs. after the event there's near 100 people in attendance. That speaks volumnes about what the experience meant to them!!
Thanks for the good questions/comments.
Ross Rowland

Robin, you are correct when you say they have been gutted. Most of the windows are gone also. But they are still in pretty good condition all things considered. But I guess they are not interested since no one responded. It just seems a shame to cut them up but that is what will happen. The last time I saw them was last summer and there was some discussion among the locals about retrieving them. Since the NJT/NS/CSX will not allow the friction bearing cars onto their main line, the only way to get them out of there is by crane and flatbed. An expensive proposition to say the least.

Later!
Mr. Ed

Sorry to say but I doubt they will be saved. Day by day starting up an excursion line or a short line is getting almost impossible. To truck them to a car repair facility and have them restored would cost more than having new cars built or lesser worn cars rehabed.
Where do you put your money? Shall I spend what I have to give on a project that might have a chance of success or shall I spend it on a project that is "Nice to do". Sorry but that is how a lot of the Foundations and Grant makers think. They have to be able to make the best use of the trust that is placed in each and every operating officer of a Non-Profit Foundation or Trust.

Mr Rowland,

Thank you very much for the timely, concise answers. I wish you great success in honoring our men and women that are serving our country.

I'd say for two words it would be "Mr. Fusion". But then again, I just love to throw out "Back to the Future" references...

Although using bio diesel would be an excellent demonstration. My used lawn clipping should end up doing something better than just filling a landfill.

To respond to a large number of pm's asking about the reaction of the Class 1's to this project please allow me to share this with you.
We have briefed the appropriate people at the AAR and the ASLRRA and they are taking the message to their member roads that we are fully aware of their many areas of concern ( liability, congestion, crowd control, site location, etc., etc., etc.) and that if,as and when we have secured the all important sponsorship committments we can assure them that all their issues will be covered to their full satisfaction. We have also joined the ASLRRA as an associate member as I'm sure that the vast majority of our 150 display sites will be located on one of the regional or shortline railroads.
I am confident that at the end of the day all the Class 1's will be staunch supporters.
Please visit the ...... yellowribbonexpress.com site from time to time to check on our progress.
Thank you, Ross Rowland

Dear Ross,
As a Railroad Member (TYBR) of the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association, I proud to find that you are NOT listed as an "Associate Member" on our Website, nor in the Welcome Message in the last issue of the newsletter "Views & News":

RAILROAD MEMBERS
The Yellow Ribbon Express Foundation, Inc.
P. O. Box 700
401 W. Main St.
Sackets Harbor, NY 13685
Phone: 315-646-1600
Fax: 315-646-1601
Web site: www.yellowribbonexpress.com

Jim, I was under the impression that they were going to put us into the Associate Member slot-but I guess they decided to call us a "railroad"??
Doesn't much matter the label-what counts is the ability to communicate with most of the regional/shortline industry through one organization.
Thanks for the heads up.
Ross Rowland