I don't typically post my reflections on this board but this evening I saw Ross Rowland's post and had to share some thoughts percolating in my mind recently.

My girlfriend bought for me the Mark 1 documentary on Ross as a Christmas gift and it was well done. The program mentioned that he has been a controversial figure in our field for a long time but love him or hate him, you must give him credit for trying, working hard and making things happen. There are so many dreamers in our field that never progress beyond the initial stages. Ross had a vision, perserverence, the right connections and when the stakes were high or hope seemed dim, he kept right on going, pulled it all off and always in a big way. You gotta love that. I have only the greatest respect for somebody that doesn't ever give up trying. I've been there many times in my life. When somebody says no, you figure out how to make lemonade from lemons.

I would not be where I'm at today if it wasn't for the impression left upon me by the American Freedom Train. My dad worked for one of the sponsors and got free tickets to the train's visit to Asbury Park, NJ during the Bicentennial. It was my first exposure to steam and the die was forever cast from that visit.

I wish to offer my gratitude to him for getting my start in this field, however indirectly. Many thanks, Ross. Your legacy is palpable.

K.R. Bell

P.S. We know you were busy running 2101 during the Bicentennial--but did you ever get to run 4449 or 610 during the Freedom Train program? What were your impressions of those engines? Also, any chance you will ever write a book on your steam railroading experiences? If you don't write up your memories, it could potentially leave a gap in our understanding of how mainline excursion steam fit into the evolving railroad scene of the 1960s-1990s.

K.R. -

I second your idea of a book by Ross of his experiences with the American Freedom Train and other projects.

Les

Last I heard he's not dead yet.

dave

Kurt,

My "life changing experience" was witnessing #759 leaving Hoboken when I was 4 years old. I've already told Ross what that did to me. ;-)

Santa just brought me an HO scale #759 this Christmas, which I just put sound in. Friday night I was running it around my club layout wishing I had a string of CNJ coaches to put behind it! ;-)

The champions of the "golden era" of mainline steam operations in the east are fast passing. Ross and George Hart are among the handful still with us, and I hear George is ailing. Those two gents and their peers made an indelible impression on my youth.

Of course, the Moedingers, Nelson Blount, Dwight Smith, Don Hallock and the other tourist railroad pioneers did their share of damage to my brain as well. ;-)

Rob

after watching Ross running steamers on numerous tapes, I got to meet him at Train Fest. gret guy.

A book about Ross's steam career would be great. I'm sure there are many stoires to be told about people, locomotives and railroads.

I was already a bit of railfan as a preteen. A movie I watched at a Wilmington & Western open house back in the early 80's (I think 722 was visiting then) forever made me a fan of Lima Super Power. It was about 759 told as if she was speaking.

We should also not forget the dreams of others that never were realized. People like Paul Spence. That is story never told in depth.....

Add Graham Claytor to that list.

Wesley

My thanks to Mr. Bell and the others for your complimentary remarks. The truth is that the pleasure is all mine and on balance it has been (so far at least) a most pleasant experience.
I'm not at all sure there's enough folks who'd care to read a book of my "steam stories" but it's something I'll need to consider.
I can share that one of the aspects of this adventure that I get the most enjoyment from is when I meet someone whose "carreer" in railroading was started by exposure to one of our projects. And that brings to the fore another important point--all these projects (big&small) were only possible thanks to a LOT of dedicted men&women who sacrificed much to help something happen that was bigger than themselves!! Without them, none of this would have been possible!!
I am very hopeful that we'll be able to find the mandatory corporate support needed to fund the Yellow Ribbon Express as it will be our best yet and will benefit the entire railway preservation community thanks to the lessons learned from "Rocky1" a.k.a. the American Freedom Train.
The YRE is making solid forward progress although there's still a long ways to go!! Your support will be most appreciated!!
Ross Rowland

For all the great things he did, he also almost derailed Railway Preservation News completely with his threats of legal action. I have a LOT of problems with someone who can dish it out but can't "take it".

I'm afraid that, very much like the new book "Schulz and Peanuts" by David Michaelis, that a reasonably accurate account of all the details involved in the life and career of a person would reveal more than a few troubling and/or unsavory details such as the above. I've heard critics of Rowland who basically claim that some of his actions, long-term, have done as much damage to other preservationists/projects as the goodwill brought about by his successes.

Time will tell. He's still alive and active, and the juries are still out.

I also recently received it as a gift and just watched it yesterday. I was amazed at some of the stuff in there that I have read about but never knew Mr. Rowland's level of involvement. I was very amazed at the quality of the productions as well as much of the footage presented. I very much enjoyed watching it. I found it very amazing that not only was there a ton of organizations and fan trips covered in the documentary I did not know Ross was involved with but there was more that I know he has and his involved with that wasn't mentioned, New Hope & Ivyland Railroad comes to mind, though he is wearing a NH&I patch on his hat and is interviewed on the NH&I. Somebody needs to make an extension to the documentary, and I certainly hope that the YRE becomes a success and is also a part of it! I had the great pleasure of firing for Ross last month and I hope I get to do so again in the future. Thank you very much Ross for everything and look for a message from me soon.

~Casey

Ross is a typical railroader. I know some museums like to glorify the railroader - showcasing him with a golden throttle in one hand, silver whistle cord in the other - that we tend to forget that they (myself included) are just people, with the same flaws as non-RRers (if not more). If this site shut down, would it be the end of the preservation world? Of course not. This is the 21st century. A new preservation site would be formed pretty quick. (And I know that Bob Haribison's site quickly filled the gap).

No one is perfect. Yes, the 614 is sitting under tarps. But he did manage to accomplish more than most other groups could ever dream to. Let us face it - real RRing is not just going 5mph along some rickety rail pulling 3 cabooses with a switcher. It is not a yard full of old railcars rotting away.

Troubling or unsavory details? Welcome to real RRing. I've dealt with more miserable people out here than anything. True railroading is miserable guys trying to do the best they can with what little they got. Most preservation groups are promoting a falsehood. We need someone like Ross to inject a little reality - to open some eyes.

Is there anything that Mr. Mitchell can't find the negative in?

If Rowland hadn't come close to making this board perish with his threats of legal action (and who knows how many successors he would have pursued similarly), I wouldn't be so negative.

And I can say that I'm not the folks that told me the many various negative things about Rowland, and I'm not repeating them here. It does seem to fit the profile, however, that the more successful you are, the more people badmouth you.

If you really want another unrelated example: Graham Claytor, the guy who is apparently the patron saint of every steam-lovin' railfan in former SR territory, also systematically attempted to destroy most of Southern's passenger service in the 1960's. Go read Fred Frailey's "Twilight of the Great Trains" for the gory details.

Please allow me to defend Mr. Mitchells absolute right to his opinions whatever they are. Seems to me that when we're put in the position to have to pass judgement on another human being- we're best served if we use the same yard stick on them as we use on ourselves.
Despite his obvious penchant for the negative (particularly when it comes to Ross Rowland??) on balance, IMHO, he does contribute to this forum and RyPN would be the poorer without him.
I must also say that I regret the "dust-up" we had a little while ago but that I am firmly of the opinion that much good came out of it and the Forum today is far better moderated than before I took my stand.
Heck, even Ronald Reagan only got 54% of the vote at the height of his carreer and I'd guess I'm doing at least that well on RyPN??
Ross Rowland

There is no doubt that Ross has made a mark in steam railroading. But is what he has done preservation? Most of his endeavors (to me) involve running a steam locomotive for an event or series of events and carrying a large number of people. Some of them by definition have a finite life - 1969 Centennial, AFT and some of them go until the economics or the equipment runs out - 759, 614 to Port Jervis. I'm not calling this good or bad, but I think it's showmanship rather than preservation.

Is there a mainline steam operation that is preservation that is sustainable? You could say Union Pacific but I assume that the steam program does not pay its own way and the company makes up the difference for the value of the PR/goodwill they believe they get. At one time I would have said NKP 765 and perhaps in the long run it will be. Right now I guess MILW 261 is the only effort I know of that is both showmanship and preservation.