IOWA PACIFIC TO (not) PARTNER WITH YELLOW RIBBON EXPRESS, ACQUIRE C&O 614

ALAMOSA, Colo. (Apr. 1<====LOOK AT THIS DATE!!!!)--In a development certain to change the face of American railfanning for the next decade, Iowa Pacific Holdings, the operator of Pullman Rail Journeys and several excursion lines, announced that it was partnering with Ross Rowland in pursuit of operating his envisioned Yellow Ribbon Express, a steam-hauled exhibition train that is planned to tour 125 cities and towns in the U.S. between 2017 and 2020.

The proposal is an updated version of Rowland's highly acclaimed 1975-1976 American Freedom Train. "It's a clone of the Freedom Train," Rowland said. That train, bearing hundreds of historic artifacts and documents, was seen by more than 7 million people in its year and a half of travel.

Rowland says that the Yellow Ribbon Express has two goals. The first is "a national loud and proud thank you" to American military veterans, especially those who have served since 9/11. The second, he says, is to raise $1 billion to aid wounded veterans of the wars who have fought since 2001. "It's a thank you from the 99 percent of us to the 1 percent of us who have done the heavy lifting," he said in earlier releases.

Edwin E. Ellis, chief executive officer of Iowa Pacific Holdings, has offered a selection of over 100 of its available rail passenger cars for the project, including several that had been acquired from Rowland's stillborn Greenbrier Express project, a proposed passenger train to and from the Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, Va. IPH would also make available shop space for rebuilding at several of its railroad locations, including Alamosa, Co. and Saratoga Springs, NY.

Rowland is still seeking at least ten corporate sponsors willing to invest $2 million a year each for five years, so that all admission income from the travelling exhibition can potentially go directly to what he calls "A Billion for the Brave."

A major change to the original plans was made through the partnership with Ellis. Whereas Rowland's original proposal was to use former Chesapeake & Ohio No. 614, a 1948 Lima 4-8-4 that Rowland has owned for three decades, as the primary locomotive, Ellis has now pledged to use other mainline steam and vintage diesel locomotives in the train's operation.

“There are several capable large steam locomotives that could potentially operate this train, and they're withering, along with the railroad enthusiast hobby, for lack of suitable duty,” said Ellis. “We want to operate the train with regionally appropriate power whenever possible, but we will always have either C&O 614 or our own vintage diesels available.” Locomotives discussed have included Southern Pacific 4-8-4 4449 and Texas & Pacific 2-10-4 610 (both of which operated on the original American Freedom Train), Norfolk & Western 4-8-4 611, Nickel Plate 2-8-4 765, Pere Marquette 2-8-4 1225, Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 261, and AT&SF 4-8-4s 3751 and 2926. EMD E8 diesels from the IPH fleet, re-equipped with PTC and HEP, would also be used, especially in drought-stricken California.

C&O 614 would be overhauled for YRE duty, with a caveat: At the end of the train's operation in 2020, title to the locomotive would transfer to Iowa Pacific for its future use. The transfer agreement stipulates that the loco would eventually be preserved at an “appropriate” museum.

Further details of the agreement, including a press release, are at the project's website at http://www.yellowribbonexpress.com/Its- ... oamers.htm

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Very well written and incredibly close to reality. Sounds like a plan!!!

Stay tuned for further announcements.

Ross Rowland

Sandy, and who is going to pay for this?

Rob Gardner

In related news, the principals of the T1 Rust have pointed out that for only a nominal increase in the yearly contribution by each contributor, the development of their 4-4-4-4-4-4 or whatever it will be when the design is frozen can be fast-tracked. "Why settle for a green or blue engine when you can have Wicked Cool (TM)?"

A spokesman for HIT Engertainment responded "The proven draw of Thomas the Tank Engine (TM) and the Percy TM) recently crafted at Strasburg clearly suggest that multiple-heading our locomotives, rather than conducting a costly renovation of 614 -- a locomotive without even a functional feedwater heater, for heaven's sake -- or an expensive new build of 130 mph technology in a 20-mph oil train world, would be a far better solution for powering a concept like the Yellow Ribbon Express.

"Given the proliferation of nominally-Island-of-Sodor characters over the years, and particularly now that a Virginian Blue Ridge prototype has joined their ranks, there is ample prototypical representation for any consist length -- just ask my son, who regularly operates consists of 10-12 engines on trains of no more than two or three cars."

Following last year's announcement of restoration of UP 4014, HIT is now supposedly in talks with the Henry Ford Museum for a medium-term lease of one of their locomotives to be temporarily converted with an animatronic face and certain other enhancements for use on the anticipated 30+-car consist of the new Yellow Ribbon service. It will certainly be interesting to consider whether the deep pockets of the "Yhomas" franchise will produce results, as there is little question that both the cash and the marketing leverage exist to make this plan practical.

It would be nice to Iowa Pacific partner up with YRE. Maybe get the ball rolling finally

(Notices April Fools Date)...

I'm also liking the idea of using other steamers in the mix besides C&O 614. Could do some additional/doubleheaders on the side using IP/YRE equipment. May also want to get Mid-America & AAPRCO to supply additional passenger cars. Hope you saw my previous posting in the other YRE Thread about getting Corporate/Military ORG's Sponsorship.