I'm not an expert, but I would assume if John insisted on sock puppet accounts here or continues to state things on social media all before his trial date in February; that any or all statements he makes could be used against him as part of his court date... so I am honestly shocked by his cavalier attitude on these forums with an alt-account, his statements on social media describing his glory days (and even a desire to write a book!) or his willingness to openly show his face at train shows and other enthusiast events right now.

It seems to me the actions of a man who is convinced he is going to get away from this; either due to confidence that he can prove his innocence, or he fails to grasp the severity of the situation and won't believe he has done anything wrong until the Feds have him cuffed and in prison for wire fraud... not to mention the bankruptcy of his business that is also ongoing as we speak. If I was in his shoes, I would have taken a plea deal to try and escape the potential of jail time to then try and be able to have some focus on salvaging the business before both ships sunk. Or at the very least, I would have gone social media dark; avoided all forums and public outings and tried to keep a low profile at least to ensure I wasn't handing prosecutors new fodder to use against me.

Color me surprised if he manages to prove his innocence in the court next month, but as it seems now the dude is just digging his own grave while shouting to the air that he's just "doing fine!" Going to be interesting to see how the Wasatch bankruptcy is handled if John is behind federal bars at the end of this.

I believe you may be conflating this restoration with another stalled project. There is a gutted coach that was supposed to be converted to an ADA accessible car, but it is still inside the Steamtown shop.

There's another possible explanation.

As I recall, the "disappeared" post in question made personal attacks on Mr. Rowland, something that is usually verboten here.

There are two general defenses to this, however: Either the discussion of a majorly public event in the public record (such as criminal charges, bankruptcy, etc.), OR discussing an individual who made the choice to thrust himself into the public spotlight and thrive in celebritydom--your Kardashians, your rap stars, your sports pros, etc. Our field is/has been replete with a scant few "celebrity personalities" who don't/didn't shy away from the limelight--David P. Morgan, Jack Showalter, Ed Dickens, Jim Boyd, Doyle McCormack, the Claytors.................. but above and beyond by far Mr. Rowland.

It still should have been deleted.............. but it wasn't the obvious case it might have appeared to be.

*

.

File suit against the microwave manufacturer for designing a door that you could bang your cup into. Or visa versa the cup manufacturer…. Somebody gotta pay. ;>)

*

As is widely known when the facts were put into the public record as a result of the K&T litigation the industry was filled with talk of the many corner cuttings that Wasatch/Rimmasch had been guilty of over time and the great risk this was putting the entire industry in.

I have no way of knowing where the line is between facts and gossip.

If you carefully read the entire K&T testimony you can only come away with one conclusion and that is that there were many corners cut and that thankfully the locomotive never entered service.

I think it's very important to remember everyone is entitled to a presumption of innocence. The gov't needs to prove its case at trial beyond a reasonable doubt. Let's see what the trial reveals.

February will be here soon enough. Ross Rowland

*

I just wish someone could explain to me the desire to drink molten hot liquid that tastes exactly like what it is, something burnt and liquefied, when they COULD be drinking some nice cold refreshing beverage. :)

a quick spin around google indicates that the agreed upon range for coffee to be served at is 155-175 degrees, and never above 175 due to the risk of burning. Coffee is correctly brewed at 195-205 degrees. Not sure where the notion that 185 is correct or the industry standard came from. McDonalds lost the case because 185 was in fact too hot to be safe.

*

I just wish someone could explain to me the desire to drink molten hot liquid that tastes exactly like what it is, something burnt and liquefied, when they COULD be drinking some nice cold refreshing beverage. :)

Have you ever been on the back end of a train, headed west going past the Steamtown Mall (or more correctly the building that once housed that curious artifact of retail commerce) in December? Bridge 60 is always worse, because of the airflow.


Or spent all day on train traversing its way to Carbondale later than September or before April?

Or pounding the ground in Troy NY in 1955?

There's a reason the historic pictures of caboose interiors always seemed to have a percolator on the pot-belly stove.



You'd not only have consumed the molten beverage, you'd have bathed in it.

In the summer, iced for me, I'm with you in July. Irrational to drink hot coffee tea or anything else. No need to induce hyperthermia or hyperhidrosis.

After 12PM, decaf.

Well, not me. I used to do residential snow removal in situations that required hand snow blowers and shovels, usually in the middle of the night. Always keep a nice cooler of ice cold Diet Coke in the truck.

Two developments:

1. Filing (attached) showing the parties are ready for trial on 2/14/22. So it appears that it is happening.

2. A notice (attached) by the government of their intent to offer evidence that Rimmasch in another project, directed the illegal removal of asbestos by an unqualified person with improper PPE.