Steam & Excursion > Ross Rowland letting it all hang out

Think the date was April of 1981.  I was aboard the C&O 614 powered Chessie Safety Express on an excursion from East St Louis to Flora Illinois and return. We conducted two photo runs prior to arrival in Flora. One was at speed, the other at slow speed.  By all that is right and proper, this slide probably should have hit the round file. Taken with a Yashica MG1 with no motor drive, it wasn't the best shot of the day. But now, looking back, it isn't so bad to me ....

Regards,
Burlington John
 

---

Sometimes the value of an image has nothing to do with its technical or artistic merit, but to its power to kindle vivid memories.

JBWX

My guess is that Ross will agree with the above. I'd also assume that he'll have/had a smile on his face when he opens/opened this thread!

Top photo at Tuxedo Rocks, NY not quite a mile north of the old Tuxedo Depot enroute to Port Jervis, NY - October, 1997.
Bottom photo of 614 & Ross during one of his "Signature Photo Runbys" - Port Jervis, NY - October, 1997 - pun intended!
The overlay photo of Ross was taken in Roanoke, VA - Spring, 2011.

---

---

Here's my best "Ross Hanging Out" shot.  (I've posted it before- sorry)  This is with the AFT, of course.  We were headed into Virginia on the C&O (?) and the Cheesie had added 2 helpers on the point at a water stop.  I asked if I could ride the trailing unit...
SR

---

Is 614 still operating? What a beautiful locomotive....

portlander Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is 614 still operating?

No. Last ran an excursion in 1999, Rowland put it up for auction in 2000 (at the NJT Facility), with no takers. In 2010 Rowland tried to get the Greenbrier Presidential Express off the ground.. failed due to lack cash and cooperation from CSX. Today sits cold and has some pieces taken off, likely from when it was moved to Clifton Forge, VA.

Picture from 2014:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3913347

-Dave



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 10/26/16 19:14 by dbesade.

Thanks Dave. What a shame.


dbesade Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> portlander Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Is 614 still operating?
>
> No. Last ran an excursion in 1999, Rowland put it
> up for auction in 2000 (at the NJT Facility), with
> no takers. In 2010 Rowland tried to get
>  Greenbrier Presidential Express of the ground..
> failed due to lack cash and cooperation from CSX.
> Today sits cold and has some pieces taken off,
> likely from when it was movied to Clifton Forge,
> VA.
>
> Picture from 2014:
> http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?
> id=3913347
>
> -Dave

Love the shot from the rear helper!

Thanks for the nice pics and great memories. Saving the best for last !!

   Ross Rowland

dbesade Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No. Last ran an excursion in 1999, Rowland put it
> up for auction in 2000 (at the NJT Facility), with
> no takers. In 2010 Rowland tried to get the
> Greenbrier Presidential Express off the ground..
> failed due to lack cash and cooperation from CSX.
> Today sits cold and has some pieces taken off,
> likely from when it was moved to Clifton Forge,
> VA.

Last excursion was Sunday November 1st, 1998.

IIRC, I have many feet of sound super8 of this run from the other seat. 

BoilingMan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Here's my best "Ross Hanging Out" shot.  (I've
> posted it before- sorry)  This is with the AFT,
> of course.  We were headed into Virginia on the
> C&O (?) and the Cheesie had added 2 helpers on the
> point at a water stop.  I asked if I could ride
> the trailing unit...
> SR

SP4360 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> IIRC, I have many feet of sound super8 of this run
> from the other seat. 


Oooohhh... Would you please digitize that when you have
the time and post it for us all to enjoy?   (I never got to see
the 614 in action, at ful speed.