Steam & Excursion > Ross, Enjoy Yourself A Very Special Birthday Today !!!

Ross, enjoy yourself another Special Birthday today - another milestone I hear !!!

Best Wishes - Bob Lyndall

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Happy Birthday Ross.     You and I share the same date.

Happy Birthday from John in White Marsh, Maryland who always enjoyed riding all the steam powered excursion trains, especially those on the Chessie System.

Happy Birthday Ross from another old "Hogger".
My birthday was on the 2nd. I turned 39 just like Jack Benny.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

Ross,

Happy Birthday and many more!

Jim Wilson

Happy Birthday, Ross! Thanks for all of your contributions to steam preservation, to the celebration of the nation's great heritage though the Freedom Train, and to sharing your love of railroading and steam with so many people.

How much different our lives as railfans would be, as well as the appreciation of our nation's heritage and railroad history, without your efforts. Deepest thanks for it all, and heartfelt best wishes for a wonderful birthday, and to many more years and mileposts ahead.

Mark Cedeck

C&O 614 climbing out of the Mississippi River valley on ex-B&O rails up O'Fallon Hill east of Caseyville, Illinois.

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Happy Birthday and thanks

Happy Birthday, Ross. I hope that you will always be at the throttle of a steam engine somewhere.

Happy Birthday to both of you, even if Bob's is belated. May you both steam well with no major rebuilds for many miles to come.

Rebecca Morgan
Jacobsburg, OH

Happy Birthday Ross
Dale
AFT Blue 24

You have given many of us a bunch of great fantrips and photo ops. Happy Birthday! And many more! ! wag216

Thanks for all the nice wishes. And my thanks to all the wonderful men & woman who have been my teamates and made those projects happen successfully. 

   Best regards, Ross Rowland 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. ROWLAND!! The 2101 powered Chessie Steam Special was my first experience with live steam. My dad took us a few miles north to Garrett, Indiana to watch her come through. That trip, as well as our many Sunday visits to see the progress of NKP 765 got me hooked. Thanks so much!!

Mark Vandre
The Fort in Indiana

Posted from iPhone

=15.6pxHappy Birthday!

From one of your HICO volunteers.

For me, the Glory Days. started in the early summer of '67...Bethlehem, Eng. Terminal.
As a HICO volunteer helping with daily up-keep on CP 1286 - in prep for 5 
early CNJ, HICO trips ...over that summer.  

And then you said: " I think we ought to fire-up and run a Berk!"
Sounded like a good idea, to me!

Thank you for the privilege to have worked with you, lo, these many years.
54 years, so far....

Happy Birthday, Ross!

w.
( I'm right behind you, same year, August 10👍🏼)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/12/20 04:49 by wcamp1472.

Happy Birthday Ross !
 

Stanley Jackowski
Valrico, FL

Wes,
Remember this?  West Point, NY, May, 1975.
Happy Birthday!

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I had left the AFT staff before the final engine selection was made.
But, I had fought hard to ensure that 4449 got a thorough going-over 
( for suitability) and a good mechanical evaluation, as well as permisdions
& legal arrangements with the owners  of the engine.

A preilminary evaluation of 4449 by our crew was positive, then a city of Portland
was receptive --- and for years, Jack Holst had poured his soul into lubricating
the axle bearings....long before we ever got there.   

When all the disparate pieces fit together, it had all the aspects of a Miracle, for the 4449.

Also, at the same time, Ross's "Eastern Crew" selected RDG T-1, #2101.  2101 had been
given a complete, but quick, boiler re-tubing and inspection in 1957, then retired and never used....
The Boiler still qualified as a "Zero Mileage" engine ---- which allowed a quick return to service,
with a fully qualified boiler & certifications ...

The large profile of the 4449 would not fit through many close clearances in the NE United States...
The Reading had very tight clearances, so the T-1s were ideal for those tight situations...
Also,  the T-1s were very strong haulers, and the the 'light' AFT consist allowed the T-1 
to burn a thin, hot fire...  And Ross prefers coal burners..

I was working at D&H's Colonie Shops, Troy, NY... working on Alco PAs, Baldwin Sharks,
brand new EMD GP-39-2 locos, and also attended EMD 'school', at LaGrange, I'll.  

It was there that I was fortunate to be introduced to HotWater ....  He was. an invaluable resource
between GM, AFT and Doyle, as they prepped the 4449 for its assuming the duties as the
primary engine for the Westen swings of the AFT.

Even though I had left AFT, my heart swells with pride at the resounding success that Ross's 
endeavors produced.  We are ALL the better for having participated, as a team member, a happy
train's visitor, an awed member of the press, or a proud family waving the flag as we came whisting
through..

As far as I have seen, the press's coverage at all the stops and towns was outstandingly positive and 
enthusiastic ---- America had just come through a very grueling political fight between Congress and 
the Executive...it wore EVERYBODY down...

The AFT was the only nationwide bicentennial, traveling celebration--- and virtually every American
enjoyed the roving event.

In my opinion,  our country could use a prescription from Dr. Rowland, again--- to cure "what
ails us", in these troubling times.

Who's UP for it?  
Or, has the "cynicism virus" of the times affected ( infected?) too many of us?

I don't know about other folks, but I'm ready to haul my share, if there's a way to serve.

​W.


 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/12/20 14:40 by wcamp1472.

From Wes Camp:
In my opinion,  our country could use a prescription from Dr. Rowland, again--- to cure "what
ails us", in these troubling times.

You are sure right about that, Wes.   And Happy Birthday, Ross.  Thanks to both of you for all the memories.