Talk:Ross Rowland

Semiprotection requested

I've requested semiprotection of this article so that the repeated attempts to add the 'lynch mob' paragraph by an unregistered user will stop. I personally don't know Mr. Rowland, and otherwise haven't added anything substantive to this article. All I seek is an accurate reflection of Mr. Rowland's contributions to the field of railroading. n2xjk (talk) 14:17, 9 July 2012 (UTC)

I've since added some more citations to the article, but an unsigned user is still intent on restoring the same tired paragraph that violates WP:BLP. n2xjk (talk) 15:02, 25 July 2012 (UTC)

Admin Uncle G has blocked the IPs causing the problem. Thanks! n2xjk (talk) 20:49, 26 July 2012 (UTC)

Lead

Can we get the lead changed to something that actually explains who Ross Rowland is, rather than what "some" people think of him? Currently the reader has to read a long way into the article to gain the slightest clue as to who this person is, what he does, and why he is notable. What is he? A business man? A financier? A train enthusiast? An engineer? Where is he from? Anything known at all about his background?

Without out any of this I rather question his notability. Yes, he has been involved in notable events, but is he notable? --Escape Orbit ^(Talk) 20:22, 13 March 2013 (UTC)

I got to wondering the same, and did Google and Google book searches adding 'trains' or 'freedom express' to his name. In the 70s he received a lot of notice for the latter, including articles in People and multiple small town papers . Since then he's continued to be mentioned in papers when he reengages steam train projects , and in books and magazines that chronicle steam trains . So yes, this needs better sources specific to his life and work; according to many sources he was a commodities broker in New York, later on Amtrak's board of directors.

The vandalism to the article, in the form of something like a personal vendetta (well, exactly like), has been in progress at least since 2008; I first noticed it in 2010. This has been so persistent in its obsessiveness that it begs for implementation of indefinite page protection, and, if necessary, eventually the same for my talk page. JNW (talk) 13:14, 15 March 2013 (UTC)

Death

Hey there's been a lot of changes to this page since his death was announced on Facebook. A few things I would like to note.

• Let's replace the Facebook sources as soon as there is a news article on it, I assume Trains Magazine or Railfan & Railroad will publish something more official shortly. I also noted the Strasburg post didn't mention his cancer diagnosis, and while R&R did note that on a Facebook post; I would rather wait for it to be mentioned in the news or an obituary first. We can use the Facebook sources for now, but they need to be the first thing updated with something more reputable as soon as it is available.

• Let's leave the eulogizing to the news and prominent figures. I removed the segment following his death explaining his "importance to rail preservation" as it was editorializing from Wikipedia editors. Let's wait for the eulogies to come from prominent sources, and not be things we're writing on our own. If he is seen as important find news sources that back that up, commentary from other preservationists or organizations.

• Ross was criticized for some of his posts on RYPN and TrainOrders in his final years. Remember, forums are not notable citation sources on their own. If the news or other reputable sources don't cover that aspect of his life, it is not something we can add to the article as some sort of "gotcha!" towards the recently deceased. Just as we're not here to glorify by writing our own eulogy him, we're not here to vilify him either by writing our own treatise on his sins; and any edits to the article have to reflect reputable sources and commentary independent on the Wikipedia editor's feelings on Rowland as a person.

Xboxtravis7992 (talk) 22:59, 19 July 2025 (UTC)