I'm Dennis Hornberger, Chairman of the committee of volunteers who serve as operators and caretakers of the Shay Railroad.
Many of us, when we hear the words Rough and Tumble, think of steam engines, and tractors, and possibly the Shay Railroad. We watch in awe as these great machines demonstrate how things were done at a more simpler time.
But Rough and Tumble is more than tractors and steam engines. It's people, those good souls who give precious hours of their time and give the organization its personality.
Today, the Shay Railroad Committee would like to recognize one such individual, our head conductor, Mr. Ray Long.
Ray has been a conductor for us since the mid-eighties. Many of our regular passengers just naturally think of Ray whenever the railroad is mentioned.
Ray is more than a Conductor. he is a dear friend and an inspiration to all of us. During the difficult times when a handfull of us ere struggling to bring the Railroad back from the scrap pile, his positive attitude kept our spirits up when our steam was down. Ray saw the dream and the future of the Shay R.R. In 1994 and 1995, Ray, at the age of 83, completely wired and installed the lights on our passenger cars so our riders would be safe. As late as March, 2002, he helped with our track projects, working right along side of us, sometimes for 12 hours a day, to rebuild our one half mile of right-away. RAY IS 90 YEARS OLD.
Ray, on behalf of your friends, the volunteers of the Shay Railroad, it is an honor, today, to dedicate Car 1 to you. As of today, October 12, 2002, car 1 will be named the "Ray Long".