I'm not scoffing, just pointing out that it was anything but a race. A very well-coordinated side-by-side run where terrain allowed, but nothing even approaching a race. the fact that one locomotive was ahead or behind the other a various points was caused by differences in curvature and the difference in distance between 2 given points caused by the terrain.

It was a great show.

But it would be very hard to beat the 80+ mph run of the doubleheaded 844/4449 between Seattle and Tacoma last May. That one was again interrupted when 4449 pulled up lame, but it was fun while it lasted.