You are partially right. Santa Fe's study was done in 1971 - 72 by the Operations Research Group – Industrial Engineering (“ORGIE”) section of its Operating Department under Bill Paul's supervision. I was part of that group. But the statement about the copper investment is utter nonsense. Our analysis assumed the electrified section would be limited to the Transcon route between Kansas City and Barstow. Design and engineering were highly detailed and included a construction schedule that, becasue of the need to build power plants, spanned many years. At Santa Fe’s request, GE conceptualized and quoted prices for a modernized 11,000 V, 60 Hz, 6,000 hp version of the PRR/PC E-44. Even including the benefits derived from hauling coal to at least one, and maybe two, new coal-fired steam generating stations that would have to be built to provide power across the south-central prairie and southwestern deserts, the economic returns didn’t turn positive -- under the then current assumptions regarding fuel prices – for several years. Memory fails me as to exactly how many years. On the flip side, however, no one at that time ever forecast $100+ crude oil prices. Maybe, it’s time for another look. -