Hipshot Wrote:
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> 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. -

Take some of the 200 year supply of coal and make diesel