OPRRMS wrote.

(I thought the reason was, "no support facilities"). That could be true too, although the 4449 trip back east and return last year kinda shoots holes in that theory too. The logistics for good boiler water must be a real nightmare. Get stopped for some issue ahead for an hour with no local volunteer fire dept. and you may not make the next scheduled water stop (tank car in the boonies maybe) location. Yet, U.P. manages it's water logistics and has for years and there are no steam facilities beyond Wyoming for their steam locomotives. If you mean, what happens if you break a rod or a drive wheel? Where is the next roundhouse or maintenance shop? The 4449 crew seems to be able to manage maintenance issues extremely well for decades and they have no shop facilities "on the road". I just wish I could recall the exact chronicle that the subject was written so that everyone could read it and get the tone and the exact facts as he wrote it. Sorry, I don't have that ability or nor am I a member so I can't search the TO files to copy it to this site.
I would like to have the ability to sit down with MDO and hear his real story on how S.P. and who in management loused things up so bad that the then Rio Grande was able to buy out S.P. They let it slide into decline for years, yet nobody did anything about it.Somebody screwed the pooch on that one big time. That was unforgivable. Ole Harriman must be dancing in his grave as to the final resolution. On top of that, they screwed up the deal with Santa Fe~ to boot, ahead of Rio Grande transaction. Oops. This maybe close to breaking one of the new rules about castigating people or businesses. If so, I won't be offended if my post is deleted. I'll just figure out a better way of presenting my thoughts next time.
Bill