IIRC, the runaway did not occur at the same time 4449 was on the territory. Rather, it occured sometime after 4449 was on another part of the system, well away from the territory of the RFE(s) assigned to the Pass. If one wants to claim that a steam locomotive operating hundreds of miles away from the scene of the event, or that one operated days before the event was a cause, then the same thing could be said of Operation Lifesaver specials and business specials, both of which draw resources away from regular, day-to-day operations, especially on a railroad that is not prepared or staffed for sound, day-to-day operations.

One of the things that constantly happens in this industry is supervisory overkill. Having too many people in white hard hats around, then griping that so many people were there. You cannot have it both ways. Too many mid-level managers will send 3 or 5 operating officers out to do a job that requires only 1 (or none), then whine about the demands on their supervisory manpower. This was an on-going problem at NS, as well.

A properly-run and managed program actually needs few, if any local operating managers around. Again, use UP as an example. Usually, they manage just fine with the crew and a pilot. Whne MOP's are MTO's are ont he train, it's usually because they want to be there, or because their Supt. or GM or whomever forced them to be there. Again, creating the very problem they then wail about.