Earlier in 1980, a meeting had been called to discuss the possibility of re-introducing coal-fired locomotives to America's railways. Present at the meeting were Ross Rowland, William Withuhn, Bill Benson, and
L. D. Porta among other technology experts. All agreed that the time was ripe, and plans were made to develop a prototype steam locomotive using advanced technology. Porta had already been considering the possibilityof the need for advanced coal-burning locomotives for several years, and he had a basic design concept ready at the time of this meeting. Porta believed that the development of modern steam locomotives would have to proceed on a step-by-step basis. He was basically the only man in the previous 40 years who had devised any significant improvements for steam and overseen their implementation on actual working steam locomotives, and he was the only man at this meeting with steam design experience.