I kinda like this, and the idea of one day being able to hear the faint whistle of a far off steam locomotive as it works hard to pull a main line freight. But there are so many factors that go against that ever happening. First off is the cost to run a steam locomotive, and I don't just mean fuel costs. Steam locomotive aren't just some machine you can beat and abuse like a diesel. They are a like a living creature that needs all most constraint attention. They take hours to prep and tons of elbow grease to keep running. But they do have one advantage over a diesel and that is shear power. Most steam locomotives can out pull a diesel of the same number of axles.
For example, Tuscola and Saginaw Bay RR would use 3 GP35's to pull about 35 cars out of Durand MI. Pere Marquette 1225, a 2-8-4 Berk pulled that 35 cars, plus 8 of its own cars, plus an additional 15 cars and one caboose out of Durand no problem. Its a 2.something% grade north out of Durand yard. But at the same time the crew of 1225 had to show up at 3am to get her fired and ready to leave the yard by 11pm. Where as the normal crew with the GP35s would show up around 6 and go right out on to the road.
Then there are the railroads them selves. Ever notice that when there is a steam excursion there is all ways a diesel with the locomotive? (Some places you wont see that, such as Strasbourg, MSRI, and a few other tourist railroads.) It not that the steam loco can pull the train, its that railroads way of preventing the train from blocking the main line should any thing happen to the steam loco. (Except one case with SP4449 where the diesel was mean to help, crapped out, and 4449 had to lug the whole train up a mountain at 12mph. But more on that latter. (Good story to hear some time though.))
But still, its a good idea and I support it, I just dont see this as the rebirth of steam as a major player in main line power.
