Tiffany, UP makes the rules. The steam engines are a unique and special piece of equipment that they want to run. Old diesels with worn out coupler pockets and such don’t warrant the same privilege regardless of why they might be on the railroad. The PR value for UP trumps many things. Also the circumstances when running the steam or heritage diesels are different from ordinary train movement. So yes the 4-8-4 and 4-6-6-4 and maybe a 4-8-8-4 soon, non alignment couplers are a non issue with the powers that be on the UP.
Greg
