When you have people like David Goode, E. Hunter Harrison, or Michael Ward in charge of a railroad, the chance for steam is almost nil. Those guys only care about the bottom line and avoiding anything that costs money without a profit in return. Like steam programs. At least Wick Moorman at NS has a heart.
I'm sure most of the other guys have hearts.
Contrary to the belief of most railfans, perhaps yourself as well, steam is NOT A MUST! It is not a right. Officials don't have to do anything but run the business, make money for the stockholders, etc, etc. Steam has no part in that. Sure, some like to use it as a PR tool and can be very effective BUT it gets in the way of real business and I know I would have no trouble axing a "steam program" instantly if it got in the way of real business, wasn't worth it, whatever.
The current management at NS sees the PR value in occasional steam trips. Same goes for the UP folks (well.....not really.......) Great but when business gets especially busy, other things going on, whatever, steam isn't going to run. It took NS nearly 20 years to bring steam back, the Reading & Northern parked their steam engine for 10-15 years while they grew their business, 1994 was the last time a steam engine ran on CSX I think, etc.
Steam is cool but not all see the value in it and that's fine!
