Roger, I have had the same thought as I have been following this thread. I had decided to remain quiet rather make a possibly unpopular statement, but here goes.
One of the things that might be an issue if you suddenly started burning coal in locomotives across the country are emissions. Smoke thankfully (except apparently in Durango) emitted by historic operation has largely been ignored by regulatory bodies, but a resurgance of coal burning locomotives nationwide might be another story. I suspect that it would be difficult to achieve the clean burning and "scrubbing" of emissions that power plants are able and required to do. I realize that a modern steam locomotive would have technology to enhance efficient combustion well beyond what is achieved by a fireman with shovel, but I pose the question to the experts, could a modern coal burning engine in this country meet anticipated emmisions standards?
I suspect the technology for electrification has advance considerably since the Milwaukie Rd. operated along with other notable electrification in the west such as the Butte Ananconda and Pac. and also the GN in Wa. on Stevens Pass. The Oregon Electric was another notable electrified line here in the Pac. Nw. And don't forget the Walla Valley RR. From what I have read, many of the electrified operations were dieslized because of the high cost of maintaining the electric infrastructure, plus the cost and inconvenience of having to change motive power at the ends of electrified districts. Widespread electrification of mainlines would avoid this problem. Class 1's have largely abandoned branch line service to as large an extent as possible, so it would seem that if widespread electrification were to occur it would be on the mainlines of the class ones where electric power could be run across the entire mainline system coast to coast, branch feeder lines remaining dieselized in order to serve the spurs and sidings of individual industries.
My 2 cents
Sparky
