I would consider the regulatory change seems unlikely unless, as Jeff pointed out, the original alignment of the OLC grade was utilized. In that case the old alignment might have been grandfathered in. I don't recall that the engineering data I have indicates how much of the line is on an existing grade. The data also does not indicate superelevation, though I know it was used. As I said before, this was a very low speed track with many 24 deg. curves and grades in excess of 3 percent, not to mention the two switchbacks. The idea of a proposed connection with the NCO is possible but again, why start a third of the way into the new grade? Anyway, they still had 60+ miles of lower standard track to contend with.