Unfortunately, yes .. it is cheaper to run diesels, which is why we no longer see steam on the world's railways in general. Much of the cost difference is maintenance and higher labor costs.
The pics make me sad because I used to cross that bridge a dozen times a day in a steam engine cab and that diesel looks entirely out of place. (Yes, we at GTL, Inc. occasionally were forced to run diesels for a trip or two, but everything possible was done to run steam...)
The bottom line is it didn't have to be this way. Way to go, CHS!
Skip Luke
Switchman (ret): Grand Canyon Railway;
Engineer (ret): Georgetown Loop RR Inc., Sumpter Valley Ry., Monticello & Sangamon Valley;
Dispatcher(ret): Illinois Central, White Pass & Yukon, Burlington Northern Ry.
Mariner, Musician, Miner