I interpret this as possibly having one major change from past policy:
Allowing someone to pull passengers over NS trackage without the Amtrak insurance umbrella.
The probably was NOT that they disliked steam, but that they did not care for the liability created by hauling passengers. This article does not report at all on this and it is the only part that really matters. NS has deadheaded steam and accommodated Amtrak Specials.
765 will be cleared, as are 4449 and 3751, to operate Amtrak specials. That is the how we in the east will regain mainline steam.
611 stored serviceable? No. Good grief. She was parked under the pre-Form 4 rules.
Michael