Rick -
U.P.'s steam program is GREAT, don't get me wrong. U.P. Joe Passentino was a friend of mine from our Freedom Train days. He got me cab rides during switching moves on both 844 and 3985, two of the finest engines ever built, and the creme-de-la-creme of anything running today. A couple of times I was even privileged to help him shoot the pins at the end of a long day. My ONLY complaint is that U.P. - unlike BNSF - does not allow ANY foreign steam on it's rails, not even the meticulously rebuilt and maintained 2472. Being ignorant of the details of what had happened in Washington, I was mainly questioning why Greg would complain about a line being part of the BNSF. He has subsequently revealed the reasons behind his comment.
- Russo de los Locos