Note that I changed the subject <G>.

Richard Hendrickson writes:

"All true, but please note that these monstrosities were all constructed
before John Purcell became the Santa Fe's chief mechanical officer in
1912 and immediately began to get rid of them, as well as to bring the
Santa Fe's obsession with compound locos to an abrupt end in favor of
simple locos with Schmidt superheaters. The accomplishments of the
Santa Fe's mechanical department under Purcell, H. H. Lanning, and
Charles T. Ripley, culminating with the remarkable 4-6-4s, 4-8-4s, and
2-10-4s built for the Santa Fe between 1937 and 1944, are documented in
great detail in a new book by Larry Brasher, Santa Fe Steam Locomotive
Development, recently published by Signature Press."

Yep. I have the book.

As far as Santa Fe's design mistakes in the 30's, 40's and 50's goes...I'm thinking about them. And thinking...and thinking......Gimmeee time...

Mike Brock