Porta never produced a book of his memoirs, but there is still a "body of work" to peruse:

https://www.advanced-steam.org/5at/mode ... nte-porta/

https://www.advanced-steam.org/ufaqs/porta-papers/

From what I know, he wrote comparatively little on the ACE project, probably in part because no actual design/mechanical modifications were ever carried out on any actual prototype or test loco to show actual improvements, and in part because of supposed disillusionment with the project. (Porta was the consummate experimental designer and "scientist" in his methodology, and such folks tend to have poor dealings with the "political" side of such matters.)

It should be noted that the C&O J3a's were rightfully regarded as one of the true apexes of "Lima Super Power," if not THE apex, and if anyone were seeking a superlatively-designed steam loco with reduced hammer blow, this would be perhaps THE best loco in the world, probably surpassing N&W 611 and the SAR Class 26 Red Devil, or maybe any late Chapelon locos...... like comparing the performance of a Formula One race car with a stock car......

I agree this statement, but I've always wondered why we don't hear more about the superlatives of the C&O Greenbriers. Compared to the NYC Niagara, N&W J, ATSF 2900's, etc. the C&O 4-8-4's seem to be in relative obscurity. If not for 614 operating in the preservation era, I doubt there would be much interest in them at all. Its always been my perception that these were probably the pinnacle of Lima steam but flew under the radar for some reason.