The CSR 130 Project, the group that plans to restore and modernize a former Santa Fe 4-6-4 and convert it to burn biomass-based fuel, has just released the first in a series of White Papers. This one is "the Case for a Better American Steam Locomotive", written by Ing. L. D. Porta in the 1970's and largely in response to two previous articles in Trains magazine titled "the Case for the French Steam Locomotive" and "the Case for the American Steam Locomotive". These two articles are also posted at the CSR 130 website.

Porta was a prolific writer (see list of 241 known papers here: http://www.trainweb.org/tusp/porta_biblio.html) but unfortunately, very few of them have been made available to the public. Apparently this paper is the first of many that the group plans to eventually release via their website.

The paper and two articles can be accessed here: http://www.csrail.org/index.php/the-pla ... per-series

Enjoy reading, and Merry Christmas!