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There is no doubt in my mind that a more efficient, technologically updated E-8 could be designed and built.  There are a couple of flaws in the design that are practical concerns, which is why they don't build them anymore.First is access to the cab.  I've climbed up into the cab of an E-8 and it's a chore.  You are looking at a tall, narrow, ladder going straight up.  If you are going up in there with a grip (I have watched this) it is not only physically tough, but it's also dangerous.So, my suggestion would be to stick a "porch" on the front, rather like the front end of a "Little Joe" electric, with a door in the nose- very much like a "safety cab" design.  This would also give trainmen a safe platform to ride on when they are coupling up.(Yes, I know the very same flaw exists in present day Genesis locomotives.  We are talking about the E-8.)Another flaw is the single end cab concept.  To overcome that, one might design into the revised E-8 a cab on the other end.  This will extend an already large locomotive- the thing goes on forever already- into something bigger.  But you wouldn't have to turn it to have it go the other way- just run it around the train.  Or you could just buy another E-8 to stick on the far end facing the other way.  Or rebuild a turntable, or a wye.(Again, AMTRAK has been dealing with single end cabs forever, but the concept is to make the E-8 useable for present day use.)There is the problem of visibility.  The engineers I have talked with and a little personal experience with the bulldog nosed cab tells me that looking back over the train is not easy.  This is overcome by rear view semi truck type mirrors mounted on both sides- which vibrate everything out of focus.  The solution would be to design the carbody into something like the BL-9, which afforded the engineer limited, but direct, visibility back, without sticking his head out the window.To cover all eventualities, I would also add on the peculiar trailing truck the New Haven used that had a shoe to pick up "third" rail power.  This would give our theoretical E-8 the ability to run into New York City.  And as long as I am dreaming, I probably would put a pantograph on the roof, so that our E-8 (now looking rather busy in a lot of ways) could use the overhead wiring between Washington and Boston.  There would be a lot of electrical equipment inside the carbody that would make a crowded interior even more crowded... and a maintenance nightmare.Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, I loved the play.  Because, in my head, there is no locomotive in the world more beautiful (for diesels) than the E-8.
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