Following the ICC's rejection of the merger between the AT&SF and Southern Pacific, KCS made a significant effort to purchase the entire SP for $1 Billion and assume debt. What were the major reasons why KCS wanted the SP? Would they have been able to operate it successfully more so than the Rio Grande did? Would there be three systems in the west today: BNSF, UP and KCS-SP? Where would the D&RGW had gone in the end?
That's a weird question. Who knows, would UP want another line to connect with WP? It wouldn't get BN anywhere, since Salt Lake City would be the end of the line. Same goes for Santa Fe connecting from the south.
SP-KCS sounds like the best fit. It might have been able to get a line east of Denver, like the old RI. Another important link would be KC- St. Louis.
Rio Grand might have ended up as a former class 1, now regional, like FEC, or B&M.