The mineral deposits you reference would be cheaper for the railroad to move to Anchorage or Whittier. It's not the length of the line, it's the additional maintenance and operating cost that buys nothing for the railroad. The railroad would have to charge the same for freight to Port McKenzie as it gets for freight to Seward in order to break even. Don't forget that the railroad also owns the docks in Seward and Whittier. Dock revenue at Port McKenzie will not go to the railroad to help pay for the haul. The numbers are black and white.