Re: C&TS old passenger and baggage cars

Your concerns are equally held by the Friends BOD and members.
To expand on Bill Kepner's comment, the 'passenger' car restoration will be extensive enough to be multi-year projects. Such undertakings require a lot of the cars structure to be exposed. Leaving them outside exposed with roofs and siding off is highly undesirable. Tarps are not the most viable option for protection.
The long talked about car repair facility(s) would provide protection for the cars in between work sessions. With the Antonito CRF well under way to going into service, you will definately see some 'action' on the passenger/baggage cars. The CRF is also key to attracting grant funding for these cars. They will be quite expensive to restore, perhaps in the neighborhood of $100k+ per car.
You can help by checking out the Friends website on becoming a member if you are not already one, and/or donating $ via the ACNGS. Perhaps you might even be interested in participating in a work session sometime in the future on the very cars you refer to.