John,
I believe that the question might be "Why are the Friends undertaking the effort to restore these cars to boxcars?".
If there is simply no longer a need for them as converted passenger cars, why is this effort occuring now as opposed to enlisting volunteers in some other activity? Is the railroad in need of more boxcars as opposed to passenger cars?
It seems logical that projects undertaken by the Friends volunteers are prioritized to provide the most immediate benefit to the railroad and would have the concurrence of the RGRPC and the Commission as beneficial.