As I expected, this discussion flew off in a dozen directions (the same thing happens on our Interchange page). I realize fully that the Friends have umpteen things to do before such a project could ever be considered, and that lack of money and protective owners will always be a problem.
What I intended was to merely discuss the technical aspects of converting the cars from their present state back to the way they were before 1951. What changes have been made to them in the last 50 years? And where did all the plush and swiveling seats go? If they're no longer in existance, might identical seats be found in or from some standard gauge car?