Hopper #673 was built originally to run on the EBT. Build date, unknown. It was sold to the WP&Y back in 1968-69 when the White Pass was doing there major up grades that included digging their new tunnel. As far as I can tell, these hoppers where never used by the WP&Y in “regular” revenue service. Of course, I hate to say never so please don’t hold me to this statement.
Between 1991 and 1993, the SVRy purchased and traded for a total of seven of these ex-EBT hoppers from the White Pass. Six of them are running on the SVRy today.
So, was #673 a “real” WP&Y hopper? Well, between 1969 and 1992 I believe it sure was. If the fact that this car was built for the EBT makes it not a “real” White Pass car, then I guess we can also say that there is no such thing as “real” Rio Grande Southern locomotive or piece of rolling stock. (except maybe the 0404 of course). As you can see, it all depends on what you call “real”.
Hey Skip, since the EBT steel hoppers were built over a period of time between 1912 and 1927, how were you able to pin #673 down to 1912? Since we don’t know what #673’s original EBT number was, I have had no luck in finding a build date on it.