Artifact or not--different issue, BUT!

Actually, I wasn't speaking to the artifact issue, but to the practicality of using rivets, as they don't require the expensive Houk tool, and they are cheaper, way cheaper, except for the labor involved. A good riveting team can pretty much keep up with a Houk tool, I believe. BUT that (speed of work/labor hours) is not really the issue here, but getting some hopper cars back to work.
As to artifact. Hmm, they may not be artifacts of the D&RGW, but they ARE artifacts, and even though we use them, they should be given some respect because the do represent a very significant artifact (EBT) that is struggling to survive, and deserves to survive too!!
Fortunately, if Houks are used, they can be removed and rivets put in later! If we expect other groups to respect "our" stuff, we'd better respect "their" stuff!
S'
David D.