FEBT Restoration – Boxcar 174

EBT Boxcar 174 (originally #955) was constructed in the EBT Rockhill Shops in 1915 to the same general pattern as the EBT’s other home-built boxcars. It served the railroad throughout the rest of the EBT’s common carrier operations. During the tourist era it was one of several boxcars parked in the Rockhill yard.

In 2007 Boxcars 174 and 168 were pulled from the dead line for restoration by the FEBT restoration crew. While 168 was converted to a handicapped accessible passenger car, 174 is being restored to its historic appearance.

Boxcar 174 was placed on a track near

the FEBT restoration shop as an as-time-allows project. Since then progress is made on the car each restoration season. Replacement of lower steel sheets, bolster repairs, end sill repair, truck rebuilding, and priming are largely completed on the north end of the car. Construction of a new roof structure, installation of a new standing seam roof and catwalk are also complete. Rebuilding of the doors is in progress.

Work will soon move to the south end of the car. Already the car has proven useful as a dry place to store restoration supplies.