Before you start you need to prepare a restoration report... covering
the cars history, restoration options and plans....

Examples are available from several railroad museums... I would suggest
The California State Railroad Museum (CSRM)...

In addition CSRM is hosting the 1998 "National Railway Preservation
Symposium" in March...  This would be a good option to get a basic
education in railroad preservation.  Contact their foundation at (916)
327-8485 for information.

In addition I would suggest you contact the Association of Railroad
Museums (ARM) and get a copy of their recomended practices. While not a
restoration guide it addresses issues of changing industrial artifacts
in a museum setting...  contact them at...  ARM, PO box 370, Tujanga,
CA, 91043

Randy Hees, President
Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources (SPCRR)
PO Box 783, Newark CA 94560

A not-for-profit museum specializing in preserving and interpreting the
heritage of narrow gauge railroading of the Pacific Coast & equipment
built by the Carter Brothers of Newark California. Operating the last
regularly scheduled horse-drawn railroad at Ardenwood Historic Farm in
Fremont, CA.

Visit my web page "The Birth of California Narrow Gauge" at
http://www.netcom.com/~hees/NRRWGauge/main.html