Guy Wilber wrote:

There was no date within the scope of this list that required owners to replace wood running boards other than when cars were rebuilt in kind or when an existing wood roof was replaced my a metal roof. Tank cars were under the same stipulation. When rebuilt or a complete new underframe was applied the running boards were to be changed to AAR approved metal or aluminum.

I photographed tank cars in the late 1980s with wood running boards, which fits with Guy's facts.

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