The car was completed by the Virgina & Truckee shops as Caboose #1 of the Carson & Colorado in September of 1882. After 1883 it was set up as a spare railway post office car and received the ventilator.
The sister car #2 was completed in October 1882, but within months (maybe even before it was completed) it was fitted up with accommodations for company officials (beds, etc.) and a clerestory over the longer portion of the roof.
The company started a third car with the same identical 36' body length. But it was completed as a passenger combine #7 without cupola. It looked like a miniature version of the Detroit combines built for the V&T.
Brian Norden