Re: An Interesting Photo & Some Corrections-WSL Caboose #4

What's interesting to me, is that the caboose has still not been renumbered #6 by this date. Both short #3 and #4 lost their numbers early with their replacements by the long #3 and #4. The short #3 was never renumbered as it was no longer a caboose, but the woods locomotive sand car. I'm not sure of the exact dates of the two cars resuming service, but generally thought it was in the 1946 to 1948 period.

By the date and location of the #4/6 in Earls Sunday photo, indicates to me this car probably was back in service at this time, either as the camp switcher's caboose in for Saturday night R&R or possibly as a replacement for one of the town cabooses being serviced.

I always somewhat assumed that when the caboose went back to service in the woods it was then painted #6, but it's likely that it did't actually get its number painted on officially until the new #7 was built. Perhaps being a reminder that since #6 was already in service, it finally made sense to number it when they did the #7. Oddly, some cars like reefer #1 were repainted and rehabbed in 1957/58 but, its number was never repainted for the rest of its service live.

Tim McCartney