After the cessation of passenger traffic, the Santa Fe Waycar brought up the rear of trains. It was Santa Fe's policy to assign a waycar to a conductor. Pooled waycars did not make it to the Howard Branch.

"The regular caboose in 1972 was Roy Olson's Waycar Ce-1 999136 (ex-1875). The 999024 (CE-1, ex-1966) was assigned the trip after Roy retired. We had it several months and then got the 999344 (CE-2, ex-1843). Monte Edwards was the skipper then." Rob Riley