On November 21, 1950, a westbound troop train, Passenger Extra 3538 West-consisting of the S-2-a class 2-8-2 steam locomotive 3538 and 17 cars, about half of which had wood bodies with steel underframes-was travelling from Camp Shilo, Manitoba to Fort Lewis, Washington.
By 1950, the CNR used the part-wooden cars only for the transportation of soldiers; other passengers were no longer carried in them.