For freight car rosters I believe the car number is 1289 or 1239.  What is interesting that both the A and B ends of the car are shown and on the A end is a lumber door.  This was common when lumber was hand loaded in the early days on both box cars and ships.  The photo is post 1948 as there is a troop car box car in the background.   The car is retired as indicated by the line painted through the number. - Patrick Durand

Actually, this car is the former 839, one of the “Seattle” boxes built new for the railroad during construction. If you look closely, you can see where the the 8 was covered with the 12 when it was renumbered. The 12 in the lettering is also just a bit larger font than is the 39, also from the renumbering and the 12 was also stenciled onto the car rather the painted as were the 3 and 9. If you look in the far right of the photo, you will see a troop sleeper box that has the large block “Alaska” lettering which means this picture was taken at least as late as 1962. I would assume the location is Birchwood.

I’m not sure when these cars were renumbered but the 1946 roster has some box cars up to number 1246. I’m not sure these are the same cars since I have also seen a photo of a USRA design box car (steel ends and frame, double sheathed wood sides) behind 2 F-7s ( so 1953 or later)  also carrying what appears to be a 1200 series number (1270 or 1220 ?). - John Gray