I beg to differ. The trucks carry the casting date and PATTERN number of the truck casting, which is not related to a given car. During an overhaul, the truck frames did not necessarily wind up under the same car. The car name was stencilled on the side of the truck frame after the car was completed and painted.
The number stencilled in the electrical locker is the Plan Number of the car, which designates the interior configuration. For example, Plan 4090 was an 8-section, 1-drawing room, 3-double bedroom car. Plans 4090-A, 4090-B, etc. had minor variations of the basic Plan, mainly such things as corridor window placement, etc.
Each group of cars built had a Lot number assigned, and that was placed on each car with a small cast plate (like a mini-builder's plate), usually inside the linen locker of the car. It just had the numerals of the Lot number on it.
The best way to determine a Pullman's original name is to find the stamped or painted name on the reverse side of interior parts-- window sills or sash frames, door edges, etc. Some cars that had two names (due to later rebuilding) have both names on the parts.
As for the original number of a converted troop sleeper, good luck, as the saying goes. RMNE has three (two NH express cars and one DL&W bunk car) and none of them have any evidence of original numbers that we could find. I suspect tracing those old troop sleeper numbers would only be possible if an old Defense Plant Corp. or railroad roster or purchase order for the surplus cars could be found. And I suspect that stuff is at the bottom of a landfill some place.
hpincus@mindspring.com
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