I had learned back in the dark ages of my youth (PRR still ran passengers then) that green trucks were only seen on head end cars that had been leased from REA. Supposedly the PRR had simply repainted the bodies but not the underbodies. This weekend I was told by someone who seemed sure of his information that there were also Pennsy coaches and other passenger used equipment with green trucks.
Anyone know who’s right? Also if the latter is correct what determined which cars were painted with green trucks?
Well I don’t know if it’s cool to answer my own question, but after doing a little research online today I found that the PRR MP54 coaches also ran with green trucks on red bodies. So much for the sainted wise man who taught me the old knowledge in the days of my youth.
I still don’t know what determined when green trucks were used, but obviously the old Pennsy guru was wrong about it being only leased REA equipment. What do I have left to believe in since the information age has undermined my fundamental beliefs?
It’s always cool to answer your own questions. If you can’t believe yourself who CAN you believe? 
Besides this not only shows that you’re willing to research but educate us at the same time!
How do you know that the coaches with green trucks were not leased also? Could it be that some of the green trucks came from head end cars that were being dismatled or posibly they were rebuilt head end cars? The P co did a lot of odd things at times.
Pete
It would seem highly improbable in the case of the MP54 coaches, as they were built by the PRR (originally as MU electrics). They had so many (over 1000) they were selling them off to other railroads as far away as the Sante Fe. Can’t see why they’d lease something they already owned such a surplus of, or who they could have leased them from, since PRR was the builder. What you say could be possible in other cases but very unlikely for the MP54’s.
The PRR has fans, known as SPFs. An SPF is a Slobbering Pennsy Freak, and they are a very rare breed of cat…they actually LIKE to share information with others! Many SPFs can be found at the ‘Keystone Crossings’ website…just google it; you’ll find it. The site has TONS of PRR info.
I think I just read something about green trucks on the PRRTalk list, a month ago or so ago, but i wasn’t paying attention…
Pre-war (WWII) PRR equipment had brown roof and green underbody including trucks. Green trucks were discontinued in mid-1943. Brown roof was changed to black (car cement) in 1939.