Here you go, Brian:
In 1934, Milwaukee Car Shops built eight bunk room coaches, MILW 4441 - 4448, in the lightweight "1934 Hiawatha" style for service on the "Olympian". 4441 was destroyed in a wreck of the "Olympian" on June 19, 1938 at Custer Creek, near Saugus, Montana. The remaining cars continued in "Olympian" service until June 1947 when they were re-assigned to the "Columbian" and later were also used on the "Pioneer Limited". In May 1957 4442 - 4447 were sold to the Pacific Great Eastern while 4448 continued in "Pioneer Limited" service until it was asigned to MOW service as MILW X-413 in 1963.
All were originally built as smooth-side cars. 4442, 4443 and 4444 are known to have been modified with ribbed sides and skirting to match the appearance of the newer "Hiawatha" style cars, presumably around 1942. 4445 - 4448 are known to have remained as smooth side cars and 4441 is highly unlikely to have received ribbed sides prior to the 1938 wreck of the "Olympian". The interior configuration was a main compartment with 36 reclining seats, a smoking compartment with 20 reclining seats and a dormitory compartment for crew members that contained four sleeping car sections (accommodation for eight) plus a shower.
On Pacific Great Eastern, these cars were used in mixed train service from July 1957 to the 1966 - 1968 period when they were re-assigned to MOW service. I do not know whether the PGE retained the four sleeping car sections or converted this area to regular coach seating. The Fox Valley cars (smooth side) are correctly numbered PGE 621, 624 & 625. A photograph in the 7th Division, PNR, NMRA magazine, "The Dispatcher", shows a fan trip train at Brunswick Beach in 1961 with the 6 PGE cars plus their 3 former Pullman sleepers - all in the orange, green and grey paint scheme.
Cheers
