LIRR Modernization Numbers

LIRR MODERNIZATION NUMBERS
(Compiled by Mike Boland, Art Single and Dave Keller)
New Cars:  1-222 had red circle with yellow numbers and borders.
Modernized Old Cars:  1-496 (+/-) had yellow circle with red numbers and borders.

LIRR Modernization Numbers Roster
LIRR's car modernization program and renumbering began in December, 1954.  

Modernization numbers vs. Road numbers Primer

Modernization numbers are the semi-random number assigned to the car AFTER rebuilding, and was stenciled in a circle near the vestibule doors and had NOTHING to do with the renumbering of the car's ROAD number.  For example: A MU car was #1153 and after modernization became #4153 road number, and was given a modernization number of #401 (in a round circle).  (See photo below in Part Two)

Thus, the road number of #1153, makes it an MP54A1, according to Kohler's roster. Do not confuse road number with modernization number.

Examples:
If an MU car was numbered 401, for example, it became 4401 AFTER the renumbering.
If an MU car was renumbered to 4153, for example, it was 153 PRIOR to renumbering.
If a steam car was numbered 12, for example, it became 7012 AFTER the renumbering.
If a steam car was renumbered to 7142, for example, it was 142 PRIOR to renumbering.

As for abbreviations:
MBM62 stood for Motor Baggage Mail (MU RPO and baggage car) and was 62 feet long.
MPB54 stood for Motor Passenger Baggage (MU combine car) and was 54 feet long.
MP54A, B, C, D were various MU motor passenger cars and were 54 feet long. Some had arched roofs, some had clerestory roofs. Research: Dave Keller

Part One: NEW Cars (red circle with yellow numbers and borders) 

  # 2906 modernization #5 P-72 Coach Photo: Anthony Debellis

Self-Propelled Rail Diesel Car:  Budd RDC 2 #3121 = 1 

#3121 Morris Park 11/1960

Steam-type or Diesel-hauled cars:

2901-2925 = 2-26
2926-2980 = 136-190

MU Cars: 

2501-2522 = 27-48
2601-2642 = 50-91 (note: 2642 was built a year after 2641)
2801-2844 = 92-135
2643-2674 = 191-222
 
Self-Propelled Rail Diesel Car: Budd RDC 1 #3101 = 49 

LIRR #3101,  #3121 at Greenport 09/27/1959

Part Two: MODERNIZED Old Cars (yellow circle with red numbers and border)

   RPO Baggage Car #7737 close up of Modernization Number 487 Archive: Dave Keller

Steam Cars P54D/E, PB57, P74:

      6 = 242
1761 = 71
1856 = 66
7002 = 258
7014 = 75
7137 = 35   
7393 = 27
7395 = 26
7397 = 23

7527 = 408
7534 = 415
7544 = 442

Steam Baggage & Bag/Mail Cars B60B, BM60, BM62:

724 = 126   (this car was later renumbered 7724 and wore the same mod. #)
7613 = 419
7617 = 384
7715 = 138
7716 = 315
7717 = 468 (note this differs from OBRM website, where they say 468 was 7738)
7719 = 169
7721 = 174
7724 = 126
7737 = 487
7738 = 394 (note this differs from OBRM website, where they say 7738 was 468)
7743 = 65
7753 = 432
7755 = 441
7756 = 446

MU Control Motor Cars MP54A/B/C/D, MP62, MBM62,MPB54 (renumbered into 4000 series):

4135 = 225
4146 = 226
4150 = 217
4153 = 401
MP54D #401 7/22/2017 Photo: Michael Kam

4160 = 370
4171 = 349

4205 = 458
4206 = 481
4207 = 456
4209 = 477
4210 = 486
4212 = 125
4215 = 480
4381 = 461

LIRR #4381 MPB-54 east end Babylon Yard 08-62 Photo: James Gillin

4692 = 79
4761 = 10

LIRR #4761 MP54 Jamaica 08/1961 Photo: James Gillin

4835 = 187
4856 = 66   (circle number applied as car 1856 before modernizing)
4862 = 143

4900 = 30
4906 = 178
4938 = 41
4982 = 430


MU Motor Cars Lacking Controls and ASC MP54BT, MP54CT (renumbered into 5000 series):


MU Trailer Cars T54A, T54B (renumbered into 6000 series):
6431 = 85
6855 = 496
 
Rev. 07/12/2018