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The best explanation I heard was the official standard for the numerals and MISSOURI PACIFIC LINES lettering was “aluminum leaf” until the second world war intervened and it was impossible to obtain. This was actually thin aluminum sandwiched between layers of varnish. Ancillary lettering was stenciled “imitation aluminum” paint actually was a non-metallic light gray. Items like aluminum and brass were essential to the war effort and even the 2200 class engines originally had steel bell rather than brass.
What I’m unclear on is if they returned to the aluminum leaf after the war years or kept on using the paint. Maybe it was “aluminum leaf if you can find it and have a skilled person to apply it” and it could be Sedalia did its thing while Texas marched to the beat of a different drum.
