A visitor writes and says this: I have a steam engine bell with the Frisco coonskin emblazoned in the bell. Is there a way to tell what engine it would have come from? There is a 5 on the end of the 102 in the picture on the swing casting. Could this bell be off of Pacific SLSF 1025? If so, did it ever pull the Texas Special? What year was the engine scrapped?
I think the 1025 is just the manufacturers part number or perhaps even a date code for the bell hanger. Also, I heard that the bells with the coonskin were presentation pieces. The engraving was done after the bells were removed from the locomotives.
Indeed, Paul, the coonskin was engraved after removal, and the bell served as a presentation piece. I have seen some bells and other parts that have the engine number stamped into the part with a die. The owner should give the piece a thorough examination. The bell in the photographs was mounted atop the boiler, and therefore came from an "older" locomotive.