Your cars in Brown and Silver numbered 2442 for the Pullman and 2443 for the Observation were illuminated. They came in 1946 cataloged set number 2100 as 2-pullman's and 1-observation, pulled by a 224 steam locomotive and a 2466T non-whistle tender. According to Greenberg Vol III, ..."The cars are listed as 2442 Pullmans and 2443 observation but are clearly shown in the catalog as green. Lionel made 2442 and 2443 cars in 1946 but they are always brown. They made green cars in 1946 but they were always labeled 2440 and 2441" The brown cars are considerably more scarce than the green ones although a rumor persists that Lionel took advantage of the confusion with the catalog and packaged 2 different 2100 sets , one with brown and one with green cars. SO ... before you paint them green you might consider that their original brown color is more scarce.
Best wishes, great find, I have the correct 224 and have been looking for a set of brown cars for some time.
