A couple of comments - Using a modern font and squishing it definitely isn't the way to go. My quick trace of 424's tender was just for sizing and the actual 4s do have the DRG hooks in the noses and different thicknesses. The 424 pic is probably the worst there is for accurate tracing, but I traced it as best I can see in the below version. The 524 is much easier to see so that's here for comparison. I also put perspective lines and scales on both. The perspective lines are drawn all the way to a common vanishing point on each. The horizontal scales are adjusted to each number's vertical centerline dimension (but no perspective compression so you still have to adjust a little for distance/angle, but they're close enough for our purposes and the actual sizes involved). Scales were compared against known dimensions like wheel sizes, brake shoe sizes etc. and both numbers scale out to 24" height. The images are also converted from png since ngdf won't accept that file type and lost resolution in my size conversion so I'll spell out the dimensions.
On 424 the widths overall are about 16", 14.5", and 14.5" with 2" between each. The 4s seem to have the straight tail serifs and long top serifs as much as I can tell. I may have the 2's middle a bit too sloped - it's probably more level like the 2 on 524
On 524 the widths overall are about 20", 20", and 22" with 5.5" and 3.5" spacing. The 4 has a fish tail serif and nose hook and the bottom of the 2 has a hump top and bottom to the left compared to 424's smoothly arched bottom.
While I was doing this Jeff posted his measurements. It doesn't seem to me like the Grande started using stencils until after this earlier era. These all seem to follow a similar pattern and style as you'd expect, but it looks like they were all done freehand by sign painters. Proportions seem to have varied, probably measured with a stick laying nearby and quickly lined out with a piece of chalk. On 225's tender they're yet a bit different in detail. I note the tail of the 2s is a double fishtail and they have a humped bottom somewhat similar to 524, and the 2s are not identical. I've outlined and pointed out here -
Thank you Jeff.