No sign of it being ground off Jim, and as I recall, a few other people did chime in that theirs were sans lettering as well. Possibly the foundry that cast for Stuart put some casting sets out as well, with or without Stuarts knowledge and / or permission

This beast was painted everywhere like that when I got it ... probably had much to do with the price which seemed unusually affordable. Has a monster iron coal fired boiler to go with it, that I might be afraid to use, or even hydro test, but it may actually be okay ... or not !?!?