Generally, the tourist sleepers were often just older 12-1 or 14 section cars, or 16 section built, or rebuilt, with less ornate paneling and upholstery, and sheets, pillows, blankets that were 'hand me downs' when the newer Pullmans were re-equipped. Lounges were also smaller and less elegant, but had all the basic plumbing. In terms of basic car construction, size, etc- substantially identical to any other Pullman sleeper (although, since they often were originally 24xx cars, they were a foot shorter than the later 34xx cars).
During WW2, there were a large number of old 12-1s that were converted to '13 section tourist sleepers' by means of fixing the drawing room door open. These were in reality used as troop cars. Some had their regular Pullman berths removed and replaced with bunks during their 'troop' service. After the war, many were sold to railroads for use as MoW cars, and some may have been converted to coaches as well. Some had their regular Pullman berths removed and replaced with bunks during their 'troop' service.
The tourist cars were also sometimes leased from Pullman as emergency coaches by various railroads. While a 14 section car would hold 28 passengers as a sleeper, it could accommodate 56 as a coach.
There is some excellent info on tourist sleepers, and the 13 section wartime cars, in "Sleeping Cars of the Santa Fe" if your friends or local library happen to have a copy.
