Passenger Train Spotlight #1-2022: Lehigh Valley IHC John Wilkes with PA1s

 Greetings All,

Passenger Train Spotlight #1-2022

Today we'll focus on the International Hobby Corp smooth side  Lehigh Valley RR passenger trains 28 and 29, The John Wilkes, which is finally in service on the layout after almost twenty years.

 

The Prototype

John Wilkes(Oct 17, 1725 - Dec 26, 1797) was an ardent defender of American Colonial Rights in the British House of Commons during the reign of King George III. The town of Wilkes-Barre PA is named in his honor.

The Lehigh Valley John Wilkes Passenger Train was introduced on June 4th 1939 running from New York's Penn Station to Pittston PA with an engine change from a PRR GG1 to either LVs K5 4-6-2 2101 or 2102 at Newark NJ. The twenty five year old LV K5s were specially streamlined for this train by industrial designer Otto Kuhler. By all accounts the train and locomotives were beautiful.

The original John Wilkes, Trains 28 and 29, were usually nine dedicated consist cars that were painted red and black. The original train consisted of a baggage express car, one mail baggage, one smoker with a separate ladies smoking lounge, three coaches, one club car, one diner and one Pullman parlor car. All cars boasted air conditioning and florescent lights. 

The LV John Wilkes retained much of its appeal into the 1950s after the gorgeous red and black Alco PA1s were assigned to the train supplanting the steam engines in 1948. The John Wilkes would make it's last run on February 03, 1961 and the Lehigh Valley would become a freight only RR after that.

The Models

The IHC Lehigh Valley John Wilkes passenger cars were purchased in spurts over the course of more than decade and languished in their boxes for the past fifteen years due to reliability issues that were finally addressed in the IHC Passenger Car Upgrade Project. 

All of the passenger cars with the exception of one Kadee #508 coupler on the combine use the McHenry #52 couplers. The observation car end coupler is the dummy coupler that came with the car and has had some razor work done to it for a knuckle coupler to couple to it. All passenger cars received Intermountain 33" metal wheelsets and two ounces of additional weight.

The completed train features seven cars that are now running very reliably after the upgrades. From the headend is Baggage car #1500 and Combine #1509.

Three coaches numbered 1518 are behind the combine.

Next comes Diner #1524 and Vista Dome #1528.

The Vista Dome seats were painted rattle can Colonial Red and have 1/100 scale figures added.

Bringing up the markers is Observation Car #1540.

Motive Power

Proto 2000 Lehigh Valley PA1s 609 and 611 were purchased in December 2021 to power this train.

Prototype-Model Comparison

Searching various websites for photo comparisons for the passenger cars has been fruitless thus far. The vista dome is more than likely not prototypical. The LV did have 1500 series passenger cars and the closest car I can find is an Osgood-Bradley coach #1510. 

The LV 609 and 611 are prototypical passenger train power.

Enjoy The John Wilkes, LV Train #28 heading east to Empire City Station

Train 28 gets turned at Terminal Yard

The John Wilkes consist has been turned and serviced and now heads west as LV Train #29 to Empire City Station to pick up passengers.  

Additional Reading and Information Sources:

John Wilkes, Britannica reference

John Wilkes, a train worth remembering.

Classic Trains Forum post with newspaper and timetable.

Passenger Car Photo Index LV passenger cars

RR Picture Archives LV passenger cars

Fallen Flags LV page

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See you soon!!!