10/13/2026
Our video with train #2 generated a bit of interest so her is more information on the CVT passenger service.
Being primarily a freight hauler, and most of the route running through areas that were sparsely populated, passenger service was always rather modest. The usual consist of The Valley Queen was an RPO, usually a setout car of storage mail for the PRR in Canton, a snackbar coach converted from a combine car, a reclining seat coach and a Pullman buffet solarium. In 1957 and 1958, the snackbar and buffet solarium were dropped in favor of a dining car and a sleeper. The dining car and sleepers alternated on opposite days with New York Central cars. Ridership continued to decline and the diner and sleeper were dropped in late 1958.
Around the holidays, extra mail and patronage usually added 2-3 more cars. On the Wheeling Division, the K class Pacifics were quite often taxed to the limit, especially in winter months. The solution was to either double head power or use a Mikado between Wheeling and Valley Junction. In the spring on 1953, the railroad received 5 GP7s equipped with steam boilers. The K class engines were stored or retired and a second diesel could be added when needed reducing crew and maintenance costs.
