Margaret Mailly Lehigh Valley Railroad Dorothy Train Inspection Watercolor 24"

Description

Late 20th century watercolor on paper painting of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, Superintendants Inspection Engine #1, aka Dorothy, painted by Margaret Mailly of Cincinnatti, Ohio.

"Built in May 1884 by the LV's Wilkes-Barre, PA shops, "Dorothy" was one of a Handful of 19th Century Inspection Locomotive cars built for Special Observation Purposes to inspect Track and properties. A inspection Locomotive was designed to carry a few Railroad Officials to do so, even sometimes the President/Chairman of a Railroad Company where they would sit in the Coach body along side the Boiler with Seats. Inspection Locomotives are Often small and don't really need Tenders but just a Small Fuel bunker which made them very light. "Dorothy" was built as LV Ry. #300, and had kerosene Lamps at each end as a 4-2-4T. It had 54" Driver (Single Axle) with both Leading and Trailing Trucks having smaller 24" Wheels. The Engine was rebuilt after an accident in 1894 and was Renumbered as LV #1 in 1905. Burning Anthracite Coal, it was natural to the Northeastern PA Region just like the Famous "Reading Company" had used for Years. "Dorothy" was about 35 Feet in length and weighed about 26,000 Lbs. Small, Lightweight Locomotives could reach up to 60 miles an hour, which was impressive for the Day, but often needed to Refuel. The Most modern Inspection Locomotives were built around the early 1900s for the Reading, but such unusual locomotives already had became Obsolete by the Start of the First World War. In my Opinion, it was unnecessary to use a small boiler if the Engine wouldn't pull anything, but it was likely the same way the Railroad men thought when Automobiles/Railcars were more Simple for such use. Most Inspection Locomotives were replaced with these and most were Scrapped into the 1920s and after the War. I believe that "Dorothy" was the very last Inspection Locomotive to be used anywhere in the United States. The Locomotive was Electrified with new lamps at some point and had different paints. (Unknown original Paint Colors, but made my own LV-Inspired Paint towards the End of the Engine's Life) The Locomotive was Retired from Active Service in 1934 after 50 Years of Use and the LV sold the Engine to Mr. John Vaugn. It was briefly operated and displayed on his Private Property in Kingston, PA from 1934-1937, he Died later that year and in February 1937 it was then sold to LV Official Frank Mitten who moved it to Bear Creek, PA. He then Passed away before WWII and his Wife donated the Locomotive to the War Effort (Scrap Drive) where it was cut up in 1943. Sadly not preserved, it would've Been the Only Surviving LV Steam. Today, there is only one Surviving Inspection Steam Locomotive in existence, which is the Philadelphia & Reading Company's "Black Diamond" built by Baldwin in 1889 was donated to the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis where it has been its home since 1948.

Condition

Good Overall - Gentle wear

Dimensions

24" x 0.75" x 18.25" / Sans Frame - 19.75" x 13.75" (Width x Depth x Height)