It ran from New York City to the Coxton section[1] of Pittston, Pennsylvania from 1939 until the end of Lehigh Valley Passenger Service in 1961.

The Lehigh Valley introduced the John Wilkes on June 4, 1939 as a streamlined train running from Pittston to New York City, New York's Pennsylvania Station taking train numbers 28 eastbound and 29 westbound.

[2] The train consisted of a Otto Kuhler designed streamlined shrouding for the K-5 4-6-2 "Pacific" locomotives built in 1916, which were 25 years old at the time along with nine passenger cars being all air-conditioned with fluorescent lighting.

This was in distinct contrast with the other longer distance trains that continued further north, stopping in Pittston, but not at Coxton station.

[1] Major changes came in 1959, when the western terminus was cut back to Lehighton as the Lehigh Valley Railroad was suffering a $4 Million loss on running passenger trains due to decreasing ridership.