page_title: Phoebe Snow (train)
section_title: EL era (1963-66)
hierarchical_section_title: Phoebe Snow (train) / History / EL era (1963-66)
caption_attribution_description: The Phoebe Snow in Chicago.
context_page_description: Phoebe Snow was a named passenger train which was once operated by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad and, after a brief hiatus, the Erie Lackawanna Railway.
context_section_description: After the EL merger, the Phoebe Snow continued to run as #3.  However, since the signature Tavern-Lounge cars (observation cars), with the Phoebe Snow drumheads on their tailends, were so closely identified with the train, when these cars were taken off the train and placed into storage shortly after the merger, many observers were led believe that the train had been discontinued.  This was not true.  The train continued to run, albeit without the cars that arguably defined it and with a new name - Erie-Lackawanna Limited (a merger renaming of the Erie Limited).  Reportedly the cars had been placed into storage, in the unused Erie shop facilities at Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, because they were deemed a nuisance as they had to be turned on a turntable or a wye at the end of each trip.  An alternative explanation for the discontinuation of the cars was that the Erie management resented the symbol of the DL&W playing such a prominent a role in the EL passenger train operation and sought to dispose of it wherever they could. However, it was equally true that the observation cars' bar facilities lacked the ability to provide proper food service, unlike the EL's dining-lounge cars which could serve both meals and beverages as well as provide distinct seating for each type of service.
  Whatever the reason, the observation cars were restored after William White was appointed EL president on June 18, 1963. The originator of the Phoebe Snow ordered the train "reborn" as train #1, replacing the short-lived Erie-Lackawanna Limited.  White was looking for a way to boost both EL employee morale and to gain some positive publicity for the foundering railroad; the move accomplished both.  However, since a Hoboken-Chicago routing was chosen, which bypassed Buffalo, the train was put in direct competition with the New York Central Railroad's passenger operation.  In an earlier time, the new train might have flourished, but with the steadily declining image of passenger rail travel in the U.S. in general, and competition from airlines in particular, it was doomed from the start.
  On November 27, 1966, the EL terminated the Phoebe Snow for good, leaving the Lake Cities as the EL's last long haul passenger train using Phoebe Snow diner cars and sleeper service, a service that ran until the Lake Cities also was discontinued on January 5–6, 1970. The trademark tavern Lounge cars were placed in storage again after the final run, although they appeared occasionally at the rear of special trains until sold off.
caption: One of the last Phoebe Snows departing Chicago at 130th St. And Torrence Ave. on November 25, 1966
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