(erielack) Re: Last Lake Cities and beyond

[Jjbchian_@_aol.com]

Tim Stuy writes:

As we all know the Lake Cities had its last run on January 4, 1970 with each 
train arriving on the 5th.  I have seen many photos of the train leaving 
Hoboken headed west on the night of the 4th and the arrival shots of the eastbound 
on the 5th.  I have never seen photos or details of the last westbound's 
arrival in Chicago on the 5th.  Did that train drop its sleeper at Youngstown and 
diner at Huntington or did they run through to Chicago?  Since there was no 
eastbound to pick these cars up it would seem logical to keep them together.  Did 
the equipment from Chicago deadhead back to Hoboken the next day?  If not, 
how did it get back to Hoboken?  And finally when the long distance equipment 
was moved to Port Jervis for storage did it all move at once or was it ferried 
up on commuter trains?

Tim:

I was on the last trip, and rode from Hoboken to Corning and back to Hoboken 
on the last eastbound No. 6. I understand that the last westbound No. 5 was 
running quite late due to the weather, and the Diner was dropped at Marion, Ohio 
instead of Huntington, Indiana. I remember going back to the Pullman on No. 
6, so the car was picked up at Youngstown. 

Equipment: Some of the equipment remained in Hoboken through March 1970, 
other cars were immediately sent to Port Jervis for storage and disposition. There 
was a challenge filed to the train off petition, and in retrospect, EL 
retained some equipment in Hoboken in case they had to resume service. I have photos 
of Sleepers and Diners at Hoboken under steam in February. It was not until 
March 1970 that the equipment began to leave the property. 

Diner 741 and Pullman Spirit of Youngstown were in Port Jervis as late as 
1972, and were the last to leave. 741 to MoW service, and Spirit was retained for 
Company service. 

John Boehner 


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