Throughout this period, the Pennsylvania's competitor, the New York Central Railroad operated a competing Southwestern Limited which also offered sleeping cars which would hitch with Texas Eagle trains.

As premium ridership fell with relation to passenger travel on jet airlines, through sleeper service beyond St. Louis ended on June 30, 1961.

[4] However, declining ridership and the Penn Central's June 1970 filing for bankruptcy reorganization[5] were followed by further cuts.

[1] (The New York Central's competing Southwestern Limited had ended its service four years earlier in 1966.

Louis train (but which lacked linked cars with the Texas Eagle) continued until 1971, early in the Amtrak era.