In 1967, the United States Post Office dealt a heavy blow to the B&O and other US railroads by cancelling most of their lucrative mail contracts. Most of the train's route through West Virginia, southern Ohio, and south-central Indiana and Illinois was, and continues to be, sparsely populated. Few cities or towns existed along the line that could contribute additional revenue or passengers to the train; indeed, it had never profited from high ridership even in its golden age.
The United States Postal Service's decision in 1967 to terminate most mail contracts with the B&O and other US railroads had a significant impact on their profitability, particularly along the sparsely populated route through West Virginia, southern Ohio, and south-central Indiana and Illinois.