The Mercury gradually lost its special appeal as newer, faster trains were developed and automobiles and airplanes became the preferred mode of travel. It was used for regular runs between Cleveland and Detroit until service was phased out in July 1959.

The Mercury, introduced by the New York Central Railroad in 1936 as the "Train of Tomorrow," was a masterpiece of Art Deco design by Henry Dreyfuss. Known for its streamlined silver exterior and luxurious, club-like interiors, it operated primarily between Cleveland, Detroit, and Chicago. Unfortunately, like many icons of the steam era, the Mercury met a quiet and somewhat tragic end. In the late 1940s and 1950s, the rise of diesel locomotives and the expansion of the Interstate Highway System made expensive-to-maintain steam streamliners obsolete. Most of the original Mercury trainsets were retired by the late 1950s. Tragically, in an era before widespread historical preservation, the beautiful streamlined casings were stripped for their scrap metal value, and the locomotives were broken down. Today, in 2026, no original Mercury locomotive remains; the train exists only in vintage photographs, newsreels, and the memories of a golden age of American rail travel.