 Although each year the C&LE shipped more and more freight, the only year that it was profitable was 1936,  The accelerating collapse of the American economy through the late 1930s led to further C&LE financial losses and a steady decline in operations.The two essential Toledo connecting interurban lines closed due to bankruptcy, the Detroit connection earlier in 1932, and the more important for freight Cleveland connection in 1938, and the C&LE was doomed.It abandoned in 1939.