Lebanon's historic trains keep running

New, 2-year deal OK'd with Cincinnati Railway for city's line

 

By Janice Morse

Enquirer staff writer

 

LEBANON - A longstanding tradition - nostalgic train rides on the city's historic rail line - will continue for at least two more years.

 

Under a contract City Council approved unanimously Tuesday, Cincinnati Railway Co. will keep operating its passenger service along the original CL&N line now maintained by the city.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051229/NEWS01/512290375/1056

One person who deserves kudos for this is Tom McOwen, who owns and runs these trains.  He is a Commissioner on the Ohio Rail Development Commission and is a strong supporter of both passenger rail and rail tourism.

 

He believes that, even as tourist trains, people need to see and experience passenger rail in any form.  He is a life-long professional railroader as well, so he knows a thing or two about running them right.

 

Here's a photo of his train.  The locomotive is ex-Amtrak and the passenger cars are ex-Santa Fe RR hi-level cars that also ran on Amtrak.

From the 5/22/06 Cincinnati Business Courier:

 

 

Investors buy Lebanon railroad

Cincinnati Business Courier - 2:49 PM EDT Monday

 

An old-time railroad that makes tourist runs from a station in downtown Lebanon has been bought by a local investor group.

 

 

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2006/05/22/daily8.html?surround=lfn

 

Tourist railway back on track

Lebanon Mason & Monroe Railroad redirected

BY ANNA GUIDO | ENQUIRER CONTRIBUTOR

LEBANON - Basic business practices are all it took to get the historic railroad in this Warren County community back on track.

 

More customer service, more marketing and more investment dollars since May have more than doubled advance ticket sales in recent weeks for the railroad's upcoming "Thomas the Tank Engine" excursion.

 

The railroad - an engine with four cars that offers old-fashioned train rides to several stops within Warren County - began in May offering train rides every weekend and some weekdays instead of just several times a year.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060815/BIZ01/608150330/1002/COL02

 

LM&M pays attention, passengers hop aboard

Lebanon's tourist railroad increases its marketing, adds area partners and thrives

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080703/BIZ01/807030318/1076/NEWS

:cry:

 

Lebanon to lose railroad

LM&M cites track repair in decision to move out

By Carrie Whitaker, Cincinnati Enquirer, October 10, 2008

 

LEBANON - The Lebanon Mason & Monroe Railroad, which provides themed train rides in Warren County, will finish the year based in Lebanon and then likely move down the line -- in light of an inspection that demands repairs to the tracks.

 

"Work needs to be done," said LM&M Railroad president Ray Kammer. Lebanon "does not have the funding to fix it. The company is going to continue - just not in Lebanon."

 

 

Lebanon wrestles with $300K railway repairs

Should council OK the funds to continue themed train rides?

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20081204/NEWS01/812040391/1168/NEWS

 

City Council is struggling with a decision on whether to spend more than $300,000 on immediate repairs to a city-owned rail line used exclusively by the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad for themed train rides through the countryside.

 

A recent inspection confirmed an earlier report that several bridges on the five-mile route needed extensive repairs. In fact, the November assessment called for immediate closure of the southernmost bridge on the route.

 

I took the kids up there two years ago, and Lebanon was packed with families because of the train rides.  This has to be generating revenues for the city.

Thank you, city of Lebanon!!! The railroad boarded 60,000 this year, a 20,000 increase from the past few years, thanks in part to more runs and advertising. It was a packed house -- sold out, for the Christmas rides.

 

Lebanon finds money for railroad

By Elaine Trumpey, Cincinnati Enquirer, December 24, 2008

 

LEBANON Passengers on the North Pole Express may not have to wave goodbye to the Lebanon railway station after all.

 

Expensive repairs needed for city-owned tracks used by the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad had threatened to force the popular tourist attraction to move.

 

 

Lebanon to railroad: Put it in writing

By Elaine Trumpey, Cincinnati Enquirer, January 7, 2009

 

LEBANON City Council has tossed the ball back to city negotiators and railroad officials and told them to work together on a plan that will get the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad running on city-owned tracks again.

 

An inspection late last year identified two bridges on the five-mile track that need extensive repairs. Engineers have estimated it will take about $350,000 to make the track safe to carry passengers on the popular themed train rides.

 

The leisure rides pull in about 50,000 visitors a year who often spill out from the train depot to the citys eateries and retail shops.

 

Lebanon to keep themed train rides

By Elaine Trumpey, Cincinnati Enquirer, February 11, 2009

 

LEBANON Merchants in this citys historic downtown district can breathe a sigh of relief the train rides will stay.

 

City council approved an agreement Tuesday night that will bring leisure train rides back to Lebanon once repairs are made to city-owned tracks used by LM&M Railroad.

 

This will be a salvation to a lot of small businesses, said Steve Mullinger, president of Historic Downtown Lebanon Inc., and operator of the Golden Lamb Restaurant.

 

 

Lebanon railroad finally gets funds

By Elaine Trumpey, Cincinnati Enquirer, April 21, 2009

 

The Lebanon City Council has ended an often-contentious, six-month debate by voting 5-1 Monday to approve a $265,000 contract that allows repairs to begin on tracks that serve a popular railroad service.

 

As many as 50,000 visitors a year have come to downtown Lebanon to take themed rides on the LM&M Railroad. However, safety inspectors closed the tracks late last year because of two unsafe bridges.