New Photos on the Map

Author: Kyle Montgomery
Category: Updates Railroads:

I’ve updated the CL&N System map with some new photos. These aren’t mine actually. They’re from Jeffery Jakucyk’s Cincinnati Transit website. They’re used with permission from his CL&N Gallery. They’re mostly modern shots of the ROW remnants, but also include a few older shots worked in here and there. My favorite is featured in this post, which is a steam train traveling down the Eggleston Avenue connecting track.

All in all it’s a very nice site. I went ahead and added it to our site links. He also has a very detailed map with all the Cincinnati rail lines, interurban lines, and street car lines superimposed on today’s modern roads. I’ll be using it to update the Avondale branch and some other areas of the map that are still a little bit unclear. This map gets a little crazy near downtown because it has all era’s on one plane, but it’s definitely a valuable secondary resource.

Anyway, I’ll have a new post on here pretty soon, but be sure to check that site out in the meantime. I would recommend the CL&N and some of the Interurban Galleries at a bare minimum.

LM&M Most Likely Moving to Mason

Author: Kyle Montgomery
Category: News Railroads:

I haven’t updated this blog in a while for a couple of reasons. For one thing I’ve been just as busy as ever, but I also haven’t wanted to visit here for another reasons. I would have to report the disgusting news that talks have stalled between Lebanon City Council and the LM&M Railroad.

The agreement was mostly finished in principle. The railroad had conceded on a timetable and a written agreement to stay in the city. Yet once again that wasn’t good enough for council. Instead they asked for an annual maintenance fee above and beyond the usage fee the LM&M already pays to the city. They “suggested” and increase of $1 to ticket costs.

Even better, the council then made a motion to adjorn the meeting even before a vote could be taken. It’s nice to see the politicians standing up to the issues around town.

It was enough for the LM&M CEO. He has been left with little choice but to run out of Mason permanently. Again and again the council has changed their demands, increasing them everytime. It is almost as if they never wanted to pay for the track to begin with and were looking to save face by having the railroad finally back down.

Now the Lebanon, Mason, and Monroe Railroad might as well be the Mason and Monroe Railroad. The tracks in Lebanon will most likely be left to rot and rust as long as there is a city council with no real concept of investment. It looks like Lebanon may have seen it’s final train.

Source: The Western Star

“No Final Decision on Lebanon Train Problem”

Author: Kyle Montgomery
Category: News Railroads:

Via the Western Star:

While the Lebanon City Council agreed in principle to fix the five miles of rail road track it owns at a meeting Tuesday, Jan. 6, several obstacles must still be overcome if the repairs are to become a reality.

Two key factors continue to delay a final decision. First, several members of city council — including Mayor Amy Brewer — insist on Lebanon Mason and Monroe Railroad, the only users of the track, making a financial commitment to stay in Lebanon for several years. Second, LM&M has balked at the nine months city officials estimate it will take to fix the track.

Full Story

I think it’s incredibly frustrating to see this thing stall out. Not that I should be surprised, it is government, but a compromise solution should not be this hard.