LEBANON — Despite a late effort to get Lebanon's railroad tracks fixed in time, the Turtle Creek Valley Railway will keep chugging out of Mason this holiday season.

        “We are very disappointed,” Lebanon planning director Marty Kohler said.

        The train had taken tourists from the city's historic downtown into the Warren County countryside for years until 4.4 miles of city-owned track were declared unfit for passenger traffic at the beginning of this year.

        The train will return in May, vowed Guy Marino, Turtle Creek's general manager, but in the meantime visitors can catch a trip with the Clauses in Mason.

        Already, Mr. Marino is making big plans for next year, including a month of Wild West-themed rides and a haunted train theme in the fall. He'd like to renovate an old caboose at the train station so he can offer parties as with ride packages.

        “If McDonald's can do birthdays, so can we,” Mr. Marino said.

        He's also excited about efforts between the city and merchants to better coordinate tourism efforts. Shopkeepers say the absence of the train's usual 30,000 passengers hurt them this year.

        “I think next year's going to be a really neat year from a tourist standpoint,” Mr. Marino said. “It's the first time ... everyone's on the same page.”

        The train moved to a temporary location in Mason this spring while Lebanon sought a grant to cover most of the estimated $300,000 repair costs. The grant was awarded in May, but spring turned into summer, and summer to fall, while the city worked out details of the project with federal and state agencies.

        The city and Mr. Marino have signed a three-year contract for the train to use the tracks. The railway will pay the city a per-passenger fee, plus $5,000 this year to help with repairs.

        Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments is paying $236,000 of the cost, and the Warren County commissioners kicked in the other $59,000.
       

IF YOU GO

               What: Holiday trains

        When: 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Saturdays and 1 and 3 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 23.

        Cost: $15 adults, $14 seniors and $10 for kids 3 to 12.

        Where: 4501 Quality Place, off of U.S. 42 in Mason.

        Information and reservations: 398-8584.

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