By Anna Guido
Enquirer contributor

The Cincinnati Railway Co. operates its tourist passenger services on more than 500 miles of track owned and dispatched by the Indiana & Ohio Railroad.

Company president Tom McOwen started it as a shortline freight railroad with several partners in 1979 and, over the years, acquired 10 railroad lines totaling 250 miles of track in Cincinnati, Springfield and Columbus.

A limited number of passenger rides was added; then, in 1996, McOwen sold the lines to a freight company but kept the exclusive right to continue operating passenger trains on the freight lines. He is now the sole owner of the company.

The company offers theme train rides ranging from 30 minutes to an hour, day trips and private car trips. Theme rides depart from Lebanon, and the day and private-car trips depart from the old Amtrak station on River Road, just west of downtown Cincinnati.

The day trips generally operate on various weekends throughout the year, and vary from half-day tours toward Cleves and Harrison, to daylong excursions to Batesville or Greensburg, Ind.

Theme rides departing from downtown Lebanon in Warren County travel along the original Cincinnati, Lebanon & Northern Railway line.

With several Amtrak compliant cars, Cincinnati Railway Co. also offers private excursions on regularly scheduled Amtrak routes, as well as charters in the Cincinnati area.