Our Train

Lackawanna Class Seating - Cars 101-104

Our primary coaches were built for the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad in 1930. These are historic rail cars have a very unique vintage charm. The large picture windows open to let in the cool summer breeze as our train meanders down the track. These coaches are equipped with fans to circulate air within the car and keep the interior at a comfortable temperature. The plush vinyl seats can reverse direction allowing groups to easily sit facing one another. The Lackawanna cars are the primary equipment used on the LM&M Railroad and represent the best that vintage railroads have to offer.

Coaches 101-104 were originally built as a partnership between the Pullman Company in Chicago and the Edison Corporation. These coaches did not require a locomotive because each car was self-propelled by four 3000-Volt 230-horsepower DC electric motors, receiving electricity from overhead catenary wires. Thomas Edison himself helped design the electric propulsion system used, and the 83-year old Edison was at the throttle on the train’s first run. Though each car was equipped with individual controls, two or more cars could be coupled together as a train and operated by a single engineer in the lead car. This was known as Multiple-Unit (MU) operation.

The MUs operated in commuter service in the eastern New Jersey suburbs of New York City until 1984, when they were retired by New Jersey Transit and sold at auction. When purchased by the Indiana & Ohio, the MUs were relieved of their motors and named after historic and significant places along the current LM&M line. The 101 Mason, 102 Hageman and 103 Turtle Creek each hold 72 passengers, and Car 104 Lebanon holds 54 passengers and features a snack bar.

Open-Air Gondola - CRC #100

The open air car was built for the Lehigh and New England Railroad in 1934 as a 40-ton capacity freight gondola. It was purchased from the Maryland Midland Railroad in 1986. This car has been extensively modified for excursion service with new floor, elevated side rails and center rail, and bench seating for 20.The car is open to all coach passengers and is certain to be a highlight of your journey. The car is typically available on all of the LM&M Railroad’s excursions departing from Lebanon, OH excluding Day out with Thomas and The North Pole Express. The open-air car generally opens for passengers 5 to 10 minutes after departure from Lebanon Station on a first-come first-serve basis.

Montreal Class Seating

Our Montreal Cars were built for the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1953. The coaches were designed to operate throughout the harsh winters experienced in Canada, the coaches feature electric heaters and are sure to keep you warm and toasty during cold weather. The windows open, along with rooftop vents, to circulate air on warmer days. These coaches have high capacity seating and are used on our busiest trains. The coaches feature modern rail car construction and are allowed to operate on the national rail network.

Built by the Canadian Car & Foundry as part of a 40 coach order, these coaches were originally pulled by steam locomotives. The first train in June 1953 ran with ten cars all in numerical order (800, 801, 802, 803...). In 1990 they were converted from traditional steam heat to head-end power (electricity). These coaches spent their service life on commuter lines in the greater Montreal area, before being retired in 2005. Each coach seats approximately 109 people.

Currently the 803 is privately owned and named Grove City. Cars 812, 818, and 830 are named Walnut Hills, Pleasant Ridge, and Cincinnati respectively.

Locmomotives

CRC #55: The oldest GP7 still operating, #55 was ordered by the Pere Marquette Railroad from General Motors’ Electro Motive Division in 1947, but was delivered to the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway as a result of a merger. The locomotive’s original number was 5704 and was purchased by the Indiana & Ohio around 1987.

The 1500 horsepower locomotive was built in May of 1950 and was ballasted to 248,000 lbs., the heaviest GP7’s on the C&O. GP stands for General Purpose, and the 55 was built as a dual service locomotive. It was capable of moving both passenger and freight cars, and was originally equipped with a steam generator to provide heat for passenger cars in cold weather.

NKP #901: #901 is a EMD GP30 delivered to the Nickel Plate Road in November 1962. It was one of ten GP-30s purchased by the Nickel Plate, numbered 900 to 909. The total cost for the ten units was 2.07 million dollars. They were the first freight units on the NKP with low short hoods to provide better visibility. Shortly thereafter the Nickel Plate merged with the Norfolk and Western in 1964, and 901 became N&W #2901 . It served the N&W and later Norfolk Southern until purchased by the Indiana & Ohio in 1986.

In 2011, thanks to contributions from the Nickel Plate Historical & Technical Society, CNRY #85 was restored to as-delivered Nickel Plate colors. It was then dedicated to former employee Robert A. Zoellner.

Currently, 901's sister-unit Nickel Plate 902 is pulling the Cincinnati Dinner Train.

Cabin Cars (Caboose)

The caboose was built for the Detroit, Toledo, & Ironton Railroad in 1949. The DT&I assigned it number 116. The caboose has been lovingly restored by its owner inside and out. Our caboose seating is a truly unique experience that literally puts you in the conductor’s seat. The elevated seats provide panoramic views of the scenery. Be sure to book in advance as seating in the caboose is limited to twelve and the caboose is only available on select departures. The caboose can be rented for private functions including birthday parties.

Our second caboose on the property is a privately owned caboose built for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.

There is a third caboose located next to the end-of-track in Lebanon. This was a former Wabash caboose that later served on the Norfolk & Western. In the late 1990's it was brought to Lebanon and restored to be used as a small cafe. When that fell through it was donated to the City of Lebanon and used as a community space and classroom.

Other Equipment

CRC 1376 is used as a generator car. Originally built for the US Army as a kitchen car, it was later declared war surplus and sold to Amtrak. They used it for several years as a baggage car before it was retired.

In 2015, CRC was painted to match our coaches thanks to a donation by the Lebanon Home Depot.