Lebanon Mason Monroe (LM&M) Railroad History
Track
Train
Recent Milestones
Sights & Scenery
The Area
Other Attractions
Track
 The train operates on approximately 25 miles of track between Lebanon, Mason and Monroe – all cities in southwestern Ohio. For most trips the LM&M runs 4.4 miles south from Lebanon Station in downtown historic Lebanon to a picnic grove along the track at the back property of the Southwest Golf Ranch. The train runs along the right-of-way of the Cincinnati, Lebanon & Northern (CL&N) Railroad, a historic passenger and freight line that began operation in 1881 with narrow gauge rail spacing (thirty-six inches between the rails). Three years later it was rebuilt to standard gauge (56 ½ inches between the rails).The C,L & N was later acquired by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) that operated both freight and passenger trains over the line between Dayton and Cincinnati. The passenger service over this line was primarily commuter trains that took people who lived in Warren County to jobs in Blue Ash, Norwood, Cincinnati and Dayton. The PRR discontinued Cincinnati passenger service over this line in 1931 after the opening of Cincinnati Union Terminal. Continuity of the original right-of-way between Lebanon and Cincinnati was broken when interstate highway I-71 was constructed during the 1960’s. Segments of the original CL&N/PRR trackage are still in operation today. The LM&M’s track from Lebanon to Hageman Junction is currently owned by the city of Lebanon and Rail America (current owner of the Indiana & Ohio) owns the remaining track. While the I&O continues to operate freight over the entire line, the LM&M has trackage rights to operate passenger trains.
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Train
Locomotive CNRY 55: one of the oldest GP7 locomotives still operating. The locomotive was ordered by the Pere Marquette (PM) Railroad from General Motors Electro Motive Division (EMD) in 1947, but was delivered to the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) as a result of the takeover of the PM via a merger. The locomotive’s original number was 5705, and ran in general freight service all over the C&O, and subsequently the Chessie System, until it was retired, then purchased by the I&O around 1987. The 1500 horsepower locomotive was built in May of 1950 and was ballasted to 248,000 lbs., the heaviest GP-7’s on the C&O. The 55 is a dual service locomotive, 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. A conservative estimate is that the 55 has traveled well over 2.5 million miles to date.
Coaches CNRY 101 - 104: Four open-window commuter coaches built in 1930 by the Pullman Company in Chicago, and by the Harlan & Hollingsworth division of Bethlehem Shipbuilding for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western (DL&W) Railroad. These coaches did not require a locomotive because each car was self-propelled by four 3000 Volt DC, 230 horsepower electric motors receiving electricity from overhead catenary wires. Though each car was equipped with individual engineer’s controls, two or more cars could be coupled together as a train and operated by a single engineer in the lead car. The coaches operated in commuter service in the eastern New Jersey suburbs of New York City. for the (DL&W) Railroad until 1960, when the Lackawanna Railroad was merged with the Erie Railroad to form the Erie Lackawanna (EL) and continued to serve until 1976, and finally New Jersey Transit (NJT) until 1984, when they were purchased for use in Lebanon. At that time the cars were named after historic and significant places along the current LM&M line: Cars101 Mason, 102 Hageman and103 Turtle Creek each hold 72 passengers, and Car 104 Lebanon holds 54 passengers and features a snack bar.
Note: Thomas Edison was active in business right up to the end. Just months before his death in 1931, the Lackawanna Railroad implemented electric trains in suburban service from Hoboken to Gladstone, Montclair and Dover in New Jersey. Transmission was by means of an overhead catenary system, with the entire project under the guidance of Thomas Edison. To the surprise of many, Thomas Edison was at the throttle of the very first MU (Multiple-Unit) train to depart Lackawanna Terminal in Hoboken, driving the train all the way to Dover. As another tribute to his lasting legacy, the same fleet of cars Edison deployed on the Lackawanna in 1931 served commuters until their retirement in 1984. A special plaque commemorating the joint achievement of both the railway and Edison, can be seen today in the waiting room of Lackawanna Terminal in Hoboken, presently operated by New Jersey Transit.
 Open–Air Car CNRY 100: built by the Lehigh and New England Railroad (L&NE) in 1934 as a 40ton capacity freight gondola, the LM&M purchased it from the Maryland Midland Railroad (M&M) in 1986. This car has been extensively modified for excursion service, with new floor, elevated side rails and center rail, bench seating for 20 as well as pass-through doorways at each end. The car sports a headlight, bell, horn and control compartment and can be used in any order on the train consist because it provides “lead car and trail car” service.
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Recent Milestones
1978 Indiana & Ohio Railroad is incorporated and acquires railroad rights-of-way in SE Indiana and SW Ohio that had been abandoned by their predecessor railroads.
1985 Indiana & Ohio (I&O) Railroad begins excursions in Lebanon, Mason and Monroe
1996 The Indiana & Ohio Railroad is sold but the former owners retain the passenger train and the right to operate it over the I&O tracks. The passenger operation is renamed Turtle Creek Valley Railroad
2000 The Lebanon end of the rail line closes for renovation to meet Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) standards. City of Lebanon plays pivotal role in the Railroad's revitalization by securing a $300,000 grant.
2001 May 5, The city of Lebanon and the Railroad celebrates the re opening of
the operation on with the "Back on Track" event and the train's name is changed to Turtle Creek & Lebanon in recognition of Lebanon's support.
2006 Renamed Lebanon Mason Monroe – a division of Cincinnati Railway Co (CNRY).
2007 – Moved ticket and administrative office to a new location and opened a new gift shop
Movie Appearances: Milk Money 1994 romantic comedy starring Melanie Griffith and Ed Harris.
Employees: 2 Full time; 30 part-time; 6 owners.
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Sights & Scenery
The Schoolhouse was built in the 1800’s. It was last used as a school in the 1890’s and is now a private residence.
Heron Bird Nests
 Lebanon Railroad Station: Built in 1972 as a replica of the original Lebanon Victorian-style passenger station and owned and maintained by the Lebanon Council of Garden Clubs. The land was purchased from the Penn Central Railroad and the Lebanon Council of Garden Clubs raised funds to build a membership facility on the property. The garden club members use the station as a library, meeting rooms, workshop space and memorabilia displays.
Crossing Watchman’s Tower: The Lebanon Council of Garden Clubs secured a tower originally in service at the corner of Reading and Columbia Roads in Reading, Ohio. Before the introduction of automatic crossing gates, the gates were often operated manually by a crossing guard located in a tower that provided him a better view of oncoming trains and vehicular traffic.. The tower was equipped with a coal stove, chair, and crossing gate controls.
Ice House: The antique icehouse across the south side of the track is a donation to the Lebanon Council of Garden Clubs from the Middletown Ice and Coal Company.
Semaphore Signal: The origin of the semaphore at Lebanon Station parking lot is unknown; however it is representative of a typical train order semaphore, which was used to convey different messages to an approaching train by changing the positioning of the arm. The train order signal had three color and blade positions, Green (vertical) indicating no orders, Yellow (diagonal 45 degrees) indicating pick up orders while moving, and Red (horizontal) indicating stop and sign for orders after reading them as verification with the block operator, who controlled the signal. The signal was built by the Union Switch and Signal of Swissvale Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. It is a donation form the Lebanon Kiwanis Club.
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The Area
Turtle Creek: Named after Chief Little Turtle of the Miami Indians, an Indian leader well known to the white man well before serious settlement of the valley took place. The creek itself is a tributary of the Little Miami River. At the turn of the 19th Century, Indians were still in the southwestern sector of what is now Lebanon, south of 42.
Stagecoach Route: In the mid 1800s, stagecoaches would travel between Lebanon and Cincinnati, carrying passengers for $1.25 a seat. The trip would begin between 8 and 9am and reach its destination by 4pm the same day. A change of horses and a chance for refreshments occurred at noon at Grahams Hotel in Sharonville.
 Lebanon: located between Dayton and Cincinnati in Warren County, is famous for its many grand 19th century homes, antique shops, historic ice cream parlor and other attractions that can easily provide a day’s worth of enjoyment. It was laid out in September 1802 and was named for the biblical city because of the vast number of cedar trees in the area. By 1803, there were only five males in the area, an indication of slow growth. In 1805, Lebanon became the county seat and a courthouse was built in 1806. Lebanon incorporated in 1810.
Warren County: Warren County was formed in 1803 and named after General Joseph Warren who died at Bunker Hill in the Revolutionary War. Lebanon is the county seat of Warren County.
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Other Attractions
 The Golden Lamb, recognized as Ohio’s oldest inn (est. 1802). The current structure was built in 1815 by Ichabod Corwin, the first settler in Lebanon in 1796. The inn has hosted many dignitaries, including 12 presidents.- The Western Star, Ohio’s oldest weekly newspaper.
- Lebanon Raceway, which runs trotters.
- Glendower, a Greek Revival architecture mansion which dates from 1836.
- Warren County Historical Society Museum, displaying local artifacts, both historic and pre-historic.
- Paramount’s Kings Island, amusement park.
- Ft. Ancient, prehistoric earthwork built by the Hopewell Indians.
- Great Wolf Lodge
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