Some council members had pressed for more financial support for the cost of track maintenance from the operator, the Cincinnati Scenic Railway. Downtown businesses mounted a “Save the Train” campaign.
“It is so much better in terms of financial accountability,” Mayor Amy Brewer, who has voted against previous contracts, said before the vote.
Brian Collins, owner of the nonprofit operating company, said the owners were ready to end the runs into Lebanon until a local philanthropy, the Harmon Civic Trust, agreed to allow his company to charge people attending Thomas the Tank Engine events at a field owned by the trust next to the train station.
Collins also recognized Councilman Matt Rodriguez and Bill Kilimnick, manager of the Golden Lamb Inn, for working out the compromise.
“Those three pulled the contract out of the fire,” Collins said before the meeting.
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