On Saturday, Sept. 9, the Nickel Plate Express (NPX) depot at Hobbs Station was the most popular stop in Hamilton County. Thanks to their partnership with Duke Energy, NPX planned to offer free caboose rides, but the demand was so high they had to hook up the whole train to fit everyone on board.
Before the first ride could leave the station there were already more people signed up than they could fit in a whole day of caboose rides, so NPX Executive Director Emily Reynolds made the call to run the full train all day long so everyone could have a chance to ride the rails.
A total of 891 kids, parents and grandparents rode the train, which is the new record number of riders in one day. According to Reynolds, many of their guests would not have been able to enjoy the train without an event like this. Many others were there to learn more about the historic train and perhaps buy tickets to ride in the future.
“The response to the caboose rides exceeded expectations and affirms the value of this wonderful community amenity,” said Duke Energy government and community relations manager Mark LaBarr. “Kudos to the NPX team for their response in accommodating the many people who wanted to enjoy the experience.”
The cost of running the full train is substantially higher than running one engine and the Duke Energy Caboose, so both Duke and The Hamilton County Reporter stepped up with donations to make sure no one was left waiting at the station.
“We are sincerely grateful to Duke Energy and The Hamilton County Reporter for their generous donation towards our free community train rides,” Reynolds said. “I also can’t say enough about my great staff. Their exceptional dedication in accommodating the large crowd and curating an unforgettable experience for everyone is a huge part of what made this day a success. Coming in on short notice on what should have been a day off because the demand for Saturday’s rides was so much higher than we anticipated – it was one of those moments that shows you what makes Hamilton County so special. Together, the unwavering support and efforts from Duke, The Reporter and the best staff any train could ask for have brought immense joy and created unforgettable moments in our community.”
You can get tickets to ride one of the Nickel Plate Express’s many themed excursions online at NickelPlateExpress.com. Don’t wait! They tend to full up fast.
Photos provided by Emily Reynolds, Nickel Plate Express & Mark LaBarr, Duke Energy