Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad Inc. to operate Hoosier Heritage Port Authority line . . .
Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad Inc. has tentatively been awarded the contract to operate the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority line. What does that mean?
What is the Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad Inc.?
Formerly the Heritage Depot Inc. and before that the Arcadia Arts & Heritage Initiative, this “new” entity will evolve from this community-focused nonprofit. A business name change will be filed with appropriate legal agencies as a newly expanded nonprofit that remains focused on the heritage of the area.
Who will “own” the Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad, Inc.?
It will be a charitable nonprofit eligible for tax-deductible gifts and managed by a board of directors that will include former members from the Heritage Depot Inc. as well as new members interested in the community development of the area and cultural heritage railroad operation. The board will become the trustees of the programming operations, the depot and select pieces of equipment to deliver a safe, entertaining rail operation as well as other related programming.
What role is Hamilton County Tourism taking in this initiative?
Technical assistant, program advisor, fundraiser, guide, grant writer, marketing and communications advisor – same role the organization had with the Nickel Plate Arts initiative, the 2016 bicentennial, early stages of Grand Park development, the Noblesville Cultural Arts Commission, Westfield downtown project, etc.
Who else is involved?
Rail operations will be managed by Thomas Hoback of the Atlanta Pacific LLC railroad. Tom is semi-retired but has a long and storied career as a quality railroad operator, including ownership of the Indiana Railroad.
Also involved is Wiley Brown. Wiley works with his father to operate the Central Indiana Western Railroad in Lapel.
How far will the train go?
That is being determined, but depending on funding availability likely in the first year it will run from about 206th Street to Atlanta and back, with various stops in Cicero and Arcadia for special programs. The goal is, as soon as possible, to ensure the train goes to Noblesville’s northwest side of the town square.
What will happen next?
The initiative needs three things: 1) funding to support the rail line restoration of at least eight of the 12 miles (minimum $500,000); 2) once that happens, a contract with the HHPA that satisfies both parties (the contract will be signed with the Atlanta Pacific Railroad), 3) the real work begins:
- Rail restoration will begin in order to accomplish this over the winter and into next spring, weather permitting
- Securing locomotives, passenger cars and a generator car
- The nonprofit’s work will begin in earnest; a staff will be retained and trained
- Marketing initiatives will begin
- Ideally, tours and soft opening Memorial Day weekend 2018 with Friday-Saturday and sometimes Sunday excursions but that is pending funding and construction
Why do this?
Hamilton County Tourism and its development partners believe preservation of this cultural heritage asset will serve as a positive economic catalyst for northeastern Hamilton County.
Other information
- The amount of loan needed is approximately $1.2 to $1.5 million
- The depot will serve as the offices of the operation, along with an arrangement for office space in one of Mr. Muffin’s buildings.
- The goal is to run up to 200 passengers at one time with the first round of equipment.
- There will be family-focused trains, adult-only wine and cheese trains and trains that are for older kids and adults such as ghost trains. Other ideas are in development as well, but they require partnerships and those proposals have not been made.
- There will be opportunities for sponsorships of the various programs, with recognition on and outside the trains, and possible program partnership opportunities (character trains, etc.).
- Trains like Thomas the Tank Engine or Polar Express will not be run, as those require licenses, and they are not available.
- The goal is to attract between 30,000 and 50,000 passengers annually within the first two years (comparable to a railroad passenger service).
- The goal is to start in June 2018, but that depends on the financing package and the time it takes to restore the track.
- Estimated annual operating expenses will be about $750,000, about half rail-related expenses and about half nonprofit-related expenses once it’s fully operational.
That means there will be a need to fundraise, sponsorship raise, partner raise and have adequate ticket sales to support this opportunity.