The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway has announced they will cease train operations in Jim Thorpe in November.
According to a press release from the President of LGSR, Wayne Michael, the train operations will cease on November 25, 2019.
Michael stated that Jim Thorpe Borough Council has recently sought to force LGSR to pay an amusement tax and also brought a lawsuit against the company to recover close to $100,000 in "alleged" back taxes for the years 2016-2018.
"LGSR has made it clear to the Borough Council that it is not an amusement and it will not pay any so-called amusement tax", stated Michael.
"Nonetheless, the Borough Council and the Mayor have made various public statements demeaning LGSR, RBMN and their owner, Andy Muller, Jr. Those statements are false and misleading."
"Instead of responding to every inaccurate statement Mr. Muller has decided to take the passenger operations to towns that welcome the railroad with open arms." added Michael.
“RBMN is in the freight business. That is where we make our money. I have offered passenger excursion rides to local communities as a way of thanking them for their support over the years and to educate young and old in the glorious role railroads in this region played in our country’s industrial revolution. Since it is clear that the Mayor and Borough Council do not care about what we have done to assist Jim Thorpe over the last fifteen years, a period in which Jim Thorpe Borough government has done NOTHING to assist the railroads, I have decided to focus our energies on communities that want to work with the railroads. While I feel terrible for our loyal employees, our repeat customers, and Jim Thorpe merchants who have supported our excursion trains, there is no reason for us to stay where we are not welcome.” said Andy Muller Jr. stated in a statement.
Refunds will be issued for all people who have already purchased tickets for the Santa trains. Closure of LGSR does not affect RBMN passenger operations from other locations to Jim Thorpe. RBMN plans to announce soon a new schedule of rides from other communities.
