I&O Mason Subdivision

I&O Mason Subdivision

The I&O Mason sub-division between Mason and Lebanon was built by the Cincinnati, Lebanon & Northern Railroad as a narrow gauge line. The portion from Hageman Junction to Monroe was built by the Middletown & Cincinnati Railroad. Both came under the control of the Pennsylvania Railroad, who accessed the line from Cincinnati or from Kings Mills, off the Cincinnati & Xenia Line (now the M&C is abandoned east of Hageman Junction to Kings Mills). I&O purchased the Mason sub in 1984. It reopened the Lebanon Branch in 1985, which had been closed for quite sometime due to lack of online business by Conrail. I&O operated excursions from Mason to Lebanon until the company was sold to Railtex in 1996. Mr. Thomas McOwen, the principle owner of I&O when sold to Railtex, retained the I&O Rail Passenger Corporation, which operated the passenger trains. He continues to operate as the Turtle Creek Valley Scenic Railway.

When I&O acquired the Blue Ash Subdivision in 1986, it attempted to rebuild the railroad that Penn Central had abandoned between South Mason and Brecon in 1972, re-linking the two lines. Due to vehement "NIMBY" opposition, the project failed due to failure to obtain permission from regulatory agencies.

Mile Post (southbound)	Station Name	Notes
0.0	Garver Road	Jct. NS Dayton District / Reed Yard Limits
1.0	Monroe
6.7	Hageman Junction	Jct. Lebanon Branch
8.0	Stokes	I&O Engine House
10.0	Mason	End of track
	LEBANON BRANCH
6.7	Hageman Junction	Jct. Mason Subdivision
2.3	Lebanon	End of track

Radio Frequency - 161.385

	I&O 56 northbound at Mason.
	#56 switching at Mason in 1988.
	#52 switching at Monroe.