With the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority suspending operations by the Indiana Transportation Museum on its tracks, residents in Fishers will have to plan for another mode of travel to the State Fairgrounds other than the State Fair Train.
The HHPA banned the ITM from HPPA’s tracks March 25 and decided July 11 not to lift that ban. The port authority approved a resolution July 11 that included 13 terms the ITA must adhere to in order to again operate on HPPA track.
Those conditions include adhering to all safety protocols, yearly and monthly track maintenance plans, providing complete copies of the ITM’s annual budgets, its safety programs, inspection reports, accident and injury reports and schedules.
Seven former ITM volunteers and whistleblowers wrote a letter alleging the museum’s board of directors of questionable financial practices, failing to maintain records and improper training and safety precautions.
In a statement released by the ITM, Board of Directors Chairman Jeffrey Kehler stated the whistleblowers were each directors or officers of organizations within the ITM group of organizations.
“(They) opposed the expansion of the Polar Bear Express operation in 2015, and its planned further expansion in 2016, even after the success of the operation demonstrated that it could be done and the resulting revenue was the best ever achieved,” Kehler stated. “(They) claimed that we are utilizing untrained and unqualified personnel in train operations, when in fact, the dismissed volunteers are the very ones who trained and approved our personnel’s certifications and qualifications. … (And they) have sullied ITM’s reputation, and their own by default, by going public with their unfounded complaints, potentially making it ever more difficult to seek out gifts and grants to do the very work that they claim that they want to do. (They) have caused ITM to lose a substantial amount of income this year.”
More than 10,000 passengers utilized the Indiana State Fair Train last year.
“The Fair Train has been a valued part of the Fishers community for many years,” Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness stated. “However, the safety and security of the riders is the top priority. Under no circumstance will the City of Fishers support the operation of the Fair Train unless the safety and regulatory concerns raised by the Federal Rail Administration are addressed in a responsible manner. I support the Indiana Transportation Museum’s efforts to correct the situation and hope that a resolution to these challenges is swift for the sake of the residents, riders and employees.”
In his statement through the ITM, Kehler said the museum has “at all times and without fail met its obligation to comply with federal and industry standards for guarding public safety.”
The Indiana State Fair Commission released a statement July 12 regarding the train.
“The Indiana Transportation Museum’s Fair Train has been a great contributor to the Indiana State Fair and our fairgoers for many years. We hope that any issues that have arisen will be resolved in time for the Fair but there are several other convenient transportation options in place for our visitors to attend this year’s Indiana State Fair.”
