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Northern Central Railway asks New Freedom to return 2025 amusement tax after 2024 losses
Summary
Northern Central Railway told the New Freedom Borough Council it seeks a full rebate of the borough's 2025 amusement tax to offset mechanical failures, bridge damage and lost revenue in 2024; council asked the solicitor to research legal permissibility and to consider the matter at next meeting.
Northern Central Railway (NCR) asked the New Freedom Borough Council on a public meeting night to return 100% of the borough's 2025 amusement tax to the nonprofit, citing heavy maintenance costs and revenue lost in 2024.
Ashley Zimmerman, executive director of Northern Central Railway, told the council that “Since 02/2013, we have brought 200,000 visitors to New Freedom, making a $3,500,000 impact to your county,” and that running the tourist railroad carries unusually high capital and federally mandated safety costs. She said mechanical failures to steam engine No. 17, an unexpected diesel engine compressor failure, and a bridge strike last November caused lengthy service interruptions and large unplanned expenses in 2024.
NCR explai…
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