Spirit of Jasper season canceled, officials hopeful for 2027

The Spirit of Jasper won’t operate this year because of the costly repairs needed for it and the railroad tracks it operates on.

The 200 Club Car needs $60,000 in truck (wheel) repairs before it can run again. Even if work starts in August 2026, it won’t be finished until November — basically the end of train season, according to Jasper Park and Recreation Director Tom Moorman.

“They won’t let us run with it the way it is,” Moorman said.

The grounded car carries about 40 passengers. They considered running with the remaining cars, the Lounge and Parlour Cars, but “Economically it’s not feasible if you’re taking half your customers out of one of the cars,” Moorman said.

The immediate repair needs are just a fraction of the train’s total maintenance challenges. This year’s inspection determined that the 300 Club Car needs $30,000 worth of newer-style brakes. Moorman said they were also considering a complete restoration of all three cars, including paint removal and rust repair, but that would cost approximately $600,000.

“You’re talking about 100-year-old train cars that were refurbished 20 years ago,” Moorman said. “Mainly, only the insides and the paint job was done. So there’s a lot of mechanical things that were revealed to us in this inspection.”

The city doesn’t have funds budgeted for the repairs. Moorman said the Redevelopment Commission has some funds that could potentially help with maintenance, “but there’s not a million dollars to fix everything.”

The Redevelop Old Jasper Action Coalition (ROJAC) may also be able to assist the park department with the train repairs.

Compounding the issue, the tracks heading north to French Lick — the more scenic and popular route — are in such poor condition that passengers are no longer allowed on them. The Indiana Railway Museum, which owns the tracks, is exploring grant options to fund repairs. Moorman said he’s heard a wide range of estimates for the repairs.

The southbound tracks to Huntingburg remain operational because they carry freight, making them eligible for federal grants, unlike the route up to French Lick, which is for passenger-only travel.

Specialized maintenance makes the problem worse. Train generators require technicians from New Jersey, brake work goes to Pennsylvania, and finding qualified repair facilities means joining lengthy waiting lists.

“It’s not like you can take it over to Joe’s Garage and get it fixed up,” Moorman explained.

The train typically operates near break-even financially, making about $10,000 one year and losing $10,000 the next, depending on maintenance costs. Last year, it turned a profit. While the train brings tourists to Jasper, Moorman said they have to balance decisions with what the department can handle in relation to the attraction to the area.

There have been recent discussions about creating a soccer complex.

“If you invest a million dollars in a soccer complex, you can get a lot more people into town for that than you would for train cars,” he said, adding that the department has the ability to maintain those grounds without specialized equipment or technicians.

Ultimately, Moorman said he would love to see people back on the train cars next year.