The mayor of Saugeen Shores says there's no plans to derail the iconic steam train at the Port Elgin waterfront.
Mike Smith says misinformation is fuelling a rally this weekend to save the replica 1836 steam train, which shuttles tourists around a 1.6 km track along the waterfront.
Smith says there has never been discussion about removing the train, pointing to the waterfront master plan, which includes keeping the train. However, the plan suggests moving the train station from the beach to North Shore Park.
He says they won't stand in the way of anybody rallying in favour of the train, though he takes exception to the flyer being spread on social media that claims a movement to remove the train is being lead by a senior municipal staff member.
"It would be nice if we got all the facts straight before we start running off on saying things that are completely unfair to some of the directors, our staff, who have worked very hard with [train owner Andy Hess] to try and make sure we preserve the train," says Smith.
Smith believes much of the speculation around the fate of the train started when council opted to extend the lease for The Station store for one year, rather than the traditional five-year lease.
He says they just wanted time to discuss the future of the property with Hess.
"The lease was up and the idea was to extend it a year and to work with the owner to say 'here's some ideas we're trying to explore' and would come back with hopefully a five-year lease at the end of this year," says Smith.
Smith adds the situation is a lesson in communications, pointing to how quickly the anonymous flyers were spread around social media.
The flyers do not identify who is responsible for organizing the rally, which is scheduled for Sunday at noon at The Station in Port Elgin.
The anonymous poster spreading on social media encouraging a rally to "save the train". (Photo of train taken by Peter McNeice, and used in poster without permission)