Rolling along the tracks of the railroad in beautiful Rolling Fork River Valley, I could almost imagine I was back in the days of the old west, when Kentucky was one of the first places west of the Alleghenies to have trains. We had taken an afternoon to spend at the Kentucky Railway Museum, located in New Haven, Kentucky.
Upon arrival we stepped inside the railway museum, designed to look like a replica of the original brick depot in New Haven, and found the depot waiting area packed! Tip: Arrive fifteen minutes early to be prepared to board the train. The train leaves at 1 PM sharp. While waiting for the train excursion to begin, we visited the Kentucky Railway Museum to learn more about the history of the railroad. Several children were visiting the museum and watched the model train exhibit in fascination. My favorite displays were the different lanterns used over the years and the handcar.
The Railway Museum offers train excursions throughout the year, including a Day out with Thomas, Mystery Rides, Dinner Rides, and one I am itching to try, Train Robbery Excursions, along with train excursions on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Friday from June 18th- August 12th. Once we had boarded the antique railway car, we settled in for a pleasant ride across the countryside. The train moves slowly, passing by a boarded hotel and diner, through rambling countryside and (to all the children’s shouts of joy) a bridge. Tip: There are no restrooms on the train. If you have small children, it’s worth a stop in the museum restroom before departure.
The train made a short stop in a nearby town, allowing passengers to depart the track for a snack of “anything but popcorn,” time to stretch our legs or make pictures beside the train. This is a perfect family friendly activity for kids of all ages, but be warned- the noise level on the train can get loud. It’s not just kids who enjoy the train ride. Our journey had one full car of older adults who were having so much fun the young mom in the seat behind me said, “I want to go party with the older people!”
Want to take a train ride into the past? Be sure to check their website for scheduled dates as the winter schedule is different than the summer schedule.
To learn more about the fun activities in Bardstown and the surrounding areas, visit their website at VisitBardstown.Com.
My kids would love to visit this museum! They love trains!
Looks like a great time! My nieces truly appreciate museums (and so I can’t complain!) and they would certainly love this one.
What a lovely way to spend a day, I would love to visit the museum sounds fun
wow it looks like you had a blast at the museum. This is right up my kids alley. Definitely making note for our next road trip
Such fun pictures! It looks like you had such a fun time! I’ve never been – but I can see why you loved it!
What a unique and nice museum. I think so many would love to go there. it’s one of a kind.
What an absolutely fun place to visit! My train obsessed kiddos would LOVE this!
Omg what a fun place!!!! We have a railway museum about an hour away! Too my daughter last year and she had a blast!
We love museums like that, the kind that you let you feel like you are living in the time. What a fun place!
What a fun museum! I have never been to Kentucky but I’ve always wanted to visit.
My kids would love something like this. They have always shown a love for trains since they were little. They are old enough now that they would enjoy a trip to a museum like this.
Trains have always fascinated me! This would be such a fun museum for me to go and see to learn more.
My son is obsessed with trains so this is something he would love! I’ll have to add this to our “travel bucket list”.
I have never ridden on a train. I would love to visit the Railing Museum. Trains are such an important part of American History.
I am fascinated with locomotive device. This would be an interesting place to visit for me and learn more about it.
I think museums are a great way to get to know a place and it’s always nice to learn history by going through a tour of a city’s museum. I’m sure it was absolutely awesome to go here and experience this!
Ive been to many states but never Kentucky. Ill haven’t make it there on my next road trip. Thanks for this.
This is awesome. I have never been to KY. I have gotten to appreciate these old trains a lot more lately.
I’ve never really been to a museum! This looks like one my kids would really love to check out as well as myself! So fun!
What a cool place to visit. One of those themed train excursions would be a lot of fun!
My son love trains so we have been to a lot of museums and this one looks very cool! I will have to show him these photos.
This looks like a great way to spend the day. My youngest son loves train so I know he would be thrilled!
Considering the rail system was one of our first methods of transportation, touring this museum would be fantastic. I bet there is so much history to explore!
This would certainly be a fun time, trains are so much fun and I love learning about stuff like this. A museum may just have to be on our visit list soon!
What a fun trip! We will check this railway museum next time we’re near the area.
This looks like such a fun place to visit. We always love to check out museums when we’re on vacation. If we’re ever in this area, we will be sure to check out this railway museum.
What a fun way to spend a day! The train robbery excursion sounds like it would be exciting!
What a neat museum to check out – a railway museum sounds like fun for anyone. Loving all of those photos!
So much fun! We took our first train ride this month and it was a lot of fun. My grandpa worked on the railroad when he was younger so it’s fun to connect with the past that way.
The Railway Museum is a TON of fun. We’ve been there, and the kids couldn’t get enough of it.
That’s so much fun! I’ve always loved railroads. I’d love to head down that way for our next vacation.
This looks like a neat place to visit. My son would enjoy this, he has always loved anything train related.
One of my dad’s favorite things is checking out Railroad museums. If we get down to Kentucky I’m going to show him this one because I think he would enjoy it.
Ohhh the old hotel. I’d love to see a room mocked up as it once was. Those types of places fascinate me.
What a lot of fun you had visiting the Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven, KY. My dad worked on the railroad in Eugene, OR and all of us kids enjoyed the times he would point out an older engine, freight car, or old-fashioned caboose. I may not make it back to KY for awhile, but your article and pictures make my day anyway, because it is close to seeing it in person.