Board These 9 Beautiful Trains In Kentucky For An Unforgettable Experience
By Jenn Shockley|Published December 09, 2015
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Jenn Shockley
Author
I am somewhat a cliche'. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky.
I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side.
Back in the day, Kentuckians got around via train, horse or their own feet. Many of the old train companies, like L&N, are now only memories of the past. Fortunately, a few stations and companies are left and will give train enthusiasts that special kind of experience only a train ride can provide. Some of the old stations provide a ride and a museum, others just one or the other. Regardless which place you choose, you are sure to have a memorable experience.
Here are 9 beautiful train venues in Kentucky that provide an unforgettable experience:
This is a small museum showing some of the items used during the train’s hay day. There are cars to tour, and best of all, a 22-mile train ride excursion around the area. Admission prices begin at $19.00. This charming attraction is located at 136 S. Main Street in New Haven.
This is a must-see for train lovers, as they can visit the museum and experience train rides through the scenic farms of Woodford County. Everything starts at 175 Beasley Road in Versailles, where visitors will find authentic 1920s and 1930s style train cars. This wonderful railway lets us experience what train rides were like in the days of our ancestors.
This was once the Old L&N Train Depot at 401 Kentucky Street in Bowling Green. It has been transformed into a two-story museum packed full of interesting train related items, and offers a walk through box cars, dining cars, engines and a caboose. During the holiday season they offer a Polar Express where children can arrive in pajamas, enjoy cocoa and treats, then hear stories in a dining car from Santa himself.
This station is located at West Front Street and Rosemary Clooney Street in Maysville and visitors, not a train ride, but a look at what train stations were like in 1918. The lovely Georgian architecture still stands as originally designed allowing us a window into the past.
This train station at 555 Main Street in South Portsmouth offers train riders tickets to a variety of locations, all of which offer a scenic trip in a friendly, pleasant environment. Any railway in Kentucky will have an enjoyable scenic ride around our hills, mountains and waterways.
If you are a fan of the zoo, you won’t want to miss a ride on the train. The zoo is located at 1100 Trevilian Way and the train rides are open seasonally. The ride is great for the little ones, and pleasant for adults as you get to relax while riding around seeing the current exhibits and inhabitants of the facility. It is a nice way to see everything without seemingly walking for miles.
Located at Washington Street and Marine Way in Paducah, this museum gives us a glimpse into the history of trains. Though they offer no actual rides, they have created a train ride simulation which gives a safe and serene experience without actually going anywhere.
Train lovers should come out to 602 N. 3rd Street in Bardstown and take a ride on the train side. Dinner is served for the price of admission with a wonderful menu, carefully adjusted with seasonal fare. Passengers get to dine on fresh foods, tasty drinks, and delicious desserts. Afterwards, all can relax during a scenic ride around the area. The sites are unforgettable, and the clickity clack of the train is most serene.
A beautifully scenic train ride through the area is perfect any time of year, but the changing of the leaves, light snow falls, and blooms of spring are all exceptionally lovely. This train ride gives nature lovers a train tour of some of the loveliest parts of the county, starting at 100 Henderson Court in Stearns.
My Dad worked for and retired from L&N, so I got to experience trains through his eyes, as well as my own. He has a beautiful perspective and allowed me to enjoy a few train rides in my youth. Though the ways of old are fading, there are still a few places one can enjoy the true ambiance of a train ride and memorabilia. Have you ever been on a train? If so, how was it?
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