In many ways, the train built America. Despite our nation’s deep fascination with the automobile—promising personal freedom and assembled with our mass-production might—it was the locomotive that drove our country to greatness.

Opening up westward expansion, slashing shipping costs and travel times, fueling the steel and coal industries, and birthing towns and cities along its tracks, the 19th and early 20th-century railroads became the first large corporations in the U.S., even created time zones, and were foundational to the modern U.S. economy. When it began operation in 1869, the First Transcontinental Railroad shrank a coast-to-coast journey that had required four to six months by wagon, stagecoach, or ship to 6 or 7 days. 

And no destination captures the fun or the romance of historic train rides in Kentucky quite like Bardstown.

A Feast for the Eyes and Palate
In this one picturesque town of the Bluegrass region, known as the Bourbon Capital of the Worldâ, you can ride and dine in elegance and bygone style on the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train. This premier Kentucky dinner experience invites you to immerse yourself in history, which you can continue at the nearby Kentucky Rail Museum.

On board the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train (whose name alludes to My Old Kentucky Home, one of the most iconic 19th-century homes in America, also located in Bardstown) or finding a forgotten age at the train museum, you’ll step back in time to a slower, more relaxed era.

While riding on the rhythm of the rails through the rolling hills of Kentucky, your 2.5-hour excursion on the Bardstown dinner train will include a gourmet, freshly prepared four-course dinner, exceptional service, and taking in the sights through your window such as the Jim Beam Distillery, one of the outlaw Jesse James’ safe houses, and the Jackson Hollow Trestle bridge in the Bernheim Forest, believed by many to be the last all-wooden bridges of its kind to survive the Civil War.

  • More Excursion Details: A 35-mile round trip featuring tables of four and full-service bars available at the depot and on board. Additional appetizers and floral arrangements may be purchased in advance. Pro tip: It gets chilly on the train, so bring a sweater or light jacket!
  • Contact: 602 North 3rd Street, Bardstown, KY, 40004 | (502) 276-3018 | kydinnertrain.com.

Steel, Steam, and Stories
With your curiosity now piqued, it’s time to move your Bardstown getaway on down the line to include another fascinating stop: the Kentucky Railway Museum. Located less than 15 miles from Bardstown in New Haven, Kentucky, the museum is both a fun-filled family attraction and an exceptional effort to preserve our country’s rich rail heritage through static displays and moving train rides.

Rolling Time Capsules
With over 70 pieces of historical rail equipment in its collection, including four steam and 12 diesel locomotives and 3,000 square feet of HO model train layout, the museum is a treasure trove for train enthusiasts of every type: from Thomas the Tank Engine-adoring tykes and model train hobbyists to hardcore railway and U.S. history buffs.

Four specific pieces in the collection stand out to send train enthusiasts' excitement off the rails:

  1. L&N Steam Locomotive No. 152: Pulled President Teddy Roosevelt’s campaign train through Kentucky in 1912 and hauled gangster Al Capone partway to Alcatraz in 1934.
  2. L&N Combine Car No. 665: One of only two wood-sided steel cars ever manufactured.
  3. Mt. Broderick Pullman Car: Once a four-star hotel on rails, featuring polished brass fixtures and pull-out beds. Along with No. 152, it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
  4. French 40-et-8 Boxcar: Used extensively by France during both world wars to transport troops. In 1949, France gifted one to every U.S. state as a token of gratitude for our wartime alliance and sacrifice.
  • Museum Features: Historic rolling stock, indoor exhibits with train memorabilia, and a replica brick depot housing the main visitor center and gift shop. Excursions travel through the Rolling Fork River Valley along 22 miles of historic railway branch.
  • Contact: 136 South Main Street, New Haven, KY, 40051 | (800) 272-0152 | kyrail.org.

A Host of Themed Train Excursions to Choose From
Between the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train and the Kentucky Railway Museum, there is a train trip guaranteed to satisfy any group. Ranging from interactive family adventures to romantic dinners and spirit tastings, these excursions add bells and whistles to any getaway.

From the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train:

  • Murder Mystery Dinners: Enjoy an interactive, live-action whodunit show paired with a multi-course gourmet meal.
  • Bourbon Excursions: Sip and celebrate Kentucky's heritage with specialized pairings and tastings through bourbon country.
  • Family, Couples & Holiday Events: Festive seasonal runs like the North Pole Express, alongside themed daytime princess tea parties and superhero trips, plus Valentine’s and Galentine’s brunch trips.

From the Kentucky Railway Museum:

  • Seasonal Holiday Runs: Nostalgic winter trips on the Santa Claus Express or autumn foliage excursions like Whistles, Witches & Wine, the Fall Break Express, and the family-friendly Trick and Track Express.
  • Uncorked Express: A laid-back afternoon wine, cheese, and chocolate tasting experience aboard a vintage 1940s train.
  • The Outlaw Express & Day Out With Thomas the Tank Engine: Family favorites featuring live, action-packed mock train robberies or an interactive ride behind talking Thomas with a visit from Sir Topham Hatt.  

Bourbon, Bites, & Bedposts
While visiting Bardstown, it would be a crying shame not to get sidetracked by more of what this spirited town has to offer. Founded in 1780, Bardstown boasts a remarkably preserved downtown with nearly 200 historic buildings; it is a town saturated with Civil War history, dripping with Southern charm, and soaked in bourbon tradition. Here are a few of Bardstown’s best bets:

Where to Sip

  • Local Distilleries: Within a 16-mile radius of its historic square, the town features 11 distilleries reflecting a legacy that spans centuries.
  • Oscar Getz Museum: Check out this top-shelf museum to take a deep dive into bourbon history.
  • The Bourbon Vault: Sip a signature cocktail at this hidden speakeasy located inside The Trail Hotel.

Where to Sup

  • The Rickhouse: Tucked in the atmospheric brick basement of Spalding Hall, this steakhouse is highly rated for cozy vibes and its massive catalog of regional bourbons.
  • Toogie’s Table: A stylish Americana kitchen offering refined, locally sourced comfort classics paired with a fantastic wine and cocktail program.
  • Mammy’s Kitchen: A lively downtown mainstay praised for generous portions, hearty Southern breakfasts, specialty burgers, and homemade pies.

Where to Sleep

  • Talbott Inn: A charming, antique-filled inn dating back to the 18th century, situated directly adjacent to the iconic historic Talbott Tavern downtown, which is the oldest Western stagecoach stop in America and home to the oldest bourbon bar in America.
  • Jailer’s Inn Bed & Breakfast: Housed inside the original 1790 Nelson County jailhouse, this unique spot lets guests stay in beautifully restored, antique-filled cells.
  • Colonel’s Cottage Inns & Suites: A relaxed choice offering individual cottages and specialized bourbon-tasting sessions for guests.

Your Next Adventure: Family Attractions, Train Rides and Charm in Kentucky  
From the machines that built a nation to the spirit that has shaped its soul, Bardstown is a living tribute to some of America’s most remarkable traditions. It’s a place that’s on the move, but also the perfect spot to slow down. Start planning your rail-inspired escape to Bardstown today. Once you arrive, you will know exactly why you'll want to stay a little longer.