The Bluegrass Train Experience is a passport program from Kentucky Tourism that offers 13 train experiences ranging from a museum on wheels, train rides through the countryside, historic diner trains, and one of the newest interactive Kentucky attractions – the Rail Explorers. The trail includes train-related attractions in Oldham County, Bardstown, Woodford County, McCreary County, and Warren County.

The Bluegrass Train Experience provides a depot to the soul-stirring beauty of Kentucky, and participation is as easy as punching a ticket aboard. Participants can pick up a Bluegrass Train Experience passport at one of the 13 train attractions or at any participating tourism office. At each attraction, collect a sticker to add to your passport. The more stickers you collect, the more prizes gained. Prizes include branded bandanas, enamel pins, magnets, and more.

Plan a day or two to explore and learn all about Woodford County’s rich train history!

Rail Explorers

The Bluegrass Division brings the 5-Star Rail Explorers experience to the gorgeous countryside of Lexington Kentucky, the horse capital of the world (it’s the heart of Bourbon country too!). The new location is just 20 minutes from downtown Lexington and only one hour from Louisville.
 Rail Explorers is working in partnership with the Bluegrass Scenic Railroad & Museum, founded in 1976 and tours run on the Louisville Southern Railroad built in the 1880s.

On this 10-mile round trip, you will pass thoroughbred horse farms where you may see mares and foals in the fields before descending into deep cuts through the limestone hills.
 Bring a drink and snack to enjoy at the turnaround area on the cliffs above the Kentucky River gorge. Enjoy the view of the Wild Turkey Distillery and the 1,659-foot-long Young’s High Bridge soaring 283 feet above the river.
 All Explorers are fitted with the ‘REX Propulsion System’ — custom-built electric motors that make the journey effortless.

Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum

The Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum operates a 90-minute train ride through the rolling central Kentucky countryside past thoroughbred horse farms to the Kentucky River. Air-conditioned first-class cars and exciting open-air cars are available. In addition to train rides every weekend, the museum offers weekday charters and maintains an outdoor collection of historic railroad locomotives and railcars and an indoor museum of railroad artifacts. The museum, model train layouts, and gift shop are open from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm Saturdays.

The museum also offers weekday-chartered train rides for groups of 30 or more. We travel west through typical Kentucky countryside. You will pass cattle and fields of corn, soybean, and tobacco. We also pass through two Thoroughbred horse farms where you may see mares and foals in the fields. The train then descends through deep limestone cuts to the palisades of the Kentucky River where you may disembark, and photograph Young’s High Bridge built in 1889, and see the Wild Turkey Distillery.

Chartered First Class Trains

First class, plush seating, and air-conditioned coach accommodations limited to 100 people. Charter Fare is $18 per person for first-class fare with a $540 minimum guarantee paid in advance. The total fare is calculated at $18 per person and applied at the time of your trip – any amount over $540 collected before the ride. Two weeks’ notice is required for charters to guarantee the availability of a full train crew.

Chartered Coach Class Trains

Coach seating and train rides for birthdays and other celebrations are available by special request. We can run the train on any day of the week of any month at your convenience. Corporate outings and school field trips are also welcome. Charter fares are $13 per person for coach fares with a $390 minimum guarantee paid in advance. Your chartered coach train can accommodate up to 250 guests. The total fare is calculated at $13 per person and applied at the time of your trip – any amount over $390 collected before the ride. Two weeks’ notice is required for charters to guarantee the availability of a full train crew.

Nostalgia Station Toy & Train Museum

Nostalgia Station Toy & Train Museum is a toy and train museum featuring antique toys and trains from the 1900s through the 1950s, housed in a 1911 renovated Louisville & Nashville railroad passenger station. A small admission fee is charged for entry into the museum. Group rates are available. Displays include trains manufactured by Lionel, American Flyer, Marx, Ives, and other minor brands. The museum features antique toys made by Marx, Arcade, Kenton, Buddy-L, Hubley, and other well-known brands of toys. The retail store features trains in 0, H0, and N gauges in sets and individual items, both new and reconditioned. We are an authorized Lionel dealer and also repair trains from all manufacturers and sizes.

Related Experiences

• Walk through the historic Downtown Midway, you might catch the train as it runs through downtown!
• Enjoy lunch at Ricardo’s Grill & Pub – a former Southern Railroad Station in 1855!