Housed in a replica of the original New Haven station, the Kentucky Railway Museum has more than 50,000 items in its collection and more than 120 locomotives and pieces of rolling stock. The museum also operates excursions on 17 miles of the former Louisville & Nashville track.
Choices
The excursion at the Kentucky Railway Museum takes you on a nostalgic trip along L&N’s historic Lebanon Branch. Diesel operating power includes ex-Monon BL-2 No. 32 and ex-AT&SF CF-7 No. 2546. You can ride in climate-controlled coaches.
When to go
The museum is open year-round, and excursions take place from April to December. Trains run on weekends throughout the season with added Tuesday excursions during the summer months. Spring and fall scenery is nice, with temperatures in the 70s and low 80s.
Good to know
Steam locomotive No. 152 was built in 1905 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was designated the official steam locomotive of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and is currently under restoration.
Worth doing
Abraham Lincoln was born nearby, and historical sites to visit include his birthplace, boyhood home, and the Lincoln Museum. Mammoth Cave National Park, Fort Knox, the General George Patton Museum, and My Old Kentucky Home State Park are also close by.
Don’t miss
The museum offers specialty trains that include dining by rail, locomotive cab rides, train robberies, and Santa trains.
Getting there
The museum is about 45 miles from Louisville and 65 miles from Lexington. If driving from Louisville, take I-65 south to Exit 105, Route 61 to Boston, and then Route 52 to New Haven. From Lexington, take Highway 60 west to the Martha Layne Collins Parkway. Take the parkway to Exit 21 and then Route 31E to New Haven.
Location: 136 South Main Street, New Haven, KY
Phone: 800-272-0152
Website: kyrail.org
E-mail: info@kyrail.org
