Bluegrass Railroad Museum in Versailles, Kentucky

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Versailles, Kentucky · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesFreeExcursions every weekend April to September, then special event trains

Since 1976 the all-volunteer Bluegrass Railroad Museum has restored and run historic diesel trains over the old Louisville Southern line from Versailles to the Kentucky River, so visitors can learn railroad history from a coach window instead of a display case.

  • Founded in 1976
  • 100 percent volunteer run
  • 11-mile round trip excursion
  • Track laid in the 1880s
  • Working telegraph for kids
  • Free grounds, open daily

Bluegrass Railroad Museum at a glance

Hours
Museum Saturdays (posted as 9:30 am to 5 pm on one page, 10 am to 4 pm on another); Sundays on excursion days; grounds open daily
Admission
Grounds free; indoor exhibits included with a train ticket; train fares posted at booking
Train rides
Scenic excursions every weekend April to September, about 90 minutes and 11 miles round trip; special event trains in fall and winter
Seasonal events
Pumpkin Express, Santa's Holiday Express, Mother's Day train, Father's Day train
Plan for
About 2 hours
Best for
Families, school groups and rail fans
Best ages
Ages 3 and up

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Bluegrass Railroad Museum? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Versailles.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A model railroad club that wanted the real thing

The Bluegrass Railroad Museum was incorporated in 1976 by members of the Bluegrass Railroad Club, a model railroad group whose members wanted to preserve and run full-size equipment. Fifty years on, it is still an all-volunteer nonprofit, and the same volunteers who restore the locomotives and coaches also run the trains, staff the exhibits and lead the school programs.

The museum's home is a 5.5-mile stretch of historic track from Versailles to the Kentucky River, first laid in the 1880s. The museum says the route has been traveled by the Louisville Southern Railroad since 1888. Kentucky's tourism office notes that the museum has run on this line since 1986, from West Versailles to Young's High Bridge at Tyrone, a cantilever railroad bridge built in 1889.

Over the years the volunteers have assembled six historic locomotives, three of them in running order, along with more than 30 coaches, cabooses and freight cars dating from the 1920s to the 1950s. The museum's stated belief is simple: history makes the most sense from aboard a moving train, with the whistle blowing and the countryside going by. Alongside the equipment, the volunteers work to keep alive the stories and craft of the people who built and ran Kentucky's railroads.

Horse farms, limestone cuts and the river palisades

Trains leave from Woodford County Park on Beasley Road. The standard scenic excursion is about 90 minutes and covers 11 miles round trip, rolling past horse farms and through limestone cuts to the Kentucky River gorge at Tyrone before heading back. The coaches are restored vintage passenger cars.

Before or after the ride, walk the grounds among diesel locomotives, freight and passenger cars and cabooses; the grounds are open daily at no charge. Inside, the museum's exhibits follow Kentucky's role in the national rail network from the Civil War era to the diesel transition of the 1950s, with rare dining car china from passenger trains of the past, a real conductor's uniform, original stone sills from the 1831 Lexington & Ohio, and a working telegraph set.

Don’t miss

  1. The ride to TyroneThe 90-minute round trip ends at the Kentucky River gorge, the most dramatic part of the line, where the river palisades come into view.
  2. Lexington & Ohio stone sillsOriginal stone sills from Kentucky's first railroad, which began running in 1831, three decades before the Civil War.
  3. The working telegraphVisitors and students can tap out real Morse code on a fully working set and learn how the telegraph kept trains safe.
  4. First-generation diesel cabOn school programs, volunteer engineers help students climb into the cab and explain the controls.
  5. Passenger train china and conductor uniformSmall, personal pieces of railroad travel that show what riding the rails looked like in the golden age.

Telegraph keys, a diesel cab and a real train

The museum says children are made for trains, and it builds programs to match. Kids can send Morse code on the working telegraph, look at artifacts from the 1830s, and then take a real ride through horse country. School groups and scout troops can book field trips where volunteer engineers walk older students through a diesel cab, with programs tailored from kindergarten up.

Special event trains are the easiest way in for little ones: the Pumpkin Express in fall and Santa's Holiday Express in winter, plus Mother's Day and Father's Day rides. The grounds are free, so a short visit to see the engines works even on a day without a ticket.

Plan your visit: tips for Bluegrass Railroad Museum

  • Book excursion tickets online, since fares and dates are listed at checkout.
  • Call ahead for group visits; phone messages are returned within 48 hours.
  • The museum is closed on major holidays.
  • Weekday visits are grounds only, as the indoor museum is closed Monday to Friday.
  • Check the museum's FAQ page for accessibility and ticket questions.

The special event season opens with the Pumpkin Express in the fall and continues into winter with Santa's Holiday Express, a favorite for families with young children. Tickets go on sale on the museum's booking page. For more seasonal ideas, see our lists of fall and Halloween train rides in Kentucky and Kentucky Christmas train rides.

An all-volunteer railroad

Every job here, from restoring coaches to running the locomotives and teaching school groups, is done by volunteers of a nonprofit. You can help by riding a train, dropping a donation in the box at the free museum, becoming a member, or volunteering; the contact form lets you choose volunteering, donations or group visits as your area of interest.

Other rail stops within an hour or so

The La Grange Railroad Museum and My Old Kentucky Dinner Train in Bardstown are each about 42 miles away. Steam fans can check on the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation in Ravenna, about 50 miles east. Browse all of Kentucky's train museums to plan more.

Every train museum in Kentucky

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

The volunteers here say history is best seen from a train window, and I could not agree more. In our book, Rally presses his nose to an arched window, watches the ocean slide by and says hello to a white bird. Here it would be horse farms and the Kentucky River instead of waves, but the feeling is the same. My kids are learning to read now, and windows like that give them plenty to talk about.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Bluegrass Railroad Museum?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Bluegrass Railroad Museum: 20 questions families ask

Where is the Bluegrass Railroad Museum?

The Bluegrass Railroad Museum is at 175 Beasley Road in Versailles, Kentucky 40383, inside Woodford County Park. Trains depart from the park and run toward the Kentucky River at Tyrone. Use the Beasley Road address in your GPS, and call (859) 873-2476 if you need directions.

How much are Bluegrass Railroad Museum train tickets?

The museum lists current fares on its online booking page rather than on its general pages, so check bluegrassrailroad.com when you pick a date. Your train ticket also covers the indoor museum exhibits. Walking the grounds and seeing the equipment outside is free. Call (859) 873-2476 with pricing questions.

Does the Bluegrass Railroad Museum offer ticket discounts?

The museum does not post a standing discount or promo code online. Members of the museum may receive benefits, so ask about membership if you ride often, and ask about group rates when booking a school, scout or charter visit. Call (859) 873-2476 or email bluegrassrailroad@gmail.com before you book.

How long is the Bluegrass Railroad Museum train ride?

The standard scenic excursion lasts about 90 minutes round trip. It covers 11 miles, running from Woodford County Park through Kentucky horse country to the Kentucky River gorge at Tyrone and back. Some special event rides run longer or shorter, so check the details for the train you book.

When does the Bluegrass Railroad Museum run trains?

As of October 2026, scenic excursions depart every weekend from April through September. The special event season then begins with the Pumpkin Express and carries into winter with Santa's Holiday Express. Departure times and open dates are shown on the booking page at bluegrassrailroad.com.

What are the Bluegrass Railroad Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the indoor museum is open Saturdays and on Sundays when trains run, and closed Monday through Friday and on major holidays. One page lists Saturday hours of 9:30 am to 5 pm and another 10 am to 4 pm, so call ahead. The outdoor grounds are open daily.

Is the Bluegrass Railroad Museum free?

Partly. Walking the grounds and viewing the outdoor equipment is free every day, and the museum welcomes donations. Admission to the indoor exhibits is included with a train ticket, and there is no separate charge for the exhibits on excursion days. Train rides themselves are ticketed.

Is the Bluegrass Railroad Museum connected to Rail Explorers?

Rail Explorers runs its Bluegrass Division rail bike tours from the Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum site, with routes of about 10 miles and two hours. It is a separate company, so book rail bikes through Rail Explorers and train excursions through the museum's own website.

Is the Bluegrass Scenic Railroad the same as the Bluegrass Railroad Museum?

Yes. The museum appears under several names, including Bluegrass Railroad and Museum and Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum. They all refer to the volunteer-run museum and excursion railroad based in Woodford County Park on Beasley Road in Versailles.

What is on the Bluegrass Railroad Museum roster?

The museum has six historic locomotives, three operational and three on static display, all diesels and historic pieces. It also has more than 30 pieces of rolling stock, including coaches, cabooses and freight cars built between the 1920s and the 1950s. A full roster is on the museum collection page of its website.

What will we see on the Bluegrass Railroad Museum excursion?

The ride passes thoroughbred horse farms, runs through limestone cuts and reaches the Kentucky River gorge and its palisades at Tyrone. The track was first laid in the 1880s. Kentucky's tourism office notes the line ends near Young's High Bridge, built in 1889.

Does the Bluegrass Railroad Museum have a Christmas train?

Yes. Santa's Holiday Express runs in winter as part of the special event season, and the museum calls the Santa train one of its most cherished rides. Dates and tickets are released on the booking page, so check bluegrassrailroad.com in the fall, as holiday trains are popular.

Is there a Halloween or pumpkin train at the Bluegrass Railroad Museum?

Yes. The Pumpkin Express opens the special event season each fall and is aimed at families. The museum posts its dates and fares on the booking page. Call (859) 873-2476 if you have questions about the ride or need help with tickets.

Is the Bluegrass Railroad Museum good for kids?

Yes. The museum runs kid-focused programs, and children can send Morse code on a working telegraph and see artifacts from Kentucky's first railroad. The 90-minute ride suits most kids from preschool age up, and the free grounds let little ones see engines up close without a ticket.

Does the Bluegrass Railroad Museum offer field trips?

Yes. Educational visits combine exhibits and a real train ride, with programs tailored from kindergarten field trips to adult history talks. Students can use the telegraph, examine 1831 stone sills, and in grades 4 to 12 climb into a first-generation diesel cab with a volunteer engineer. Book through the education page.

Can we book a group or charter at the Bluegrass Railroad Museum?

Yes. The contact form lets you choose group and charter visits as your area of interest, and the museum asks groups to call ahead. Reach the volunteers at (859) 873-2476 or bluegrassrailroad@gmail.com. Phone messages are returned within 48 hours.

When was the Bluegrass Railroad Museum founded?

The museum was established in 1976, incorporated by members of the Bluegrass Railroad Club, a model railroad group that wanted to preserve real trains. It has operated for more than 50 years. Kentucky's tourism office says the museum has run on its current line out of Versailles since 1986.

Who runs the Bluegrass Railroad Museum?

The museum is a 100 percent volunteer-run nonprofit. Volunteers restore and operate the locomotives and coaches, care for the exhibits and lead school programs. You can join them by choosing volunteering on the contact form, or support the work through membership and donations.

What do reviews say about the Bluegrass Railroad Museum?

Teachers describe the visit as one of the most memorable field trips they offer, ending with a real train ride after hands-on displays. The museum calls its excursion one of Kentucky's most beloved train rides. Check its Facebook page for recent photos and visitor comments before your trip.

What train museums are near the Bluegrass Railroad Museum?

The La Grange Railroad Museum and My Old Kentucky Dinner Train in Bardstown are each about 42 miles away. The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation in Ravenna is about 50 miles, and the Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven is about 53 miles, so central Kentucky makes a good rail weekend.

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