Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven, Kentucky

Written By Kelsey Cecil

New Haven, Kentucky · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesMuseum open Tuesday to Sunday; train rides on posted dates

Founded by Louisville rail enthusiasts and chartered in 1954, the Kentucky Railway Museum now owns and operates its own stretch of the Louisville and Nashville's historic Lebanon Branch, with a replica L&N depot museum in New Haven and more than 100 pieces of rolling stock.

  • Chartered in 1954
  • Owns 17 miles of L&N track
  • Over 100 pieces of rolling stock
  • L&N 152, Kentucky's state locomotive
  • Replica 1910 L&N depot museum
  • Halloween and Christmas trains

Kentucky Railway Museum at a glance

Hours
Museum Tuesday to Friday 9 or 10 am to 4:30 pm, Saturday 11 am to 4:30 pm, Sunday noon to 4:30 pm (Eastern); closed Monday
Admission
Train rides from $14 and up; specialty trains priced separately
Train rides
Train Ride to Boston (about 1.5 hours, from $17), Saturday 2 pm departures; Gethsemane excursions, caboose rides and themed trains on posted dates
Seasonal events
Trick and Track Express, Whistles, Witches and Wine, Christmas Train, The Outlaw Express, Uncorked Express Wine and Cheese Train, Trivia on the Rails, Car, Truck, Bike and Tractor Show
Plan for
About 2.5 hours with a train ride
Best for
Families with young kids and rail fans
Best ages
Toddlers to age 12

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Kentucky Railway 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 New Haven.

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.

Three homes, one steam engine and a railroad of its own

The museum grew out of a local chapter of the National Railway Historical Society that a handful of rail enthusiasts formed in 1948. In the early 1950s the chapter asked the Louisville and Nashville Railroad to donate a steam locomotive as the start of a collection. The museum was chartered in 1954, and with L&N 4-6-2 No. 152 in hand it leased six acres on River Road in Louisville and opened to the public on Memorial Day 1958. More than 200,000 people came through the gates in its first ten years.

River Road flooded, and the collection needed room, so the museum moved to leased land near Ormsby Village on LaGrange Road. There, volunteers spent thirteen years restoring No. 152 in an outdoor shop, helped by grants from the Brown Foundation and the National Park Service. In September 1985 the engine moved under its own power for the first time in about thirty years.

When Jefferson County said the Ormsby lease would not be renewed, the museum went looking for a place it could own. CSX was weighing abandonment of the old L&N Lebanon Branch, and with help from the Bingham Foundation and a state economic development grant the museum bought seventeen miles of it, from just east of Boston to New Hope, at roughly $30,000 a mile. Two brothers in New Haven, Lewis and Chester Simms, donated land and a building for headquarters, and the new home opened on July 4, 1990.

A 5,000 square foot museum building, a replica of the original brick L&N depot at New Haven, opened in the summer of 1995. Today the museum says more than 40,000 visitors come each year, many of them students on field trips.

A depot museum, a model layout and a long roster of cars

Your visit starts at the brick depot on South Main Street, a replica of the L&N station that stood here, with exhibits, a gift shop full of train items, and a large model train display set in glass-covered dioramas that cover about 3,000 square feet. Scenes include a German village with a carnival.

Outside and on the line, the museum's equipment is the real draw. It owns over 100 pieces of rolling stock, from flat cars, cranes, reefers, box cars, hoppers and Railway Post Office cars to passenger coaches and cabooses, along with four steam and twelve diesel locomotives. Excursion trains use coaches such as Southern 845 and C&O 1616, both built by Pullman Standard in 1950, and the 1949 diner Alta Lake from British Columbia. The ride to Boston follows the Rolling Fork River Valley and lasts about an hour and a half.

Don’t miss

  1. L&N No. 152A 4-6-2 Pacific built by Rogers Locomotive Works in 1905, named the official steam locomotive of Kentucky and listed on the National Register. It is currently out of service, so check the museum's Crew 152 page for its status.
  2. L&N Combine No. 665A rare wood and steel combine built in the Jim Crow era with separate sections for Black and white passengers. In the 1960s it toured behind the Civil War locomotive The General.
  3. Mt. Broderick Pullman carA lounge, observation and sleeping car with polished brass fixtures and pull-out beds, sold to the museum by the Pullman Company in 1958.
  4. The CardinalThe red Frankfort and Cincinnati Model 55 gas rail car that once ran the 'Whiskey Route' between Frankfort and Paris, Kentucky.
  5. Monon No. 32A diesel painted black and gold to match Purdue University's colors, on display at the museum since 1972.
  6. The model train dioramasAbout 3,000 square feet of glass-covered layouts inside the depot, a good stop before or after the train ride.

Where a little boy's train dream comes true

The Saturday train ride to Boston is the family favorite: about an hour and a half on vintage coaches, with crossings to watch and a conductor who often chats with kids along the way. Guests write about bringing grandchildren as young as 2 and 5, and about birthday trips for small train fans. The model train dioramas in the depot are a calm place to start.

The holiday trains are built for children. Trick and Track Express is a costume-friendly Halloween ride that the museum describes as fun, not scary, and the Christmas train brings Santa, Mrs. Claus and elves aboard, with hot chocolate, cookies, a story and crafts included.

Plan your visit: tips for Kentucky Railway Museum

  • Saturday train rides depart at 2 pm Eastern; arrive early to pick up tickets.
  • For Trick and Track Express, check in by 1:15 pm and boarding starts at 1:45 pm.
  • Wine trains are 21 and over.
  • Book holiday trains early, as some events have limited availability.
  • Ask the museum for its complete equipment roster if you are a rail fan.

Fall and winter are the museum's busiest seasons. In October, the Trick and Track Express invites families to ride in costume with a sweet treat and Halloween music, and adults can book Whistles, Witches and Wine. Later, the Christmas train brings Santa, Mrs. Claus, reindeer and elves aboard for a ride of over an hour with hot chocolate and cookies. Compare it with other Christmas train rides in Kentucky or more Halloween train rides in Kentucky.

Volunteers in the shop and the cab

The Kentucky Railway Museum is a nonprofit, and it leans on volunteers for nearly everything: restoration shop work, engineers, conductors, car hosts and help with special events and fundraisers. The museum has restoration projects underway alongside the daily cost of running a railroad, so donations, memberships with their own benefits, and gift shop purchases all go straight to keeping the trains rolling.

More rail stops in central Kentucky

My Old Kentucky Dinner Train rolls out of Bardstown, only about 13 miles north. The Bluegrass Railroad Museum in Versailles and the La Grange Railroad Museum are each about 53 miles away. Plan a longer trip with our guide to Kentucky train museums.

Every train museum in Kentucky

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a conductor in a blue suit shaking Rally's paw on the train
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

One family wrote that Conductor Rick made their little boy's birthday ride, and I smiled reading it, because a kind conductor is half the magic for a small rider. In our book, Mr. Conductor in his blue uniform holds out a hand to welcome Rally aboard. My mom pictured that moment years before I painted it. If your little one wants to color their own conductor, try our coloring pages.

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 Kentucky Railway 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.

Kentucky Railway Museum: 20 questions riders ask

Where is the Kentucky Railway Museum?

The Kentucky Railway Museum is at 136 South Main Street in New Haven, Kentucky 40051, in southern Nelson County just south of Bardstown. The museum building is a brick replica of the old L&N depot, and trains leave from the museum. The mailing address is PO Box 240, and the phone number is 1-800-272-0152.

What are the Kentucky Railway Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the museum is open Tuesday through Friday until 4:30 pm, Saturday 11 am to 4:30 pm, and Sunday noon to 4:30 pm, Eastern time, and closed Mondays. One page lists a 9 am weekday opening and another 10 am, so call 1-800-272-0152 if you plan to arrive early.

How much are Kentucky Railway Museum train tickets?

As of October 2026, the Train Ride to Boston starts at $17, the Gethsemane excursion at $14, caboose rides at $25, The Outlaw Express at $22, and Trick and Track Express at $17. Adult events cost more, such as Trivia on the Rails at $38 and the Uncorked Express wine train at $65. Book on kyrail.org.

Can you ride a train at the Kentucky Railway Museum?

Yes. The museum runs its own excursion trains over the historic L&N Lebanon Branch. The regular Train Ride to Boston lasts about an hour and a half, with Saturday departures at 2 pm Eastern. A Gethsemane excursion of about 55 minutes passes the Log Still Distillery campus on select fall dates in 2026.

Does the Kentucky Railway Museum have a Christmas train?

Yes. The museum runs a Christmas train each season with Santa, Mrs. Claus, reindeer and elves on board. Guests describe a scenic ride of over an hour, a story read by Mrs. Claus, crafts, and hot chocolate and cookies included with the ticket. Dates are posted on kyrail.org, and holiday trains tend to sell out.

Is there a Santa Express or Polar Express at the Kentucky Railway Museum?

The museum's holiday ride is its Christmas train with Santa aboard, rather than a licensed Polar Express. Families ride with Santa, Mrs. Claus and elves and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate. Check kyrail.org or call 1-800-272-0152 for this year's name, dates and prices, since holiday listings are added in the fall.

What upcoming events are at the Kentucky Railway Museum?

As of October 2026, the fall calendar includes the Car, Truck, Bike and Tractor Show on October 17, a caboose ride October 18, Whistles, Witches and Wine on October 23 and 24, Trick and Track Express on October 24 and 31, Trivia on the Rails on November 7, and the Uncorked Express on November 14.

Does the Kentucky Railway Museum do a Halloween train?

Yes. Trick and Track Express is a family Halloween ride where kids wear costumes, get a sweet treat and listen to Halloween music, and the museum says it is not scary. As of October 2026 it runs October 24 and 31 at 2 pm, from $17. Arrive by 1:15 pm to check in; boarding begins at 1:45 pm.

Where does the Kentucky Railway Museum train go?

The regular excursion runs from New Haven toward Boston, Kentucky, on the old L&N Lebanon Branch, following the Rolling Fork River Valley. The museum owns about seventeen miles of the line, from just east of Boston to New Hope. Select fall trips instead head to Gethsemane, past the Log Still Distillery campus.

What is on the Kentucky Railway Museum roster?

The museum owns four steam locomotives, twelve diesels and over 100 pieces of rolling stock, including flat cars, cranes, reefers, box cars, hoppers, RPO cars, coaches and cabooses. Highlights include L&N 152, coaches 845, 884 and C&O 1616, and the diner Alta Lake. For the complete roster, the museum asks you to contact it directly.

Is L&N 152 running at the Kentucky Railway Museum?

Not right now. The museum says L&N 152, its 1905 Rogers-built 4-6-2 Pacific, is currently out of service, and it posts updates on its Crew 152 page. Volunteers first restored it to operation in 1985 after thirteen years of work. It is the official steam locomotive of Kentucky and is on the National Register.

Is the Kentucky Railway Museum good for toddlers?

Yes, for most families. Visitors write about bringing grandchildren ages 2 and 5 on the Saturday ride and about a little boy's dream birthday trip. The ride lasts about an hour and a half, so bring snacks and a toy. The model train dioramas inside the depot make a calmer stop for very young kids.

When was the Kentucky Railway Museum founded?

The museum was chartered in 1954, growing out of a National Railway Historical Society chapter formed in Louisville in 1948. It opened to the public on River Road on Memorial Day 1958, later moved near Ormsby Village, and opened at its permanent New Haven home on July 4, 1990. The replica depot museum opened in 1995.

Is there a model train display at the Kentucky Railway Museum?

Yes. The depot holds a large model train display in glass-covered dioramas covering roughly 3,000 square feet. Scenes include a German landscape with a village and carnival. It is a good indoor stop before your train boards, and the gift shop nearby stocks plenty of train items for young fans.

What do reviews say about the Kentucky Railway Museum?

Guests often praise the friendly staff and volunteers, a knowledgeable conductor, clean facilities and a train ride of just over an hour that kids enjoy. Holiday reviewers mention Santa, crafts and included cocoa and cookies, while adults rate the wine and cheese trains highly. Many say they plan to come back.

Does the Kentucky Railway Museum have adult-only trains?

Yes. As of October 2026, Whistles, Witches and Wine is a 21 and over costume party train with wine tastings, food and music for $53, and the Uncorked Express pairs wine with chocolates, cheese and a charcuterie box for $65. Trivia on the Rails is another evening out, at $38.

Can you book a birthday or group trip at the Kentucky Railway Museum?

The museum does not post a birthday package online, but families do celebrate birthdays on its rides, from a little boy's first train trip to a 90th birthday lunch train. Many visitors are students on field trips. Call 1-800-272-0152 or email lynn@kyrail.org to ask about groups and private events.

How can I volunteer at the Kentucky Railway Museum?

The museum welcomes volunteers in the restoration shop, as train engineers and conductors, on diesel locomotives, as car hosts, and at special events and fundraisers. Details are on the volunteer page at kyrail.org. You can also support it with a membership, which comes with benefits, or with a donation toward restoration projects.

Is there a gift shop at the Kentucky Railway Museum?

Yes. The gift shop is in the replica L&N depot on South Main Street and carries many train-related items, from gifts for small rail fans to souvenirs of the ride. It keeps the museum's hours, Tuesday through Sunday, and purchases help support the nonprofit museum and its restoration work.

What train museums are near the Kentucky Railway Museum?

My Old Kentucky Dinner Train in Bardstown is about 13 miles away. The Bluegrass Railroad Museum in Versailles and the La Grange Railroad Museum are each about 53 miles away, and the Historic RailPark and Train Museum in Bowling Green is about 65 miles south.

Keep exploring

More family train guides from Rally

Kelsey Cecil
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