Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation in Ravenna, Kentucky

Oct 19

Ravenna, Kentucky · Updated October 19, 2026 · 9 min read

Rail preservation groupNo regular public hours; watch the events page and social media

The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Estill County working to return Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 steam locomotive 2716 to operation and to use historic rail equipment to educate, entertain and help the Eastern Kentucky economy grow.

Restoring C&O 2716
501(c)(3) nonprofit
Engineer experience events
Reporting mark KSHX
Volunteer driven

Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation at a glance

Hours: No regular public hours; events only
Admission: Varies by event; engineer experience is ticketed
Seasonal events: Engineer experience, Whistle Blow
Best for: Steam fans, volunteers and donors

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

Contact and directions

Address499 Kirkland Ave, Irvine, KY 40336(opens in a new tab)
Phone(833) 597-8326
Emailinfo@kentuckysteam.org
Alsovolunteer@kentuckysteam.org
Websitekentuckysteam.org(opens in a new tab)

Follow Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation

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Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation? 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 Ravenna.

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.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

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

Bringing a big C&O steam engine back to life

The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation, known as KSHC, is a Kentucky nonprofit based on the border of Irvine and Ravenna. Its mission is to educate, entertain and inspire past, present and future generations by operating historic rail equipment. The centerpiece is Chesapeake & Ohio K-4 2-8-4 steam locomotive 2716, which the group is restoring to operation as living history.

KSHC sees the work as more than preservation: it describes itself as a railroad-centered economic development project for Eastern Kentucky, with a rail yard taking shape in Estill County. The group holds the reporting mark KSHX, and in March 2026 it announced a multi-year lease of former Norfolk & Western SD40-2 6162 to the Cincinnati Eastern Railroad on the historic Peavine line. Volunteers have also raised money to bring caboose CSXT 900061 home from Social Circle, Georgia, in memory of a friend named Kevin.

How the public can see the work

There is no walk-in museum with regular hours. Instead, the public meets KSHC through special events, including engineer experiences where ticket holders can run and operate a real steam engine, and through progress shared on its website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X. A planned Whistle Blow was moved from 2025 to spring 2026; check the events page for the latest.

Don’t miss

C&O 2716A Chesapeake & Ohio K-4 2-8-4 and the heart of KSHC's restoration effort.
N&W SD40-2 6162A diesel relettered for Norfolk & Western in 2023, now leased to the Cincinnati Eastern Railroad.

Best for older rail fans

Because there is no regular museum, this is a place to visit on event days. Families with steam-loving kids should watch for public events such as the Whistle Blow; the engineer experience is a hands-on program, so check age rules on the events page before buying.

Plan your visit: tips for Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation

Follow KSHC on Facebook for restoration news and event dates.
Mail goes to 499 Kirkland Ave, Irvine, KY 40336.
Call 1-833-597-8326 and use the dial-by-name directory to reach the right team member.

Volunteers, donors and a dedicated board

KSHC is a 501(c)(3) run with a team led by its president and board and a growing group of volunteers. Visitors can help by volunteering (volunteer@kentuckysteam.org), donating to the 2716 restoration or caboose fund, or buying tickets to events.

Trains you can visit nearby

The Bluegrass Railroad Museum in Versailles, about 50 miles west, runs regular excursions. The Big South Fork Scenic Railway is about 76 miles south. See every Kentucky train museum on our state page.

Every train museum in Kentucky

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor view from inside a dark tunnel looking out at a sunny beach and cliffs — From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Waiting years for a steam engine to whistle again must feel a little like riding through a long, dark tunnel. In our book, Rally's train goes dark for a moment, and then comes a big bright light and happy cheers. I imagine the cheers in Estill County when 2716 finally breathes steam will sound much the same. My mom would have loved that kind of happy ending. Read how our book came to be on our story page.

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

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)

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Work or volunteer at Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation?

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 Steam Heritage Corporation: 20 questions answered

What is the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation?

The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation, or KSHC, is a Kentucky-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that aims to educate, entertain and inspire people by operating historic rail equipment. Its main project is restoring Chesapeake & Ohio steam locomotive 2716 to operation, and it describes itself as a rail-centered economic development project for Eastern Kentucky.

Where is the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation?

KSHC is based on the border between Irvine and Ravenna in Estill County, Kentucky, where its rail yard project is taking shape. Its mailing address is 499 Kirkland Ave, Irvine, KY 40336. Call 1-833-597-8326 before heading out, since the site does not have regular public hours.

What is C&O 2716?

C&O 2716 is a Chesapeake & Ohio K-4 class 2-8-4 steam locomotive, and its restoration to operation is the hallmark of KSHC's work. The group sees the running locomotive as living history that will educate visitors, draw heritage tourism and help the regional economy.

When will C&O 2716 run again?

KSHC has not posted a firm completion date for the 2716 restoration on its website. The best way to follow progress is the group's Facebook page, YouTube channel and news posts at kentuckysteam.org, which share updates as work moves forward.

Does the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation have a museum?

KSHC has a museum page on its website, but it does not post regular public museum hours. The public mostly sees its equipment at special events. Check the events page at kentuckysteam.org or call 1-833-597-8326 to ask about any upcoming open days.

Can you visit the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation?

Visits are tied to events rather than daily hours. KSHC holds special events such as its engineer experience and Whistle Blow, which are the best chances to see the yard and equipment. Watch kentuckysteam.org and Facebook for dates, as the homepage sometimes shows no events scheduled.

What is the Kentucky Steam engineer experience?

The engineer experience is a ticketed special event where participants can run and operate a real steam engine with guidance from the KSHC crew. It is a rare hands-on program for rail fans. Dates, prices and eligibility rules are posted on the events page when sessions are scheduled.

What happened to the Kentucky Steam Whistle Blow?

KSHC postponed its 2025 Whistle Blow to spring 2026 and posted the details on its website. A whistle blow is a chance for the public to hear historic equipment sound off. Check kentuckysteam.org or the Facebook page for the final date, location and how to attend.

What is the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation Facebook page?

KSHC's Facebook page is facebook.com/kentuckysteam. It posts restoration progress on 2716, fundraisers such as the effort to bring caboose CSXT 900061 home from Georgia, and event announcements. KSHC is also on Instagram, YouTube and X under similar names.

Where can I see photos of the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation?

The group shares photos on Facebook, Instagram and its YouTube channel, along with news posts on kentuckysteam.org. Its March 2026 release included a photo of SD40-2 6162 at Ravenna by Casey Thomason, formerly Norfolk Southern's corporate photographer.

What other equipment does the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation own?

Besides C&O 2716, KSHC owns former Norfolk & Western SD40-2 6162, relettered for N&W in 2023. Its website has an equipment page with more of the collection. The group is also working to acquire caboose CSXT 900061 from Social Circle, Georgia.

What is the SD40-2 6162 lease?

In March 2026, KSHC announced that former Norfolk & Western SD40-2 6162 had begun a multi-year lease with the Cincinnati Eastern Railroad on the historic Peavine line. Leasing equipment helps keep it in working order and supports the nonprofit's mission.

What is The Yard at Kentucky Steam?

The Yard is KSHC's rail development project taking shape in Estill County. The group calls it a trendsetting project and ties it to its goal of heritage tourism and economic growth in Eastern Kentucky. Check the website for updates on what is open to visitors.

Is the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation good for kids?

It depends on the event. There is no everyday kids' museum, but public events such as the Whistle Blow can be a thrill for young steam fans. The engineer experience is hands-on with real equipment, so check any age limits before booking.

How can I volunteer with Kentucky Steam?

KSHC welcomes new volunteers to help restore and run historic equipment. Email volunteer@kentuckysteam.org or call 1-833-597-8326 and use the dial-by-name directory to reach Joe Nugent, who handles volunteers and donors. The website also has a Join the Team page.

How can I donate to the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation?

You can give through kentuckysteam.org to support the 2716 restoration and other projects, or to special funds such as the drive to bring caboose CSXT 900061 home to Kentucky. KSHC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Call 1-833-597-8326 with questions about larger gifts or grants.

Who leads the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation?

Joe Darby is president and Chad Harpole is vice president. The team also includes Joe Nugent for volunteers and donors, TJ Mahan for grants and logistics, and Joe Crawford for Estill County development. All can be reached through the 1-833-597-8326 dial-by-name directory.

How do I contact the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation?

Call 1-833-KY STEAM (1-833-597-8326), email info@kentuckysteam.org, or use the contact form at kentuckysteam.org. Calls after normal business hours ring to voicemail, so leave a message with your question. Written mail goes to 499 Kirkland Ave, Irvine, KY 40336.

Does the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation offer train rides?

KSHC does not advertise regular public train rides. Its main public program is the engineer experience, plus occasional special events. For a scheduled excursion, the Bluegrass Railroad Museum in Versailles, about 50 miles west, runs weekend trains from spring through fall.

What train museums are near the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation?

The Bluegrass Railroad Museum in Versailles is about 50 miles away, the Big South Fork Scenic Railway in Stearns about 76 miles, and My Old Kentucky Dinner Train in Bardstown about 82 miles. The Huntington Railroad Museum in West Virginia is about 95 miles east.

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Kelsey Cecil