My Old Kentucky Dinner Train in Bardstown, Kentucky

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Bardstown, Kentucky · Updated October 19, 2026 · 11 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesExcursions on scheduled dates; reservations required

My Old Kentucky Dinner Train serves lunch and dinner in three restored 1940s dining cars, pulled by two 1950s F-unit locomotives on the historic Bardstown and Louisville line through Bernheim Forest and Kentucky's bourbon country.

  • Operating since 1988
  • Three 1940s dining cars
  • Two 1950s F-unit locomotives
  • Wooden trestle in Bernheim Forest
  • Meals cooked aboard
  • North Pole Express at Christmas

My Old Kentucky Dinner Train at a glance

Hours
Excursions on scheduled dates; reservations office Monday to Thursday or Friday, 8 am to 5 pm Eastern
Admission
Lunch from $63.50, dinner from $76.50, murder mystery from $96, bourbon from $149.50, North Pole Express from $89
Train rides
Lunch (2 hours), dinner, murder mystery and bourbon trains (2.5 hours), Princess Tea Party and North Pole Express (1.75 hours)
Seasonal events
North Pole Express, Princess Tea Party, Murder Mystery Dinner Train, Bourbon Excursion
Plan for
2 to 2.5 hours
Best for
Couples, celebrations and families with kids 5 and up
Best ages
Ages 5 and up; all ages for Princess Tea Party and North Pole Express

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to My Old Kentucky Dinner Train? 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 Bardstown.

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.

Linen, bourbon country and a 1950s locomotive

My Old Kentucky Dinner Train began running in 1988 on the original Bardstown and Louisville Railroad line, a branch through the Nelson County countryside. Rail writers count it among the country's best-known traditional dinner trains: not a quick scenic loop with snacks, but a multi-hour outing built around a plated meal in vintage dining cars.

The train is made up of three restored dining cars from the 1940s, set with linen tablecloths and full table settings, plus a kitchen car where the executive chef and crew prepare each meal while the train is moving. Two 1950s F-unit diesel locomotives, the streamlined style that once led passenger trains across the country, do the pulling.

The route is part of the draw. Trains roll out of Bardstown through the Bernheim Forest, cross a wooden trestle bridge and pass well-known distilleries, including Four Roses and Jim Beam. Over the years the menu has grown from lunch and dinner runs into bourbon tastings, a murder mystery show, a princess tea party and the holiday North Pole Express.

The crew's hospitality earns steady praise. The train ranks first among Bardstown restaurants on Tripadvisor, where riders write about attentive servers, generous portions and a ride that feels authentic. Some families say they waited years for open seats and now book months ahead.

A two-hour meal on rails

Riders board at the depot on North 3rd Street in Bardstown and take their seats in one of the 1940s dining cars. Lunch trains run about two hours with a three-course meal, and dinner trains about two and a half hours, with gourmet choices for adults and children. Out the window you pass rolling countryside, the woods of Bernheim Forest, the wooden trestle and the distilleries of bourbon country.

Specialty trains change the feel: the Bourbon Excursion pairs a four-course meal with a tasting led by a bourbon expert for guests 21 and up, and the Murder Mystery Dinner Train adds a live whodunit to a four-course dinner.

Don’t miss

  1. The 1940s dining carsThree restored cars with linen tablecloths, the setting for every meal on board.
  2. The 1950s F-unit locomotivesTwo streamlined diesels from the classic passenger era pull the train.
  3. The wooden trestle in Bernheim ForestA highlight of the route, crossing through the forest on a wooden bridge.
  4. Distillery viewsThe line passes Four Roses and Jim Beam, a fitting sight on a bourbon country ride.
  5. The kitchen carMeals are cooked on board while the train is moving, so they reach the table fresh.

Princesses, pajamas and Santa on board

Most regular lunch, dinner and murder mystery trains welcome riders 5 and up, and the dinner menu includes options for children. For younger kids, two trains are open to all ages: the Princess Tea Party, a morning ride of about an hour and 45 minutes with six princesses, and the North Pole Express, where Santa joins the train for activities and a sing-along and families can wear pajamas.

The Bourbon Excursion is for adults 21 and over only.

Plan your visit: tips for My Old Kentucky Dinner Train

  • Book early: riders report popular dates sell out, and some book three months ahead.
  • Sign up on the contact page to hear first about new excursions and North Pole Express dates.
  • Check the FAQ page for current dress code and seating questions.
  • Portions are large, so go easy on appetizers.

At Christmas the North Pole Express treats families to a train ride, a meal and hot cocoa, with Santa on board for activities and a sing-along; pajamas are welcome. You can sign up on the train's contact page to be told first when North Pole Express dates open. For more holiday options, see our guide to Christmas train rides in Kentucky.

The crew in the dining cars

Riders consistently credit the servers, kitchen crew and executive chef who make the meals on board, and the train lists open careers on its website. The best way to support it is to ride, book a group or private event, and leave a review after your trip.

Two train rides in one Nelson County weekend

The Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven is only about 13 miles south, with family excursion trains and a depot museum. The La Grange Railroad Museum is about 41 miles away and free to visit. See all the train museums in Kentucky for 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.

Dinner beside a window, with forest and a wooden trestle sliding past, sounds like the grown-up version of Rally's favorite seat. In our book, he sits by an arched window, watches the ocean and says hello to a white bird. My mom pictured him happy right there, nose to the glass. The view here would be bourbon country instead of the Pacific, but I suspect a corgi would be just as content.

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 My Old Kentucky Dinner Train?

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.

My Old Kentucky Dinner Train: 20 questions riders ask

Where is My Old Kentucky Dinner Train located?

My Old Kentucky Dinner Train departs from 602 North 3rd Street in Bardstown, Kentucky 40004, in Nelson County. Bardstown sits in the heart of bourbon country, and the train rolls out through the countryside toward Bernheim Forest. Call reservations at 502-348-7300 for directions.

How much does My Old Kentucky Dinner Train cost?

As of October 2026, prices start at $63.50 for the Lunch Train, $76.50 for the Dinner Excursion, $96 for the Murder Mystery Dinner Train and $149.50 for the Bourbon Excursion. The North Pole Express starts at $89, and the Princess Tea Party ranges from $76.50 to $192.50.

What is on the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train menu?

The Lunch Train serves a gourmet three-course lunch with seafood, meat and vegetarian options. The Dinner Excursion offers gourmet choices for adults and children, and riders mention dishes like prime rib. The Bourbon and Murder Mystery trains serve four courses. Meals are cooked on board in the kitchen car.

How long is the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train ride?

The Lunch Train lasts about two hours. The Dinner Excursion, Bourbon Excursion and Murder Mystery Dinner Train each run about two and a half hours. The Princess Tea Party and North Pole Express are shorter, about an hour and 45 minutes. Allow time to check in before departure.

What is the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train schedule?

Excursions run on scheduled dates rather than every day, and the full calendar is posted on kydinnertrain.com with online booking. The reservations office answers calls at 502-348-7300 from 8 am to 5 pm Eastern on weekdays. Popular dates sell out, so book well ahead.

What is the Bourbon Excursion on My Old Kentucky Dinner Train?

The Bourbon Excursion is the train's bestseller: a two and a half hour ride through central Kentucky with a gourmet four-course meal and a bourbon tasting hosted by a bourbon expert. It is for ages 21 and up, and as of October 2026 starts at $149.50 per person.

Does My Old Kentucky Dinner Train have a Christmas train?

Yes. The North Pole Express is the holiday train, open to all ages, with a train ride, a meal and hot cocoa. Santa joins for activities and a sing-along, and parents and kids may wear pajamas. As of October 2026, tickets start at $89. Sign up on the contact page for date alerts.

What upcoming events does My Old Kentucky Dinner Train offer?

Beyond regular lunch and dinner trains, the calendar includes the Murder Mystery Dinner Train, Bourbon Excursions, the Princess Tea Party for kids and the North Pole Express at Christmas. The events calendar on kydinnertrain.com shows current dates, and you can subscribe for notices of new excursions.

Is there a dress code on My Old Kentucky Dinner Train?

The train does not post a strict dress code on its main pages, and its FAQ page is the place to check. Tables are set with linen tablecloths, and many riders come for anniversaries and special occasions, so smart casual fits in. Pajamas are welcome on the North Pole Express.

Is there a promo code for My Old Kentucky Dinner Train?

The train does not publish a standing promo code online. The best way to hear about deals is to subscribe on the contact page, where you can sign up for notices about all excursions and promotions. You can also ask about group pricing when you call 502-348-7300.

Can kids ride My Old Kentucky Dinner Train?

Yes. Lunch, dinner and murder mystery trains are for ages 5 and up, and the dinner menu has children's options. The Princess Tea Party and North Pole Express welcome all ages. The Bourbon Excursion is for adults 21 and over only.

What is the Princess Tea Party train?

The Princess Tea Party is a morning excursion for all ages, about an hour and 45 minutes long, featuring six favorite princesses on board. As of October 2026, tickets range from $76.50 to $192.50 depending on the package. It is listed under the train's Excursions for Kids page.

What is the Murder Mystery Dinner Train in Bardstown?

The Murder Mystery Dinner Train pairs a gourmet four-course meal with a live murder mystery show while the train rides through the Kentucky countryside. It lasts about two and a half hours, is for ages 5 and up, and as of October 2026 starts at $96.

What will you see from My Old Kentucky Dinner Train?

The route passes through the Kentucky countryside and Bernheim Forest, crosses a wooden trestle bridge, and goes by famous distilleries such as Four Roses and Jim Beam. Daytime lunch trains give the best light for scenery, while dinner trains suit a romantic evening.

What kind of train is My Old Kentucky Dinner Train?

The train uses three restored 1940s dining cars and a kitchen car, pulled by two 1950s F-unit diesel locomotives. It has operated since 1988 on the original Bardstown and Louisville Railroad line. The cars are set with linen tablecloths, and riders often say the train feels authentic.

What do reviews say about My Old Kentucky Dinner Train?

The train is rated 4.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor across more than 500 reviews and ranks first among Bardstown restaurants there. Riders praise the attentive servers, huge portions and relaxing ride, and some say they drove nine hours or waited years to get seats.

How far ahead should I book My Old Kentucky Dinner Train?

Book as early as you can. One rider wrote that after years of finding it sold out, they reserved three months ahead. Popular dates, specialty trains and the North Pole Express fill fast. Book online at kydinnertrain.com or call 502-348-7300.

Can I book My Old Kentucky Dinner Train for a group?

Yes. The website has a Group Events page for parties, reunions, anniversaries and company outings, with private options for larger groups. Call 502-348-7300 or email reservations@kydinnertrain.com with your preferred date and group size, and staff will follow up during office hours.

How do I contact My Old Kentucky Dinner Train?

Call reservations at 502-348-7300 or email reservations@kydinnertrain.com. Office hours are listed as 8 am to 5 pm Eastern, Monday through Thursday on one page and through Friday on another. The contact form also reaches staff, who will get back to you.

What train attractions are near My Old Kentucky Dinner Train?

The Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven is about 13 miles away and runs family excursion trains. The La Grange Railroad Museum is about 41 miles, the Bluegrass Railroad Museum about 42 miles, and the Historic RailPark and Train Museum in Bowling Green about 78 miles.

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Kelsey Cecil
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