My Old Kentucky Dinner Train

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My Old Kentucky Dinner Train
P.O. Box 788, 101 R. J. Corman Dr.
Nicholasville, KY 40356 859.881.7521

For that special occasion for just the two of you, or for an incomparable group outing, consider My Old Kentucky Dinner Train in Bardstown, Kentucky. Open year-round in Kentucky's most accommodating tourism community, the dinner train features vintage 1940s dining cars, and fine cuisine.

Return for a while to another time. A time when life was slower, and travel was by rail. An era when elegant dining cars offered a place to enjoy relaxed conversation, fine cuisine and gracious service against a backdrop of ever-changing scenery. Board My Old Kentucky Dinner Train and experience for yourself that wonderful bygone era.

The tantalizing aroma of herbs and spices fills the air as your meal is presented on fine china. You'll savor every bite of your meal, prepared right on board in our completely modern kitchen car. We serve a variety of entrée choices, including vegetarian dishes, plus a selection of deliciously tempting desserts. Cocktails and premium wines are also available for your pleasure.

In keeping with the tradition of railroad dining, each of our tables accommodates four people. Smoking is permitted in designated areas only. Safety regulations prohibit us from accommodating children under age five.

Train Information

The Bardstown railroad branch was originally constructed by The Bardstown and Louisville Railroad in 1860. Subsequently, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad purchased the line at a foreclosure sale in 1864. R. J. Corman Railroad Company purchased the twenty-mile branch from CSX Transportation in 1987 and developed the Dinner Train which had its inaugural run in 1988. In addition to the Dinner Train, the railroad provides freight service to local industries.

The depot was constructed in 1860 and was used as a freight and passenger depot until 1953, when passenger service was discontinued on this portion of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The depot is constructed of native limestone and is the last remaining “dry-laid” limestone depot in the state of Kentucky. Because of its historical significance, the depot is listed on the “National Register of Historic Places.” The original freight portion of the depot has been preserved intact as much as possible, while the passenger portion was demolished in 1953. A new waiting room addition was constructed in 1992.

The four cars of the dinner train are all steel skirted cars built by the Budd Company in the late 1940’s after World War II. They have been refurbished extensively by R. J. Corman Railroad Company, far exceeding the original interior design. The RJC-011 car was used in the funeral train for President Dwight Eisenhower’s journey to Abilene, Kansas for burial. The RJC-007 was built for the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1941 as a fifty-four seat day coach. The RJC-021, built in 1948, was used on the El Capitan train by the Santa Fe Railroad and has been outfitted with the most up-to-date equipment to serve as our kitchen car. The RJC-777 was refurbished and added to the dinner train in May of 1992. The Dinner Train is powered by two diesel electric FP7A locomotives. The “F” units were constructed in the 1950’s and were developed for use in both freight and passenger service.

Until recently, the Bardstown area was known primarily as an agricultural community and for its bourbon whiskey production. Tobacco is still the main agricultural crop, but only four bourbon distilleries still exist in the area. The Dinner Train Travels over a route that incorporates both industries. Tobacco is grown during the months of June-August and can be viewed along the route. The evidence of former and present bourbon production is significant as several storage warehouses and two distilleries are located on the line. The Jim Beam Company, the world’s largest bourbon distiller, continues to produce the product, while Seagram’s Company, located in Deatsville, has converted to a spring water processor and bottler. According to historians, the limestone water, the availability of white oak trees for barrel construction and the availability of shipping routes, were the major factors in making this area a natural for whiskey production.

Two old depots continue to exist along the route and both have been refurbished by their owners. The first located at Deatsville and the second at Limestone Springs Junction, the location where the train stops and prepares for its return trip to Bardstown. This Old English style depot is owned by Jim Beam and is reported to have housed numerous famous and wealthy passengers in its overnight facilities on the second floor.

Other points of interest along the route include the Nazareth community, a “motherhouse” for Sisters of Charity that was built in 1820. Once a thriving community, it now serves primarily as a retirement home for Sisters and as the corporate headquarters for the Order. The chapel continues to be a major visitor attraction today. Along the route the train also passes through a portion of the Berheim Forest, a 14,000 acre private nature preserve and a habitat for numerous types of trees, vegetation and wildlife. During the passage through the forest the train crosses Jackson Hollow Trestle, a totally timber structure built by The Bardstown and Louisville Railroad in 1860. The trestle extends 310 feet across and 60 feet above the hollow floor. R. J. Corman Railroad Company has conducted major rehabilitation on the bridge but has left it a totally timber structure.

© R.J. Corman Railroad Group