Kentucky Scenic Train Rides At KRM!

Published: January 9, 2026

Tucked into the small town of New Haven, Kentucky, the Kentucky Railway Museum (KRM) offers something increasingly rare in the preservation world: not only a collection of historic railroad artifacts, but an operating heritage railroad where visitors can step aboard and experience the sights, sounds, and rhythms of traditional rail travel. The museum’s story is one of persistence—built by volunteers, moved more than once in search of a stable home, and ultimately anchored along a surviving segment of the old Louisville & Nashville (L&N) route that once helped knit the state together.

The KRM's longtime start was Louisville & Nashville 4-6-2 #152. It is seen here departing the museum to head into Louisville to celebrate "The Great Steamboat Race" during Derby Week in April, 1987. George Swearingen photo.

From railfan dream to a permanent home

KRM traces its roots to 1954, when railroad enthusiasts in Louisville organized to preserve Kentucky’s railroad history and the equipment that represented it. Early displays centered on a handful of cornerstone pieces—most famously Louisville & Nashville steam locomotive No. 152—plus supporting rolling stock that could help interpret what rail travel looked and felt like in earlier decades.

Like many young museums, KRM’s first decades involved adaptation and relocation as space, flooding concerns, and long-term leases shaped what was possible. A major milestone arrived in the 1980s, when volunteers undertook an ambitious restoration of L&N 152—work that culminated in the locomotive returning to operation in September 1985 after decades out of service, a powerful demonstration of what volunteer preservation can accomplish.

The defining turning point came when the museum secured the ingredients needed for long-term stability: its own railroad and a permanent base. With support from philanthropic and state sources, KRM acquired about 17 miles of the former L&N Lebanon Branch (a portion of the “old L&N” line) and received donated land and a building in New Haven, opening its permanent facilities on July 4, 1990. In the mid-1990s, a replica brick depot—modeled after the historic New Haven station—helped create the classic “small-town depot” setting that complements the museum’s interpretive mission.

The museum today: more than static displays

In the present day, KRM functions as a hybrid experience: part museum gallery, part working railroad. The site includes indoor exhibits and interpretive displays, a gift shop, and a setting that feels purpose-built for photos—trains alongside a depot, trackwork stretching away toward the countryside, and historic equipment arranged for visitors to explore. KRM notes it owns 100+ pieces of rolling stock (with many types represented), and while not every car is on public display at once, the breadth of the collection speaks to the museum’s long-running efforts to preserve not just locomotives, but the everyday equipment that made railroading work.

What makes KRM especially compelling is that the museum doesn’t treat railroading as a distant, silent artifact. Instead, it interprets rail history through movement: wheels turning, horns sounding, and coaches rolling along track that once hosted L&N trains as part of Kentucky’s transportation backbone. To learn more please click here to visit the KRM's website.

Prominent preserved locomotives you’ll want to look for

While KRM has a wide-ranging collection, several locomotives stand out as visitor favorites and historically significant pieces.

Louisville & Nashville 4-6-2 No. 152

The museum’s signature locomotive is No. 152, a Rogers Locomotive Works product built in 1905. It’s widely known as the iconic surviving L&N steam engine associated with the museum, and it carries multiple layers of significance: it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and KRM’s own materials describe it as the official state steam locomotive of Kentucky. Today, No. 152 is out of service while undergoing a major inspection/overhaul cycle, but it remains the heart of the museum’s identity and a focal point for preservation efforts.

Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 No. 2716 (associated)

Another steam name that often appears in the KRM story is C&O No. 2716, a Berkshire-type locomotive built in 1943. The museum has been associated with the engine historically, though it has been noted as being on long-term lease connected to Kentucky steam preservation efforts. (If you’re writing interpretive copy, it’s a good “context locomotive” to mention carefully—important to the broader Kentucky preservation scene, even when not physically present.)

Louisville & Nashville/Republic Steel 0-8-0 No. 2152 (display)

KRM also preserves L&N 0-8-0 2152, a USRA-type engine on display/cosmetic restoration in preservation references, giving visitors another tangible link to the L&N’s steam-era freight power.

Louisville & Nashville GP7 No. 411 (operational diesel)

On many operating days, KRM’s excursions are powered by preserved diesel locomotives, and a headline engine in that category is L&N No. 411, an EMD GP7 identified as operational in preservation listings. Diesels like 411 are often the “workhorses” of modern tourist operations—reliable, economical to run, and historically appropriate for the later decades of Kentucky railroading.

Excursion Options

KRM’s excursion lineup is one of its biggest draws—and it’s varied enough that many visitors return season after season. The museum’s Train Rides & Tours page serves as the hub, with offerings that range from general rides to themed experiences and hands-on programs.

Here are the major options worth highlighting in an overview article:

Weekend Train Ride (signature excursion)

KRM’s core experience is the Weekend Train Ride, marketed as a family-friendly, nostalgic trip along the historic Lebanon Branch. The museum describes this ride as about 1.5 hours in duration, capturing the essential “ride behind vintage power through Kentucky countryside” experience that most visitors are looking for.

Seasonal and break-time excursions

KRM also runs rides timed to school breaks and seasonal travel—such as the Spring Break Express (noted as a 90-minute excursion) and fall-oriented offerings like Fall Break Express and Autumn Express. These are ideal for families looking for a structured outing where the train ride and museum visit pair naturally as a half-day activity.

Holiday and themed trains

The museum leans into themed programming—examples listed include the Easter Eggspress (described as a 1.5-hour excursion) and interactive events like Mystery on the Rails and Trivia on the Rails, which add a “show” or participatory element to the ride.

Day Out With Thomas™

KRM also lists Day Out With Thomas™, one of the most recognizable family rail events in North America, where a full-sized Thomas visits and kids get a festival-style experience in addition to the train ride.

Cab Ride: railroading from the inside

For enthusiasts (and older kids/teens), the Locomotive Cab Ride option lets you ride in the cab with the crew during the trip. KRM notes age and mobility requirements (including that cab riders must be 13+ and that the cab is not wheelchair accessible), so it’s a “read the fine print” add-on—but it’s one of the most memorable ways to experience the railroad.

Hands-on programs: Throttle Time and Great Freight Experience

Beyond riding, KRM offers programs where participants can learn what it’s like to be an engineer. Throttle Time and The Great Freight Experience are described as reservation-based sessions (noted as offered on select Sundays, April–October) that combine instruction with time operating a vintage diesel under supervision. These experiences are a perfect highlight for your article because they differentiate KRM from museums that only offer passive rides.

Why KRM belongs on a Kentucky rail trip

Kentucky has no shortage of scenic drives and historic towns, but the Kentucky Railway Museum offers something you can’t get from a roadside marker or a photo: the chance to experience living rail history in motion, on track with deep regional roots. Its origin story—railfans organizing in 1954, volunteers restoring a landmark locomotive, and the museum ultimately securing a permanent home and its own stretch of railroad—mirrors the broader preservation movement across the country, while still feeling distinctly Kentucky.

For families, it’s an easy win: a manageable ride length, kid-friendly themes, and the bonus of a museum visit. For railfans, it’s even better: historic L&N identity, preserved power you can photograph up close, and special options like cab rides and hands-on engineer programs. And for anyone interested in the “how” behind preservation, KRM’s ongoing work—especially around legendary L&N 152—is a reminder that railway history survives because people choose to keep it alive.