Kentucky Valentine's Train Rides
Published: January 5, 2026
By: Adam Burns
If you’re looking for a date night that feels a little more cinematic than the usual reservation-and-a-movie routine, Bardstown’s My Old Kentucky Dinner Train delivers the kind of evening you remember: candlelight, white linens, old-school railcar ambiance, and a leisurely ride through Kentucky countryside—complete with a chef-prepared meal served at your table while the landscape slides past the windows.
Based at the depot in Bardstown, Kentucky, the operation runs a variety of themed excursions across the year, but one of its most popular seasonal offerings is the Valentine’s Dinner—a romantic, limited-run experience designed specifically for couples (and anyone celebrating love, anniversaries, or “we finally got a babysitter” nights).
RJ Corman's pair of handsome FP7s, #1940 and #1941, that regularly lead the "My Old Kentucky Dinner Train." Thomas Golden photo.What makes the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train special
At its core, this is a classic dinner train experience: you’re seated in restored dining cars, your meal is served in courses, and the ride itself is part of the show. The train’s public descriptions emphasize the ambiance of beautifully restored 1940s-era dining cars and a route through “beautiful Kentucky countryside,” including scenic highlights like a wooden trestle and views near iconic bourbon country landmarks.
The railroad also leans into the “Bardstown weekend” appeal. Bardstown is widely known as a gateway to Kentucky bourbon tourism, and the dinner train is positioned as an easy centerpiece for a romantic getaway—pair the ride with a distillery visit, a cozy B&B, or an afternoon at local attractions, then cap the day with a meal on the rails.
The basics: how the experience typically flows
While exact procedures can vary by event, the dinner train outlines a fairly consistent flow for guests:
- Arrive early (they recommend about an hour ahead) so you can check in, explore the depot, grab photos, and settle in before boarding begins.
- Boarding and seating: once onboard, you’re directed to your table, meet your server, and can order beverages.
- Full-service bar: drinks are handled onboard through the bar service described by the operator.
- Ride time: many of their featured excursions are built around roughly a 2.5-hour run, which is long enough to enjoy a multi-course meal without feeling rushed.
That rhythm—arrive, settle in, dine, linger, and roll back into Bardstown—fits Valentine’s particularly well because it naturally encourages conversation and a slower pace.
Spotlight: the Valentine’s Dinner Train
When it runs
The operator promotes the Valentine’s excursions as running February 13 and 14. Because schedules can shift year to year (and some departures sell out quickly), it’s best to confirm times and availability on the official calendar/booking page when you’re preparing your article or updating it each season.
What's Included
The Valentine’s offering is positioned as a special “sweetheart” trip, and one of the marquee inclusions is a couples-focused perk:
- Each couple receives a complimentary bottle of wine and two souvenir wine glasses.
That detail is worth featuring prominently in your article, because it’s the kind of tangible “included value” readers immediately understand—and it sets the Valentine’s ride apart from a standard dinner excursion.
The vibe
Valentine’s on a dinner train works because it stacks romantic cues without being cheesy: the soft lighting, the gentle motion, and the sense that you’re “going somewhere” even though the evening is really about the shared experience. The train itself becomes a self-contained setting—no loud dining room, no worrying about parking downtown after dessert, and no pressure to turn the table.
And for couples who like to keep things simple, the format is a win: you show up dressed for the occasion, the staff handles the timing, and your night naturally has a beginning, middle, and finale.
What you’ll see on the ride
My Old Kentucky Dinner Train markets the route as a scenic tour through central Kentucky, including rail-side glimpses of Bernheim Forest, a wooden trestle crossing, and views associated with bourbon country (they specifically mention passing by well-known distilleries in their promotional descriptions).
For an article, you don’t need to oversell exact mileposts—what matters to readers is the feel: winter countryside, woods and fields, and that satisfying moment when the train eases onto a trestle and everyone subtly pauses to look out the windows.
Tips to help readers plan the perfect Valentine’s outing
Here are practical points you can include (and that readers appreciate because they reduce uncertainty):
- Book early: Valentine’s departures are limited, and dinner trains routinely sell out for holiday weekends. (The operator’s calendar/booking pages make it clear this is a high-demand seasonal event.)
- Arrive with time to spare: the train advises arriving about an hour early so you can check in and enjoy the depot before boarding.
- Make it a Bardstown weekend: Bardstown is surrounded by attractions tied to Kentucky heritage and tourism, including My Old Kentucky Home State Park, which the operator even highlights as a nearby point of interest.
- Think about the “after”: since you’ll be enjoying wine and a multi-course meal, many couples prefer to stay locally rather than drive a long distance afterward—especially on winter nights.
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