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All aboard the North Pole Express! You are treated to a three-course meal and hot cocoa. Santa and Mrs. Claus join us on the train for activities and a sing-a-long. Kids of all ages welcomed. Parents and children are welcome to wear their pajamas!
Enjoy a beautiful two-hour train ride through the Kentucky countryside while indulging in a gourmet three-course lunch with seafood, meat, and vegetarian options.
This two and a half-hour excursion is great for a romantic evening or for anyone celebrating a special occasion. Dine on delicious gourmet meal options for adults and children.
Relax while you enjoy a ride through the beautiful central Kentucky countryside, with a gourmet four-course meal and a tasting of bourbon hosted by a master distiller.
Relax while you enjoy a ride through the beautiful central Kentucky countryside, with a gourmet four-course meal and a tasting of local Kentucky wines.
Join us on board for a memorable journey that’s sure to keep you guessing! Enjoy a gourmet four-course meal and a live murder mystery show performed by Murder and Merriment while riding through Kentucky’s scenic countryside.
We typically have excursions on Fridays and Saturdays. You can get tickets by booking directly on the website and selecting the date and time that's available. You can also call our office Tuesday-Friday 8am to 5pm (Eastern) at 502-348-7300. Once purchased, you will receive a confirmation email with all the details of your excursion.
Choose attire for a night of fine dining that fits within our dress code ("dressy casual"). If you're traveling from out of town you can find information about lodging and other attractions at www.visitbardstown.com. Please note, Bardstown is in the EASTERN time zone.
Plan to arrive about 1 hour prior to the excursion time. We will all gather in The Depot where you will pick up your boarding passes at the check-in desk. Get photos in front of the train or our red caboose, and enjoy our full-service bar, gift shop, and restrooms before we board (about 15 minutes before the excursion time). The train will depart promptly on schedule!
Once onboard, you will be greeted by your server and directed to your table (table numbers are in the window sill). Order drinks from your server and they will be brought to your table from the full-service bar in the kitchen car. Each dining car is climate controlled and equipped with men's and women's restrooms.
After the excursion, The Depot is open for shopping at the gift shop and use of the restrooms.
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 20-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 three cars of the dinner train are all steel-skirted cars built by the Budd Company in the late 1940s after World War II. They have been refurbished extensively by R. J. Corman Railroad Company, far exceeding the original interior design. The RJC-007 was built for the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1941 as a 54-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.
Well worth the 9-hour drive from Florida! We had so much fun in Bardstown. The highlight of our trip was the dinner train. Relaxing train ride through the Kentucky hillside. The dinner was 5-star. The service was exceptional. We will be going back again.
– DavSGar | TripadvisorAfter 5 years of waiting until the last minute to buy tickets and them always being sold out, we booked our excursion 3-months early this time. Trust me when I say it was worth the wait!. The food was amazing and the portion size was huge! There are brick and mortar restaurants that can't make a prime rib as well as they did, AND it was made in a train car!! The service was impeccable. We will most certainly be returning on our next visit.
– James G. | TripadvisorMy Husband and I have been married for 25 years and our anniversary is coming up. What better way than to spend it than riding the train and enjoying a night out with delectable meals. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. The meals were very astounding. My husband enjoyed his prime rib and he finished his entire meal which is surprising because he is very particular about his food. This experience was very wonderful and my husband and I are sure to return again, but this time we will bring more company. Thank you to the wait staff and anyone involved, this was a wonderful night to enjoy my husband’s company.
– castillo9090 | TripadvisorOur anniversary treat was the lunch dinner train and it was a wonderful experience. The atmosphere was great, our server was exceptional, and the food was tasty. Loved the dessert! The over-all train ride experience was fun and unique.
– Maryanne P. | TripadvisorMy husband had been wanting to have a dinner train experience, and this did not disappoint. Linen tablecloths and beautiful table settings. Pleasant and efficient staff. The servings are HUGE, and as it turns out I over-ordered. Recommend you only get the appetizers if you are in a group of four - clearly the volume of food is meant to serve more than just a couple. Appetizers were delicious :)
– 608dede513 | TripadvisorWe did this as a "something different" after going to the Ark and several bourbon tours over a 4 day trip. It was a lovely trip, food was delicious and huge portions. I suggest you don't do any add-ons to the 4 course meal. Our prime rib was so big there was almost no room for the baked potato and mixed veggies on the plate. Desert selections are varied and all are good. Our waitress was friendly and accommodating. The train is restored and very authentic. We loved it.
– Claire B. | TripadvisorWe went on the lunch train. The food was plentiful and delicious - salad, savory pot roast with mashed potatoes and veggies, pecan pie for dessert. Delicious all around! Service was great also. The atmosphere was relaxed and the train cars were tastefully decorated and well maintained. The ride was enjoyable and the trees were just budding out so we could see the scenery along the way. A pleasant experience and highly recommended.
– Goingsouthsoon2 | TripadvisorMy wife and I celebrated our 52nd anniversary on this. A wonderful experience with good food and train ride. This trip had a mystery played out during the trip. It was a lot of fun. The 3 course meal was so good. You can select from various types for each course. This was our second time on this train. It's worth the time.
– besspiata12345 | TripadvisorWe thoroughly enjoyed the Valentines train excursion. The atmosphere was great. Train ride all we could hope for - smooth, nice view, comfortable. The food was absolutely delicious. We had the salmon and prime rib entrees and finished with cheese cake and apple dumplin. Everything was great. We highly recommend this and look forward to returning for another of their excursions.
– biztraveller750 | TripadvisorThe food was awesome, staff is extremely nice, and the train ride itself is an experience like no other! I highly recommend doing this I promise you will not regret it 💕
– Lisa Anne | FacebookMy husband and I had a wonderful time! The meal was extremely delicious, the service was wonderful, and the atmosphere was very pleasant. We commented afterwards that the entire experience was done with excellence. We highly recommend them!
– Deanna L. | FacebookWe had a great time celebrating our anniversary on the Dinner Train! The food and drinks were delicious. Everyone was friendly and the service was perfect. The tables were decorated beautifully and riding through bourbon county was beautiful as well. Will definitely do another ride again!
– Amy M. | GoogleTrain ride, Bourbon, good food, good friends, and a murderer mystery. Or service was 5 star, the train car was so beautiful, and very comfortable. I liked the scenic ride. We started or dinner with a wonderful pimento cheese with crackers, salad, I had prime rib and baked potato, and Derby pie for dessert.
– Linda M. | GoogleLocally raised prime rib slow-roasted using a secret Corman recipe (additional jus dipping sauce), served with a baked potato and a Kentucky summer vegetable medley.
Pan-seared pork sirloin covered in a sweet brandy pecan sauce, four-cheeses mashed potatoes, and seasonal vegetables.
A chocolate engine filled with Chantilly cream and dark chocolate mousse riding on a chocolate raspberry track.
