Bardstown station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old L & N Station
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North side of station
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | 602 N. 3rd Street, Bardstown, Kentucky |
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| Built | 1860 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| MPS | Early Stone Buildings of Kentucky TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 87002613 |
| Added to NRHP | July 12, 1990 |
The Bardstown station, also known as the Old L & N Station, is a special historic building in Bardstown, Kentucky. It used to be a busy railroad station for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N). Today, it's home to the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, run by the R.J. Corman Railroad Group. This station is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
A Look Back: The Station's History
How the Railroad Came to Bardstown
Back in 1832, people in Bardstown really wanted a railroad line from Louisville. However, other residents voted against a plan to raise money for it. Because of this, the main railroad line, run by the Louisville and Nashville, ended up going around Bardstown instead of through it.
Building the Station
The Bardstown station was built in 1860 by the Bardstown and Louisville Railroad. The Louisville and Nashville Railroad bought this company in 1864. This station was special because it was the only railroad station in Kentucky built using a method called dry-stone. This means the stones were carefully stacked without using mortar.
Even though the station was built in 1860, the 18-mile (about 29 km) track to connect it to the L&N's main line wasn't finished until March 1860. Later, on February 1, 1888, the line was made longer to connect Bardstown all the way to Springfield, Kentucky.
Changes Over Time
In 1953, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad stopped offering passenger service to the station. The part of the station where passengers waited was taken down.
Years later, in 1987, a company called CSX (which had bought the L&N) sold the old Bardstown line, including the station. The R.J. Corman Railroad Group bought it. Since then, R.J. Corman has used it as a local railroad line, often called a shortline railroad.
The Station's Design
The station building is about 30 feet (9 meters) wide and 75 feet (23 meters) long. The entire building, including its outside walls and foundation, is made of dry-stone. Inside, there are two rooms. The roof has a gentle slope, known as a shallow gable roof.
Even though the original passenger waiting area was removed in 1953, a new waiting room was added to the station in 1992.
The Station Today
Today, the Old L & N Station is a key part of the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train experience. This train is named after the nearby My Old Kentucky Home State Park, which is famous for inspiring the song My Old Kentucky Home by Stephen Foster.
Customers get to ride in special dining cars from the 1940s. These cars are pulled by powerful diesel-electric locomotives. The journey is about 150 minutes long and covers 37 miles (about 60 km) to Limestone Springs and back. During the ride, guests enjoy lunch or dinner.
Along the way, you can see beautiful sights like the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest and the famous Jim Beam distillery. It's a fun way to experience history and see the Kentucky countryside!
Gallery
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East side of station
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Rails beside the station
