When I retired, I wanted to take a short trip that was close to home. I seen an article for My Old Kentucky Dinner Train in Bardstown, Kentucky. It sounded like it would be fun and something that Cheryl would enjoy also. They offer many different themed Dinner excursions that you can pick from. With a few that is offered for the whole family and kids. We took their dinner excursion which was about 2.5 hours long.
keep reading below for more insights to our dinner. We did post a video on our YouTube channel that you can see here.
We booked our dinner ride online at their website and they said that it is best to get at the station about one hour before the dinner ride starts. When you go in the station all you have to do is go up to the desk and check in to get your tickets.
Once you have your tickets you can visit the gift shop and also the Bar. There are two different areas that you can sit down and enjoy your wait.
It took us a little while to notice, that on our tickets there is information for the sights along the track showing the mile marker to see them. Only bad thing about this was that they did not have anyone talking about the sights as we traveled past them.
Once it is time to board the train, they will start by loading the front dinner car and slowly work their way to the back car.
You can see a model of the train in the picture here. This will also give you an ideal of what the wooden train trestle looks like that you will cross.
When our time came to board, we were surprised that we were going to be boarding our dinner car from the gift shop. So, we did not have to walk outside, walk to the car, and then get in. Do not worry if you have some mobility problems as they can handle you being able to ride and enjoy the train on any car. They will call out all passengers that might need help to board the train to go first. We will give you our inside tip, that we feel would be easier; let them know or point out any problems that you might have getting on the train and ask to be placed on the last dinner car. That way you can just walk or be wheeled straight into the car you will be riding in and not have to walk out to your assigned car. We would also like to point out that each dinner car has bathrooms available, if needed.
The inside of the dinner car was so warming to walk in. They already had our table set with the appetizers. You will have plenty of time to eat your appetizers and enjoy the scenery as it starts to move by. They will pull from the station and then switch tracks to back up to the engine that is going to pull the train back to the station before they head out.
You are free to move around in the dinner car and there are platforms on each end that you can go out on and enjoy the ride from there. Myself I was like a kid going out on the platform and watching the train go down the track. Cheryl sat at our table most of the time and just enjoyed the ride from there.
When you are on the train for about 40 minutes, they will start to bring out the main course of the meal. This whole meal selection is done when you order the tickets online. Cheryl and I had both ordered the prime rib for our main course. I know both of us was so shocked at the size and how it had been cooked.
The lady that was our server was so nice and took a picture of us. Those ladies did a fantastic job for the whole ride. Once again you will have about 30 to 40 minutes to try and eat all of the main course. They will box up what you have left over so that you can take it with you. Good thing that the room we were staying in had a refrigerator and microwave!
By the time that you have eaten most of the main course there is time to sit back and relax for the return trip to the station. I once again was out on the platform enjoying myself. If you have watched the video, you can see all the shots from the platform. Our grandson loves trains and I wanted to make sure he got to see the engine and all the sounds. I had to play all the raw videos many times for him when we got home.
(To the two couples that was sitting at the table across from us, we wish that we had exchanged with you the picture you took of the reflections in your window showing all our drink glasses. We would love to have a copy of it. Get hold of us if this was you.)
This relaxing time also gives you a chance to work down the main course of the meal. Make sure you save room for the desserts that you ordered when planning your ride.
Cheryl got this Chocolate Choo Choo. She was already very full from the meal. Both of us had ordered something with Ice cream with the dessert. We had to eat the ice cream so that it would not melt all over before we got back to our room. The to go boxes were too small to be able to hold the choo choo and Cheryl tried everything she could to keep from having to cut it into pieces so we could take it with us. She ended up cutting it in half to fit into the box.
Our total ride time was closer to three hours, and we did not mind that we were getting back late. We were very pleased with how peaceful the ride and dinner were. Everyone was talking very low voices and just enjoying the ride. I know I was not ready for us to be backing into the station and unloading from the train.
As I said before, we were in the last dinner car, and we unloaded right into the gift shop. The little hallway is where the two bathrooms are located before you go to the platform and then into the building.
If you can take a ride on this dinner train. We really enjoyed the time that we spent riding and eating on the train.
You can check out their website at
and see what they have to offer. We would like to hear from you if you have taken this train and what your thoughts are on the train. Leave your comments down below.
