Old L & N Station
Encyclopedia
The Old L & N Station in the northernmost section of the Bardstown Historic District
of Bardstown, Kentucky
is an historic railroad station on the National Register of Historic Places
. Long owned by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
(L&N), it is currently used as the station for the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, owned by R.J. Corman.
was begun in 1832 by the citizens of Bardstown. However, after a $300,000 bond issue was defeated by other residents of Bardstown, the main line of the Louisville and Nashville instead bypassed Bardstown.
The station was built in 1860 by the Bardstown and Louisville Railroad, which the Louisville and Nashville Railroad purchased the assets of in 1864. It was the only railroad station in Kentucky built of dry-stone. However, the 18 miles (29 km) line to connect the station to the L&N's main line wasn't until March 1860.
On February 1, 1888 the line was lengthened to connect Bardstown to Springfield, Kentucky
.
In 1953 service was discontinued to the station by the L&N, and the passenger section of the station demolished. In 1987 CSX, who had purchased the L&N in the meanwhile, sold the old Bardstown line, including the station, to the R.J. Corman Railroad Group, which has since used it as a Short-line railroad.
. The original passenger section was destroyed in 1953, but a waiting room addition was added to the station in 1992.
, where Stephen Foster
allegedly got the inspiration for his song My Old Kentucky Home
. Customers ride on vintage 1940s-era dining cars pulled by diesel-electric FP7A locomotives for a 150 minute, 37 mile ride to Limestone Springs and back, while engaging in lunch or dinner. Sights to be seen during the ride include Bernheim Forest and the Jim Beam
distillery.
Within the station itself is a giftshop and an alcohol bar where cocktail
s are available.
Bardstown Historic District
The Bardstown Historic District, comprising the center of Bardstown, Kentucky, is a registered historic district on the National Register of Historic Places...
of Bardstown, Kentucky
Bardstown, Kentucky
As of the census of 2010, there were 11,700 people, 4,712 households, and 2,949 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,113 housing units at an average density of...
is an historic railroad station on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Long owned by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
Louisville and Nashville Railroad
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.Chartered by the state of Kentucky in 1850, the L&N, as it was generally known, grew into one of the great success stories of American business...
(L&N), it is currently used as the station for the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, owned by R.J. Corman.
History
The impetus for a railroad departing south from LouisvilleLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
was begun in 1832 by the citizens of Bardstown. However, after a $300,000 bond issue was defeated by other residents of Bardstown, the main line of the Louisville and Nashville instead bypassed Bardstown.
The station was built in 1860 by the Bardstown and Louisville Railroad, which the Louisville and Nashville Railroad purchased the assets of in 1864. It was the only railroad station in Kentucky built of dry-stone. However, the 18 miles (29 km) line to connect the station to the L&N's main line wasn't until March 1860.
On February 1, 1888 the line was lengthened to connect Bardstown to Springfield, Kentucky
Springfield, Kentucky
Springfield is a city in and county seat of Washington County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,634 at the 2000 census. It was established in 1793 and probably named for springs in the area.-Geography:...
.
In 1953 service was discontinued to the station by the L&N, and the passenger section of the station demolished. In 1987 CSX, who had purchased the L&N in the meanwhile, sold the old Bardstown line, including the station, to the R.J. Corman Railroad Group, which has since used it as a Short-line railroad.
Structure
The total land area of the station is 30 feet (9.1 m) by 75 feet (22.9 m). Both the structure, exterior, and foundation are made of dry-stone. There are two rooms in the structure. The roof is made of shallow gableGable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
. The original passenger section was destroyed in 1953, but a waiting room addition was added to the station in 1992.
Today
Currently the station is part of the complex for the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, named for the My Old Kentucky Home State ParkMy Old Kentucky Home State Park
My Old Kentucky Home State Park is a state park located in Bardstown, Kentucky. The park's centerpiece is Federal Hill, a former plantation built by United States Senator John Rowan in 1795. During Rowan's life, the mansion became a meeting place for local politicians and hosted several visiting...
, where Stephen Foster
Stephen Foster
Stephen Collins Foster , known as the "father of American music", was the pre-eminent songwriter in the United States of the 19th century...
allegedly got the inspiration for his song My Old Kentucky Home
My Old Kentucky Home
"My Old Kentucky Home" is a minstrel song by Stephen Foster , probably composed in 1852. It was published as "My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night" in January 1853 by Firth, Pond, & Co. of New York...
. Customers ride on vintage 1940s-era dining cars pulled by diesel-electric FP7A locomotives for a 150 minute, 37 mile ride to Limestone Springs and back, while engaging in lunch or dinner. Sights to be seen during the ride include Bernheim Forest and the Jim Beam
Jim Beam
Jim Beam is a brand of bourbon whiskey produced in Clermont, Kentucky. It is currently one of the best selling brands of bourbon in the world. Since 1795 , seven generations of the Beam family have been involved in whiskey production for the company that produces the brand, which was given the name...
distillery.
Within the station itself is a giftshop and an alcohol bar where cocktail
Cocktail
A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink that contains two or more ingredients—at least one of the ingredients must be a spirit.Cocktails were originally a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. The word has come to mean almost any mixed drink that contains alcohol...
s are available.