Where rail history and holiday magic meet in the heart of Kentucky’s horse country, the Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and its beloved Santa Trains offer families, railfans, and holiday enthusiasts an experience that’s equal parts nostalgia and delight.
Set amid the rolling pastures and dry-stacked stone fences of Woodford County, the museum and excursion line provide a window into the region’s railroading past—and, come late fall, a festive journey that has become an annual tradition for thousands.
About the Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum
Located just a short drive from Lexington in Versailles, the Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum is a volunteer-driven nonprofit dedicated to preserving and interpreting central Kentucky’s railroad heritage. The campus typically features a small but thoughtful collection of vintage locomotives, passenger and freight cars, a depot area, and interpretive displays that tell the story of how railroads powered Kentucky’s agriculture, bourbon, industry, and daily life.
What sets the museum apart is that it’s not just static exhibits. On most operating days, visitors can board a vintage passenger coach for a leisurely excursion through the countryside. The ride travels several miles along a historic line once served by larger railroads, threading past thoroughbred farms, tree-lined fields, and vistas that hint at the dramatic limestone Palisades near the Kentucky River. Docents and crew—often volunteers with deep knowledge of rail history—bring the route to life with anecdotes about the equipment, the region, and how the railroad connected communities long before interstates…