A day at the Bluegrass Railway Museum in Versailles, KY by Rich Hane

On August 20 my wife and I spent the last day of one of our Kentucky mini vacations at the Bluegrass Railway Museum in Versailles, KY.  We have  been there before and it is a nice operation on some L&N track between Frankfort and Lexington KY.  Young’s High Bridge is visible at the end of the present line over the Kentucky River.

We rode first class in an air conditioned ex California Zephyr car which was in great condition. The 4 car train was pulled by an 0-6-0 saddle tank steam engine built in 1931 by the
Worth Iron Works in North Wales, PA. This engine also worked at the Lehigh Valley Coal Company at the Hazelton Shaft Colliery.

The retired fellow who bought and restored the engine takes it around to railroad museums as a fund raiser for the museum and a hobby for him. He was at Versailles for 2 weekends for a total of 8 trips on their tracks. There was a nice photo runbye, too. The coal was lifted into the coal bin in 5 gallon buckets. It was a fun day and the engine ran great.

The museum has several operating layouts (O, HO, & N gauge) along with great photos, tools, real train equipment, gift shop, displays, and several diesels. Their website is bgrr.org.  Rich Hane

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