Train Museum in La Grange

Just One Stop in the Entire Trains on Main Trip Idea!

One of the few remaining street-running train tracks in the entire country can be found here in Oldham County’s city of La Grange! It is a unique experience to watch the freight trains run down the middle of Main Street in this quaint, walkable historic downtown. Trains pass through the city an average of 23 times a day, giving shoppers and diners ample opportunity to enjoy this phenomenon. The La Grange Railroad Museum is a mere 900 feet away from the Main Street observation tower that is located at Main Street Bourbon & Ale House, a popular dining spot with great outdoor seating by the railroad tracks. The museum itself features an observation deck less than 30 feet away from the track system, in addition to extensive indoor and outdoor artifacts and displays.

The railroad museum has impressive outdoor rolling stock, including a steam engine constructed in 1952 in England, an authentic 1929 Louisville & Nashville (L&N) Dining Car, a 1953 L&N Caboose, and two other rail-yard units. The dining car operated on the very tracks that now stand just feet behind away. The premier dining service on the Pan America run between Cincinnati and New Orleans, and visitors have the exciting opportunity to experience history by renting out space for private functions such as birthday parties and catered private dinners.

The museum itself is housed in an original L&N Train Depot, which was constructed in 1914. The main level exhibits a wide variety of railroad artifacts and displays, including a room dedicated to the electric trolley interurban system that transported passengers between La Grange and Louisville from 1907 to 1935.

The lower level of the building the model railroad area. It is home to a wide range of functioning model train layouts, the biggest of which has over 800 feet of HO-scale track in its system! There is also a play area for young visitors interested in a hands-on experience. Additionally, there is a project room and an educational area where we welcome model railroad builders of all experience levels to collaborate and learn.

The La Grange Railroad Museum is a must-see destination for those interested in trains or the railroad! The railroad was (and still is) an integral part of La Grange’s history. Don’t miss out! Another must-see destination for train enthusiasts is the Oldham County History Center campus on the opposite end of Main Street, within walking distance of the La Grange Train Museum.  Check out the La Grange Train Museum websitefor more information.