We planned to attend our second Railroad Station Historical Society convention, which this year was in Gainesville, Georgia from June 5th to 8th. As we planned the trip, everything fell into place and the planning was easy to ride a few excursion trains as well as the Atlanta Streetcar.
<5/28/2024Elizabeth and I arose and following our Internet duties, packed and gave our next door neighbour, Philip, our trip itinerary as he would be looking after Chessie during our holiday. We left the house at 11:30 AM and Elizabeth drove us to Casey's in New Florence for tank of petrol then we continued east to Illinios and at a rest area, switched drivers. I drove to Evansville, Indiana and we went to Texas Roadhouse before checking into the Drury Inn for the night.
5/29/2024 Following our morning preparations, we went to Bob Evans for breakfast then Elizabeth drove us into Kentucky before we switched at a Speedway then I took us to Eminence and the first station of the day.
Louisville and Nashville Eminence station built in 1908 and now a City Hall. Eminence, which means "high place", is the highest point along the railroad between Louisville and Lexington and lies 900 feet above the sea level. Bringing the train through Eminence is credited with increasing the population of the city, making it larger than the county seat, New Castle. At one time, the county boasted seven railroad depots. The Eminence passenger depot is still a focal point of the downtown property and only one of two remaining in the County.
Elizabeth tried to get a municipal lapel pin from them but they did not have any. Instead, we were given credit card-size sleeves with the town's name on them. We made our way to Pleasureville.
Louisville and Nashville Pleasureville station, home to Renee and Company Photography.
Across the road from the station was a Louisville & Nashville bay window caboose, number, builder and year unknown. Our next stop was Duckers.
Louisville & Nashville Duckers station; year of construction unknown. We continued our station-hunting drive.
Louisville and Nashville Taylorton station on the grounds of the Castle & Key distillery grounds, built for Old Taylor distillery.
The sign on the building.
Old Taylor Distillery built in the form of a limestone castle by Edmond Haynes Taylor, Jr. He wanted it to be something he could show off and be proud of if anyone wanted to stop by for a visit. In fact, the distillery had its own railroad station where distinguished guests would disembark for Taylor's annual Derby parties.
It was then time to go to the Bluegrass Railroad Museum for our Rail Explorers Railbikes experience. When we were here at the end of March, we rode the regular train and decided to come back for the Railbikes since we enjoy them.
The Kentucky River RamblerBuilt in 1888, this section of the Louisville Southern Railroad once carried passengers from Lawrenceburg to Versailles and Lexington. Now you can ride the rails through the picturesque Kentucky countryside with Rail Explorers. Passing the thoroughbred horse farms you may see mares and foals in the fields before descending into deep cuts through the limestone hills. Bring a drink and snack to enjoy at the turnaround area on the cliffs above the Kentucky River gorge. Enjoy the view of the Wild Turkey Distillery and the 1,659 ft long Young's High Bridge soaring 283 ft above the river. All Explorers are fitted with the 'REX Propulsion System' - custom built electric motors that make the journey truly effortless.
A rail explorer is a pedal powered vehicle that rides on railroad tracks. They have 4 steel wheels, hydraulic disc brakes, pedals for each seat, and are comfortable, fun and easy to ride. Although the rail explorers require pedalling, the magic of steel wheels on steel rails makes the experience very different from riding a regular bicycle. There is no need to carefully watch the road ahead, there is no need to steer and riding is hands free - making it easy to take photographs and video as you roll along. Choose either the Tandem Rail Explorer (2 seats) or Quad Rail Explorer (4 seats) for your ride. Pedal powered rail vehicles date back to at least the 1850’s, when maintenance workers used hand-cars and ‘rail bikes’ to travel along the tracks. They were used to transport crew and materials for track inspection and repairs. Today, there are a variety of designs in use around the world: the 'Draisine" of Europe; 'rail bikes' with aluminium frames and rubber wheels; and modified road bikes with an outrigger wheel. Our custom built explorers are the latest development of this technology, and are the global leader in safety, design and ease of operation.
The author and his wife.
Two former friends waiting for Saturday. We were given a safety briefing then each person looked for their name on the line of railbikes. I found ours quickly and had to call Elizabeth.
Once we were given the all clear to start, we commenced pedalling and most of the journey would be downhill, passing first underneath the Southern signal bridge.
Next we pedalled onto the mainline.
Yard Limit signpost.
Caution Road Crossings.
We ran by the Milepost 8 signpost.
A flanger signpost.
Crossing a small creek.
Milepost 7 signpost.
Some of museum's equipment stored on a siding.
Milner.
Museum track equipment.
Running by Milepost 6 and Yard Limit signpost.
Pedalling by Abbott.
A bridge across a paved road.
Rounding another curve.
Going through a rock cut.
Pedalling by Milepost 5.
Crossing another trestle across a paved road.
Keeping our distance from the car ahead of us.
Following our railbikes.
Following our leaders' railbikes.
Southern combine 960417, nee Southern 695 built by Pullman in 19213.
Following our leaders.
Southern baggage car 497 built by Pullman in 1917.
We reached Tyrone and the western end of the track.
The Kentucky River Trestle, also known as Young High Bridge, out of service.
Bridge information board.
The Young High Bridge and the highway bridge to the right.
Rail Explorers personnel turning the rail bikes.
The Rail Explorers name is on every bicycle.
Elizabeth and the author on their rail bikes.
Elizabeth my very loving wife.
Crossing the road on this trestle.
Crossing another trestle over a local road to the house.
The author's leg pedalling the railbike.
Elizabeth's leg doing the same thing.
Returning to the museum's grounds.
Norfolk Western GP9 675 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1959.
Ilinois Central Gulf GP10 7738, ex. Eastern Tennessesse 7738, exxx. Illinois Central GP9 7738, nee San Louis and San Francisco 534 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1950. We pulled back into the museum grounds and the trip was officially over.
Ride the Rails Rail Explorers Bluegrass, Kentucky sign I spotted after we detrained.
United States Army H-12-44 1849 built by Fairbanks Morse in 1953.
Elizabeth drove us into Lexington and we went to Cracker Barrel for dinner before checking into the Best Western Lexington Inn where we called it night.
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