Big South Fork Scenic Railway in Stearns, Kentucky

[curtissjoyce]

I'm thinking about visiting this in a few weeks. Can anyone tell me about their experience with it? Is it worth the trip? Is it a good experience with kids? Thanks!!

[ben10ben]

I went there a couple of months ago with a bunch from church. It was definitely worth the trip and fun, and I plan on returning once they get their steam locomotive completely restored.

The general idea is you ride the train from the restored depot at Stearns(by means of an Alco S-2) to the old coal town of Blue Heron. As opposed to a traditional reconstruction, Blue Heron has been built as a "Ghost Town" where you basically walk around and look at pictures and listen to audio recordings of people who lived and worked there. The exterior of the coal tipple is all intact(no machinery as far as I could tell), and has five or six different types of hoppers under it, along with signs explaining the function of all of them. You can walk up the hill and out across the tipple. There are nature trails if you are so inclined to do that sort of thing. Lunch can also be purchased from the caboose.

For me, the train ride was worth the entire trip. If the weather's good, I would definitely suggest choosing an open air car as opposed to the enclosed car.

Don't forget, too, that you can bring your pet on a leash. There's also live bluegrass music in the station before the ride and while you're at Blue Heron. Be sure to schedule some time for the surrounding shops. Although we didn't get to visit the McCreary County Museum, I understand that it's definitely worth your time, and admission to it is included in the price of your ticket.