Big South Fork Scenic Railway, Heritage railway in McCreary County, Kentucky, United States.
The Big South Fork Scenic Railway travels through Daniel Boone National Forest, descending roughly 600 feet (180 meters) into a gorge as it winds through the landscape. The route passes alongside mountain streams and through dense forest sections that line the valley.
The railway began in 1901 as part of the Stearns Coal & Lumber Company, which laid tracks to move timber through the region. The operation later expanded to coal transport, becoming central to the area's economic development.
The train stops at Blue Heron Mining Community, where visitors encounter National Park Service exhibits showing how coal mining shaped local life for generations. This stop reveals what daily work in the mines looked like through preserved structures and artifacts.
The railway operates during warmer months from April through October with trips lasting several hours, so expect a leisurely pace for the entire experience. Wear comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes, as the stop at Blue Heron may involve walking to explore the mining community site.
The railway maintains locomotive No. 12, a former Southern Railway engine, while working to restore a steam locomotive built in the 1940s for eventual operation on the line. These rare machines represent different eras of railroad engineering and transport.
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