Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp.

08/13/2026

We’re sad we weren’t able to host again this year, but we couldn’t ensure our construction materials and such from our ongoing site work would be fully cleared for the Ravenna Railroad Festival. We’ll gladly be supporting the festival though at its original location! Come see us at Veterans Park across the tracks from our own campus. We’ll have a booth of our own at the festival along with all the other groups and vendors.

Due to some ongoing updates and construction at The Yard, we will be moving the location of the festival for this year while they complete those updates. Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp has worked diligently to get the work done for us to host the festival at their venue, but too many challenges have extended their timeframe, and we had to make the decision to move locations.

We will host the festival at the Ravenna Veteran’s Memorial Park, 512 Main Street Ravenna KY, where we first started out. September 12th and 13th We can't wait to see you there!

08/07/2026

Our beloved switcher, KSHX No. 1100, is in the shop for some much-needed work on its cooling circuit. Mid-America Locomotive will assess our venerable EMD SW1500 switcher and work with us to get it back in shape for running our short excursions.

KSHX 1100 is an EMD SW1500 diesel switcher built by General Motors (EMD) in 1970. It was the first of thirty SW1500s ordered by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad and was originally numbered L&N 5000.

After the L&N became part of the Seaboard System in 1982, the locomotive was renumbered 1100. When Seaboard became CSX Transportation, it became CSXT 1100. CSX donated the locomotive to Kentucky Steam in 2019.

Note: KSHX 1100's sister locomotive, former CSXT 1103, was donated to The Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven, where it is also in operation.

08/07/2026

Are you a fan of the TV show The Voice? If so you likely saw one of our upcoming performers on the recent season. Come check out Jared Shoemaker with his band Marshull as they team up with Wesley Saylor Music and Rhythm Phoenix for 5 hours of fun!

Just $10 per person!

5-10PM

499 Kirkland Avenue, Irvine Ky

Rhythm in the Rail Yard - Live Music Series for more event info.

Here’s a clip from Jared’s appearance on the show:

https://youtu.be/L55EK771M44?is=I_gYmrb0XimfqR_7

07/24/2026

PRESS RELEASE: Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation Reaffirms Mission Following Conclusion of Next Generation Rail Solutions Tenancy

07/04/2026

Happy Independence Day 2026 from all of us at Kentucky Steam. This photo was taken just a few miles north of Ravenna at Sloan, Kentucky, in the summer of 1993. Courtesy of Museum Docent and Archivist, Elmer Beckler.

06/03/2026

Another live music line-up is coming to The Yard this month and we couldn't be more excited!

Have you saved the date yet?

We've got another great lineup coming to The Yard on June 27th, with a bonus 2 hours of live music to offer this round. Live music will kick off at 3PM this date as we pump our sweet sounds a bit earlier to go along with the Stars, Stripes, & Steam event happening alongside our Rhythm in the Railyard Music Series.

$15 will get you access to all of the live music coming from the Hardy Pavilion while you can also enjoy several other family-friendly activities on-site. Check out the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. page for full event details beyond the live music. The music series is a rain-or-shine event. Lawn chairs and portable tents are welcome and encouraged for your comfort at the event.

We will once again have Lib's Smoke Shack providing delicious food and soft drinks. Spud Sisters will be assisting with your hunger, too. Kentucky Mountain Moonshine will be back with more spirited beverages. Lemonade Lane will squeeze out plenty more fruity refreshment as well!

No outside food or drink! Please support our amazing local vendors who support our events.

We hope to see you here!

TIME:
3-10PM

ADDRESS:
499 Kirkland Ave. Irvine, KY 40336

ENTRY FEES:
• $15 cover for music and Stars, Stripes, & Steam activities.
• $10 at the gate starting at 5PM for music only at The Yard amphitheater.

Rhythm in the Railyard would not be possible without our generous sponsors as well:

• PBT Bancorp
• Mercy Health - Marcum and Wallace Hospital
• El Ranchito Mexican Restaurant
• Estill County Chiropractic
• ProGen Restoration
• Lewis Funeral Home of Irvine
• Fauste Oil Services Inc
• Irvine Online
• K&D Mowing
• A&A Sanitation of Richmond, KY
• Estill County Rescue Squad with logistical support.
• Twilight till Dawn Music Management production support.
• Chelsea Nolan (event artwork)

05/30/2026

Our people are the ones who make volunteering a special experience. Join our crew today by becoming a member! There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer this summer, whether on C&O 2716, during concerts at The Yard, or even aboard our annual Santa Express train ride. Click here to learn more: https://www.kentuckysteam.org/membership

05/22/2026

This weekend, we remember and honor our dearly departed Ryan Chugg. He will be missed, and his contributions to rail preservation in Estill County will never be forgotten. Thank you, Ryan, for being an important part of Kentucky Steam.

05/15/2026

We are so excited for tomorrow evening! 5 hours of music for 5 hours!

05/11/2026

Thanks for your support, Senator Smith!