Two kids and an adult look at one of the five model trains on display.

Wayne Denny, who worked as an engineer on the L&N, gets some ice cream.

For many decades, the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, also known as L&N, has run through Berea. The current Berea train station along this railroad (in what is currently know as “Old Town”), was built in 1917 and through the foresight of the City of Berea, has been preserved and is declared a historical landmark nationally. Handling both, passenger and freight traffic, the Berea station stayed in business until 1971.

Four years ago, employees of the Berea Tourism Department decided to annually host an event to celebrate the railroad’s existence in Berea at the historic station. The tradition continued again this year, as model trains, exhibitors, former station and railroad employees, and many others turned out to celebrate. This year, nearly 1,000 people total turned out for the event, according to the event’s head organizer, Connie Mondine of the Berea Tourism Department.

“We had five model trains, 12 to 13 exhibitors, some of which had three to five tables, and then the close to 1,000 people in all that came,” Mondine commented.

Out of the many spectators on the day were numerous families, many of which Mondine said included young children. One unique family present was a family of railroad workers. Fifty-seven members of the family had worked on a railroad in some capacity.

Overall, Mondine and her colleagues were quite satisfied with the event, as the only trouble she noted was that there were so many people more than she’s ever seen in the station at once, making the station quite crowded.

“This was a great event. For Berea, it gives great exposure to people who otherwise wouldn’t have come to the town, shows off our building and office, and adds to tourist relations,” Mondine said. “This was a lot of fun, and watching excitement in the young and old around one concept was great. This event covers all generations,” Mondine added.

The event is advertised and promoted through press releases that Berea Tourism sent out for the two weeks before the event, and through fliers given to the event’s exhibitors every year to be given to their acquaintances. Mondine said that every newspaper in Kentucky receives a press release on the event.

Donna Estes of Irvine paints train-related pictures on children's faces.

The presentation of the metal "Berea" sign from the south side of the station. (From left) Garnett Short-presentor of sign, Belle Jackson- Berea Executive Director of Tourism, and Berea Mayor Steven Connelly.