Civil War train robbery
Confederates keep trying, but Union
always wins in ‘Battle for the Gold’

The gold-carrying train suddenly slows and comes to a halt as Union soldiers quickly disembark.

“What’s going on?” someone questions. A look out the window provides the answer.

Confederate soldiers swarm around the train they’ve stopped and a fight for the gold begins alongside the tracks in a nearby pasture.

A view of the “train robbery” is visible from coach windows as a lot of shooting and hand-to-hand combat ensues. But, in the end, Federal troops save the “gold” and the train resumes its journey back to the station.

For more than 15 years, Versailles’ and Woodford County’s annual Civil War Drama and Train Robbery has brought an authentic taste of Civil War history to some 200 passengers on each of the train’s runs. The Bluegrass Railroad Museum make sure the event is full of fun and is educational for each of the passengers on the hour-long rides, an activity that’s conducted in May and again in September.

“Our re-enactors arrive Friday evening and set up a tent encampment near our station,” the museum’s John Penfield explains. “Many camp out overnight and, after a breakfast cooked over a campfire, the volunteers dress in uniform with ladies in period dresses and prepare for the day's event.”

The program is conducted on a Saturday-Sunday schedule with two train rides on Saturday and a final excursion on the last day.

“We open our museum doors at 12:30 on Saturday and Sunday and our passengers are invited to tour the camp and interact with the re-enactors who generally stay in character,” the museum’s executive director related. “At about 1:30 we have a cannon firing demonstration and then, after the passengers board the train, our Union and Confederate soldiers form up and board.

“While the scenario changes from year to year, the basic idea is that the train is carrying gold and is stopped and attacked by Confederate soldiers. The Union soldiers disembark and a firefight ensues. While not Hollywood or Disney standard, it is all in good fun and the passengers enjoy the noise and action.”

At the conclusion of the “battle,” Union troops parade captured Confederates and the protected gold up and down the train aisles. When the train returns to the station, a short ceremony is conducted honoring both Union and Confederate soldiers who lost their lives during the war.

Usually, some 30 re-enactors participate in the event and Penfield always is looking for additional military volunteers. At the museum, visitors can see a variety of railroad memorabilia and a model train layout.

The next train robbery is scheduled Sept. 3-4. Reservations can be made at the museum’s website – www.BGRM.org - or by calling 859-873-2476.