KENTUCKY, USA — It may very well be the most unique way to see the beauty of central Kentucky. Rail Explorers is a business that sets guests up to see the Bluegrass country via rail, but they are not riding in a train — they are pedaling a unique rail bike.
These rail bikes travel the old Buffalo Creek & Gauley Railroad, a place where steam engines once ran. It is a 10-mile round trip that is draped in history. Our Chuck's Big Adventure team – on a hot Kentucky day – pedaled past a wrecked train car, waterfalls and high cliffs.
Corinne Simmons, our Rail Explorers guide and division manager, prepared us for a truly memorable trip.
''We will be riding past thoroughbred farms. There might be a good chance they'll be out today. We'll be passing through the limestone cliffs that are famous for filtering the water for the bourbon that Kentucky is famous for," Simmons said. "When we get to the turnaround, you'll see Young’s High Bridge, one of the oldest and longest and tallest in the country — not the absolute oldest and longest, but one of, and it's phenomenal. They actually do bungee jumping off of it. It goes right over the Kentucky River and right across the Kentucky River, you'll see the Wild Turkey Distillery."
Preparing to pedal through this part of Kentucky is a real rush. Guests see things most Kentuckians never see because of the unique position of the rail line. We traveled the Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad, which opened in 1904. The rails serviced the Elk River Coal and Lumber Company until 1965, hauling thousands of tons of coal from the mine at Widen and millions of feet of lumber from the sawmill at Swandale.
But, what about the pedal power? Ten miles is a long way, especially for people not in truly athletic condition. They have that handled, too.
All Explorers are fitted with the "REX Propulsion System," which are custom electric motors that make the ride an effortless one. I am in my mid-60s and had absolutely no trouble. You will see children and seniors on the rail bikes.
"All you're doing is getting cardio in by moving your legs because that REX propulsion system kicks in. Just move this bike along with ease, and doesn't feel like you're pushing right, however much weight you are on the bike, which is 550 for the tandems and 750 for the quads alone, without anybody on them," Simmons said. "If you have had a knee surgery or a hip surgery or anything like that, we always say, just bring somebody that's capable of pedaling at 16 years of age or older, and still get out there and enjoy it."
Rail Explorers has a working relationship with the Bluegrass Railroad and Museum. It is a partnership that works for both organizations and really keeps the main thing, the main thing — the condition of the rails.
"The BGRM does great work with them, and their train only operates on Saturdays, and they do charters on Tuesdays. The best thing is they only operate 10 miles per hour, so they only have to worry about, you know, so often, coming out and changing out the tires," Simmons said. "That's how they rate the tracks to make sure they stay at a certain speed. When they come out, they do regular track checks to make sure their tracks are in perfect form for their train to run. If their train can operate on the tracks, we're perfectly clear to operate as well. Now, they just came out and they did a little bit of work in June down here, further between where we're going to go down through the cliffs."
Chuck's Big Adventure in Kentucky: Rail Explorers
The tours run during the day but also at night when the rail bikes are decked out with bright LED lights. During the fall, there is a s'mores trip where guests can pedal the route but have a rest stop at a fire pit enjoying conversations and fall treats.
The Rail Explorers ride is a fun way to, almost without effort, enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the Bluegrass and a relaxing day with fresh air and beautiful Bluegrass sights.
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