The Barrel Railroad, Kentucky

[Randy Hees]

This topic has long been in search of a suitable, significant topic to start discussions... and I believe I have found that topic or rather railroad...

The Glenmore & Elsewhere Railroad

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1958-railroad-barrel-train-kentucky-tavern-whiskey-glenmore-distillery-photo-ad-cf38496caee26cbaefa7bb39ba689905.jpg (34.91 KiB) Viewed 11271 times

The Glenmore Distillery in Owensboro Kentucky had an in plant 36” gauge railroad, with locomotives lettered for the “Glenmore & Elsewhere R R”, but occasionally called the “Barrel Railroad” or “Barrel train”.

The distillery survived prohibition by making medicinal whiskey… so was well poised to resume sales with the end of the great National experiment.

The railroad was apparently used to transport barreled aged whiskey. Two Plymouth locomotives were purchased in 1936. The railroad was included in a 1958 magazine ad, so it is assumed it was operating at that time.

Their brands included Glenmore, Old Thompson, Old Forrester, Kentucky Tavern, and Old Yellowstone Bourbons

Known locomotives

Plymouth c/n 3840, blt 5/18/1936, RHL-2, 4wh, 3.5 tons, Hercules OX engine, Diesel Mechanical
Built for Glenmore Distilleries Company, Owensboro, KY, lettered “Glenmore & Elsewhere R R”

Plymouth c/n 3840, blt 5/18/1936, RHL-2, 4wh, 3.5 tons, Hercules OX engine, Diesel Mechanical
Built for Glenmore Distilleries Company, Owensboro, KY, lettered “Glenmore & Elsewhere R R”

[Randy Hees]

I have located a second bourbon distillery with a narrow gauge railroad... This time T. W. Samuels, who purchased a Milwaukee model W for their 1 mile long railroad. The T. W. Samuels distillary was closed by the depression and dismantled, but the son opened a new distillery after the war... which today is known for its brand Maker's Mark.

The attached is from "Modern Haulage, Publication 104, Milwaukee Gasoline Locomotives" c. 1915.... Found in the Trade Literature collection of the Smithsonian Museum of American History Library.

[Randy Hees]

And.... a photo of one of the The Glenmore & Elsewhere Railroad Plymouths...