Railroad enthusiast Larry Bailey regrets he won’t be able to make this year’s “Romance at the RailPark” but he wants to pass on the good word about the annual event centered around Valentine’s Day.

Bailey and his wife, Sharyn, have taken part in the event previously at the Historic RailPark & Train Museum.

“I think it’s a wonderful event,” he said. “Anytime you have the opportunity to dine on a rail car it’s just very special. Especially at night and the lights are dimmed it’s a wonderful ambiance that is far greater than most anything else here. The best part is when a freight train comes by … you really feel like you are riding the rails.”

Bailey said he would encourage anyone who hasn’t had a chance to dine on a rail car to jump at the opportunity.

“The way it’s laid out, with white table cloths … the executive director, Jamie Johnson, just does a fantastic job,” he said. “It’s a wonderful romantic evening.”

The event will feature a three-course meal catered by Sweet Temptations on the Duncan Hines Dining Car and a movie in the museum’s movie theater. Reid’s Livery will provide a cash wine bar and the evening will begin with music in the historic depot’s lobby.

Seatings are at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Feb. 10, 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Feb. 11, noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Feb. 12 and 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Feb. 14. The movie “Serendipity” will be shown either prior to or after the meal, depending on when people dine. Movie times are available when reservations are made at www.historicrailpark.com or by calling 270-745-7317. Tickets are $52 to $59 each, depending on the entree selected – chicken, pork or salmon.

The event is a way to bring the community to the facility as well as to raise funds for the non-profit Friends of the Depot that runs the museum, rents out the facility and cares for it, according to Johnson.

Johnson said they really don’t have a fundraising goal in mind for the event but would like to sell out the 100 tables available across five days. Table tops can seat up to four people and a private dining room in the Presidential Dining car can seat up to six people.

“We’ve actually sold out the last two years and are hoping to do that again,” she said.

While wine isn’t served with the meal, guests can purchase wine from Reid’s Livery and take it on the dining car with them or do a wine tasting in the lobby. In addition to the music in the lobby and a trivia game, guests can try out bedding and pillows from one of the sponsors, Trent Bedding.

“I think anyone would enjoy this,” Johnson said. “We’ve had everything from a father and young daughter; we’ve gotten a lot of young couples and more mature couples. One of the sweetest things is that there will always be at least one husband and wife who have brought the mother in law to make sure she is getting out.”

— Follow city editor Robyn L. Minor on Twitter at @bowserminor or visit bgdailynews.com.