The Dining Car - Glorious Past, and Promising Future? [S3: E10]
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มิ.ย. 2024
- Delve into the fascinating history of dining cars on American railroads. From the early days when passengers had to fend for themselves at station stops to the opulent golden age of rail travel, dining cars became the showpiece of any overnight journey. Discover how railroads competed for passengers by offering lavish meals in beautifully decorated interiors, turning a simple meal into a memorable experience. We'll explore the evolution of dining cars, from their humble beginnings to the luxurious rolling restaurants of the past, and discuss how modern services still try to capture that magic today.
I also reflect on personal experiences of dining on long-distance trains, the unique charm of enjoying a gourmet meal while watching the scenery roll by, and the rich history behind it. From George Pullman's pioneering hotel cars to the elegant dining services of the Southern Railway's Crescent, we cover significant milestones and innovations in rail dining. We'll also look at the future of dining cars, drawing inspiration from modern services like Scotland's Caledonian Sleeper, and ponder how American railroads might reinvent this iconic aspect of train travel. Sit back, relax, and let's embark on this nostalgic journey through the history and future of dining cars.
▶️Please Subscribe: / @railweekly
-----------------
▶️THE REAL HARRY POTTER HOGWARTS EXPRESS
• • The REAL Hogwarts Expr...
▶️SONO SWITCH TOWER
• • Mechanical Marvel Froz...
▶️Follow me on:
• Facebook: / railweekly
-----------------
▶️Private Car Adventure
• • 5,200 Miles in THREE P...
▶️More to explore about Amtrak:
• Amtrak's Amfleets: • Amtrak's Amfleet [S3: ...
• Amtrak's Freight? : • AmFreight - When Amtra...
• Amtrak's Superliners: • The LAST Pullmans - Th...
• Amtrak's Southwest Chief: • A Train So Luxurious -...
▶️More to explore about Pullman:
• The LAST Pullmans: • The LAST Pullmans - Th...
• Riding the 20th Century Limited - Hickory Creek: • Riding the 20th Centur...
-----------------
▶️My Other Videos:
• The Curious Case of Cos Cob: • The Curious Case of Co...
• Pikes Peak Cog Railway: • Pikes Peak Cog Railway...
• Private Car Adventure: • 5,200 Miles in THREE P...
• San Francisco Cable Cars and PCC Cars: • Video
• Zephyr Reveals Rare Scenery: • Surprise Scenery REVEA...
• Deerfield, IL | Amtrak, CP and Metra: • Deerfield, IL: Amtrak,...
• 3 Cameras / One Incredible Railfanning Location Rondout, IL: • 3 Cameras / One Incred...
• Steam POWER - The Western Maryland Scenic 1309: • Steam POWER - The West...
• Metra C&NW Heritage Engine 90: • Metra C&NW Heritage En...
#railfanning #railweekly #railroad #railway #railways #privatecar #train #railhistory #diningcar #southerncrescent #southernrailway #train #pullman #amtraktrains #amtrak #harveyhouse - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Thank you for always providing such well researched and filmed content. I just completed a trip on the Empire Builder, originating in Seattle, stopping for a few days at Glacier National Park, and continuing on to Chicago. I've taken most other long-distance trains along the Amtrak network over the past few years, and while the dining car offerings are acceptable, I found the service on this particular train abysmal. A good dining experience is a combination of the food and the service, and it seemed that this particular crew could benefit from some additional training. Food was delivered without utensils. Bread was served, but there were no plates. Utensils were handed to guests with the staff holding the eating ends of forks and knives. Glasswsre was delivered with the staff holding their fingers inside the glass. Soda and beer was served in a can with no glass. And, because the arrival in Chicago was delayed from 445pm to 1105pm, no dinner was provided (just a slice of microwave pizza and a soda to those of us in sleepers).
I enjoy, support, and frequently ride Amtrak, and hope they will choose to do better moving forward.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it! Sorry you had such a bad experience. It’s like that often on Amtrak. But every once in a while, you get a crew that really does an amazing job. I once even rode the Southwest Chief with a chef who took it upon himself to create new dishes and offer them as specials based on what ingredients were available to him. He even added a Parmesan crust to the salmon! It really makes a huge difference when people just care.
@@RailWeekly if you'd ever like or need some train/railroad photography, let me know.
Been living in Europe for the last 35 years and have been watching dining car service eroding. Rode the last of Trans-Europ Express trains, great food, long gone. TGV and others have a bar car, snacks and drinks and a place to stand. Swiss and German trains have acceptable dining cars, food is good enough and it's a helluva view. Best food, maybe a bit long ago, was in the Hungarian dining car from Vienna to Budapest. Generally travel wherever possible with a rail pass, in Germany, reservations not required, 2nd class, go sit in the dining car.
Well done with good history and great footage! I know that footage is expensive so I kicked in for it.
I appreciate you!
Let's not forget the dining car on Via Rail's Canadian. That looks pretty unique when I saw the food and service.
For sure! That train is very high on my bucket list. The Caledonian was my first non-US sleeper train. There is so much more to explore out there.
I just did the (Canadian) from Toronto to Vancouver back in May. The food is fantastic.
I used to travel the Philadelphia-Boston route (PRR & NYNH&H) and enjoy frankfurters, Boston baked beans and brown bread, or corned beef hash for lunch. The best was the open steak sandwich. All prepared onboard and served on white table cloths with branded cutlery, china and glassware.
Good video. For those interested in this subject, the famous Santa Fe Cochiti is on display at the California Railroad Museum. The interior houses a wonderful display of tableware from all over. It's a must see for any railroad fan planning to be near Sacramento.
Thanks for the info! I haven’t been to that museum in over a decade. I can’t wait to go back.
I was fortunate to ride the Crescent in 2019 with full service dining. Breakfast and lunch were great, unfortunately we arrived in NYC before dinner. My grandfather worked on B&O freight trains. I have collected some B&O memorabilia including a plate just like 6:24. It looks to be a 1927 100th anniversary special.
Very cool! My family has quite a collection of B&O China as well. Although I believe most of it is reproduction. Some is original though. We also have some rocks glasses from the Southern Crescent.
@@RailWeeklyI need to do more research. I believe mine is an original Shenango plate. Not sure the year produced. I saw only 1 online matching it exactly. Another site said out of stock. Guessing the value is $40ish but I wouldn’t sell.
I actually rode the Crescent back in 2015. It was amazing! I was about to get the French Toast and then fell in love was train travel.
In 1952 as a 5 year old, I traveled from Miami, Florida ro Florence SC on Atlantic Coastline RR and the dining car servers asked me (to induce me to eat) if I wanted to join The Clean Plate Club. Never forgot it.
What a wonderful memory :-)
That saw-tooth dining car seating was introduced by the New York Central in the Twentieth Century twin unit dining cars -- in 1938!
Everything old is new again. I would love to see Amtrak take advantage of that.
Random thoughts: Railroads often boasted of their dining car losses as a testament to their fine service. Others, like Southern Pacific began running coin-operated 'Automat Cars' which often ran out of food and were very unpopular.
The 'advent of refrigeration' began with ice blocks, not modern A/C equipment. Steam for the stove was piped from the locomotives.
Around 1900, low-cost trains operated 'tourist sleepers' some fitted with stoves on which passengers would cook their own food.
In pre-Amtrak days, passengers had to write their own order tickets to avoid errors (a custom going back to when cars were very noisy).
It still is a custom to fill every table (with strangers) to save space.
Ah yes! The automat cars! I was wishing I had access to any pictures or videos of those (that I could get the rights to) for use in this episode. Had to leave it out though. And that’s fascinating about passengers cooking their own food. Could you imagine that today??
Thanks!
Thank you for your generosity! Glad you enjoyed!
I've been thoroughly pleased with Amtrak's "traditional dining" on their western Superliner-equipped trains (Coast Starlight, Southwest Chief) over the past nine years since I took my first long distance rail journey. The "lfexible dining" on their eastern lines seems like a disappointing step down, though surely better than the old automat cars of the 1960s-70s or the basic menu items of the cafe car.
I'm glad the "traditional dining" isn't more upscale than it is--it's good food, done well, with a decent variety on the menu without being stuff real people don't eat. I also appreciate that the menu doesn't change often. VIA Rail in Canada serves entirely different menus each day, which is great for variety but if there's two things one night which you'd like to try, you're SOL because you won't get the chance to try the 2nd one during that trip.
I didn’t know that about VIA changing their menus. That’s really impressive that they do that! And yes, I really do enjoy the offerings on Amtrak’s traditional dining as well. I have almost never had a bad meal. I just wish they would bring it back to all of the East Coast trains.
In 2022, we had had horrible on the Auto Train. No dining room was available, food brought to us in bedroom was barely edible and service was atrocious. I hope it’s improved. Recommend adding section about Auto train dining if you ever edit this video. Feel free to contact. Spouse wrote Virginia Railway Depots.
I haven’t been on the auto train in a very long time (that 8mm footage at the beginning was me on the Auto Train as a teenager!). I rode it in 1992 as well though, and the service was amazing. Sad to hear it is not what it used to be.
I'd like to make a case for . . .
French Fries. With air fryers being the perfectly safe way to cook them. The smell is a universal draw, like popcorn or chocolate. The ingredients are cheap, readily available domestically, and (obv.) vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, and easily "plussed up" with add'l options (like bacon or cheese) for add'l $$$. It's quick, customizable, and crowd pleasing across all demographics, ages, and socio-economic gaps. I really feel like this is something Amtrak could be KNOWN for, ya know? "So, how was your trip?" "The views were amazing and the staff was friendly. But MAN were their fries on point!".
Hahaha! This is so relatable! I asked my parents why there were no fries when I was a kid. And they had to explain the dangers of a sloshing vat of hot oil to me. Air fryer to the rescue!
I don't consider the Caledonian Sleeper to have a dining-car. It's just a cafe. There used to be full service restaurant cars on British trains. Now only the Great Western offers serious dining (£44 for three courses)
Perhaps you’re right. It definitely doesn’t live up to the dining cars of the past. Maybe it could be a good example for the future of food service here in the US.
@@RailWeekly How is it better than Amtrak full service dining-cars?
Whenever I ride in a Swiss dining car, it's usually quite empty. What might help a bit here is if they went to more of a Starbucks business model, sit down and work on your laptop (as you did in the video), have a place to plug it in (rarely available), serve good (but slightly expensive) coffee and light meals. Encourage you to stick around and consume.
That would be pretty great. Amtrak cafe cars love to chase you out as soon as you’re done eating in my experience.
The high sodium "flexible" Amtrak meals are disgusting. I didn't find Acela First Class food much better.
I recently took Acela first class, Newark, NJ to Washington. Comfortable, fast, good service, but the included lunch was pretty bad.
@@robertewalt7789 Considering the huge fare difference, it should be a lot better.
@@randall8379 My son travels NYC to DC on business often, so he earned points, which he used to upgrade me. I took the regular coach back to NJ.
Amtrak's "dining" is an embarassment
Good video but your information on some subjects is not correct or only partially correct. To begin with virtually all railroads expected to lose money on their dining cars. It simple too small an operation on the trains and lacked the local traffic that a brick and mortar restaurant has. However, a good number of railroads managed to make a profit on their dining cars e.g. the Union Pacific Challenger trains. Also, the big railroads had a very complete commissary operation and this included butcher shops, bakeries and even farms and ranches. The Illinois Central claimed they had full dining cars as early as 1862. Railroad "eating houses" as they were called, from the mid to late 19th century had very bad reputations for terrible food quality, poor service and very high prices. Fred Harvey and the Harvey Houses were unique to the AT&SF although they did operate large restaurants and other services in large terminals not served by the Santa Fe included Chicago Union Station and Cleveland Union Terminal.
This is great! Thank you so much! There is definitely a lot more I could have covered if I had the rights to the footage or imagery. I would have loved to have talk about automat cars. And I think the Harvey Houses might be worth their own video at some point! Thank you for watching.