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The active discussion on two topic threads here regarding "how many trips...' brings back memories from "one evening" trips that could be made from Chicago and still be home that night (and presumably at work the next AM) up to, and even after, A-Day. This material is adapted from that which I posted to another site.
I still remember fondly the array of "dinner in the diner" trips that could be taken from Chicago during pre-Amtrak and also early Amtrak "Pioneer Days". Such a trip involved a dinner hour departure, a ride "down" or "out" the line and then a same evening return to Chicago on the last train.
Some of the rides I can recall were to Champaign on the Panama Limited, return on the City of New Orleans. This of course was first-class Parlor (pre 1967 downgrade), but the surcharge for riding such was absurdly low. The Panama's twin unit diner was a sight to behold, and I can still well remember the steak. As for the "City", the song is very descriptive.
Another trip was the MILW (UP) "City" train to Savanna, IL, then return on the BN "Afternoon Zephyr". Although this trip was possible right up to A-day (in fact it was my April,30 A-day eve trip), it was downgraded over the years. The "City of Everywhere" lost the dome diner during 1969- or'70 and the massive size of the train made for a crowded dining scene, but still it was the UP with the color photo menu's printed for each trip, and even their own UP stock red wine. The return on the Zephyr was also downgraded over time; the dome cars were scattered through the system, and food service (not that you needed any after that lovely UP dinner) was pretty spartan.
A popular dinner trip was the GM&O to Bloomington on the "Abe Lincoln" (or Pontiac if you were tense about the return connection). This trip was available into Amtrak and in fact was even an "upgrade" by Amtrak in that ex-CBQ stainless parlor and diner were on the pre-Amfleet/Horizion consist. I always thought the GM&O full service Diner was good, but I don't think I would have wanted to look too closely around the kitchen (might be a few multipeeded deadheads aboard!).
And now for the best; "Super Chief" to Joliet, return on Rock Island commuter. That's right!, you could ride the Super Chicago-Joliet (pre-Amtrak), but I think even with first class rail, seat in roomette, and extra fare, it was only about $10 during the 60's. It was best to get seated right away, and let the crew know your intentions. Chgo-Joliet on the ATSF was not exactly a racetrack, and the dinner was not really that rushed.
Northward, there were not too many opportunities. C&NW intercity trains had largely become coach only, and on the MILW, once the "Afternoon" came off, no further ops there.
However, if all you wanted was dinner in the diner (as in "hold the train ride"), the Rock Island could take care of you. At La Salle St Station from shorly before and well into the Amtrak years, they had a stationary dining and lounge car. The operation was called Track One and used railroad-employed chefs, waiters, and stewards (I would rather guess those people were covered by labor protection agreements that were prevalent during the 60's & 70's).Menus were as offered aboard Rock Island diners.
In closing, there was also a "dinner in the diner" opportunity in the Washington area, that was well used by local fans. This was Washington-Alexandria on the Southern Crescent post Amtrak (circa 1976). During that time Southern did not join but agreed to cooperate with Amtrak. Their diner originated in Washington along with sevaral coaches and sleepers. You could board and be seated in the diner as soon as the equipment was spotted in the station. You usually were finished with dinner about the time you were crossing over the Potomac River.
Posts: 9982 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Of course at that time (in the case of the Southern Crescent) there was no DC Metro station adjacent to the train station in Alexandria. However, until June 1, 1975 it was possible to catch train #6, the Piedmont which had originated that morning in Atlanta, back into downtown DC after dinner.
On June 1, 1975 the Piedmont was discontinued south of the Charlotte. The remnant train was rescheduled so that it left Alexandria northbound twenty minutes before the Southern Crescent left Washington at 7:20pm. The Piedmont was discontinued altogether just after Thanksgiving the following year.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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I think Lucius Beebe mentioned in his book about the 20th Century Ltd. that passengers used to board the train at Grand Central and get off at Albany just to dine on the train. But I do remember the "stop only to receive passengers" rule where that wouldn't be possible. I guess the clout of the business world to arrange a "power" dinner while client or salesperson started their journey made it possible.
Posts: 498 | From: New Hope, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Back in the 1970's I would frequently ride The Canadian from Toronto to a place called Midhurst which was a flagstop on the CPR. Midhurst is about 60 miles north of Toronto and the sole reason for going there was to have dinner on the train. I seem to recall that it took a bit more than an hour for the journey, so I always told the dining car steward that I had urgent business in Midhurst so please make every effort to feed me prior to my stop. Word soon got around that I was only riding the train for a meal, and I never had a problem from the CPR crew in receiving expedited service.
This being a remote village, there was no service back until the next day, so I had to call for a taxi to take me to the nearby town of Barrie where I was able to connect with a local CNR dayliner back to Toronto.
Someone I knew who worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation heard about my little adventures, and I was interviewed for a national radio programme as the somewhat eccentric person who rides trains just to have dinner.
It's too bad that there are so few trains with dining cars out of Toronto (one to be precise, the tri-weekly Canadian) and no longer any service from Barrie (CN ripped up the tracks on their transcontinental line through that town) so I can no longer have my eccentric train meal.
Posts: 524 | From: Toronto Ont. Canada | Registered: Mar 2001
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Mr. Norman, I cannot AGREE more with your assessment of a meal on the Super Chief. Any meal was superb and the service devine.
Being from SE Colorado a favorite was to catch # 17 at La Junta about 8:15 AM and ride to Raton then catch # 18 back to La Junta about 6:00 PM. These times are approximate, but they permitted a breakfast or lunch, a ride over Raton Pass and Dinner on the return. An all day experience which allowed time to explore Raton, which had a great deal of RR activity in the fifty's, as well as local history. Not inexpensive but once a year was affordable.
Posts: 467 | From: Prescott, AZ USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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Would Amtrak be able to bring in additional business if it operated a special "coach" reserved for business passengers or the like wanting "dinner on the southbound Crescent or southbound Silver Meteor" on its way to Miami? Course the meals would not match days of rail travel gone bye! The catch is that it would have to be a coach that is reserved for those boarding "down the line" and such passengers would have to depart at Washington DC or before. And it may only be available during certain periods of time - i.e. not during Thanksgiving or heavy travel periods etc.
Likely would be too much for Amtrak to coordinate. Many of the southbound long distance trains do not run at full loads until after departing Washington DC at least.
Posts: 337 | Registered: Jun 2003
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I worked for the Rock Island in 1976, and ate dinner at Track 1 a couple of times. The Rock had just cut off the diners on the trains to Peoria and Davenport at the time. I worked in the Purchasing Department, and we fell heir to the supply of specially blended coffee the Rock had purchased for their diners. That remains the best office coffee I ever drank in my working career.
During the late 1970s, I lived in the Washington, DC area. More than once, I took day trips to New York and Philadelphia from Alexandria, the idea being to eat a good breakfast on the "Silver Meteor", which was out of Alexandria about 6 AM. We'd return on an afternoon train to Alex. At the time (even post-Amtrak) the SCL diners still featured grits and fresh-baked corn and bran muffins.
Posts: 614 | From: Merchantville, NJ. USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: And now for the best; "Super Chief" to Joliet, return on Rock Island commuter. That's right!, you could ride the Super Chicago-Joliet (pre-Amtrak), but I think even with first class rail, seat in roomette, and extra fare, it was only about $10 during the 60's. It was best to get seated right away, and let the crew know your intentions. Chgo-Joliet on the ATSF was not exactly a racetrack, and the dinner was not really that rushed.
Very good reminiscence, Mr. Norman. The great ATSF name trains such as the SC and the El Cap were also used for "dinner runs" in Southern California. Patrons would ride out of LAUPT, have their meal, then detrain at San Bernardino, CA. Then return to Los Angeles on an interurban, or after those were gone, a lesser Santa Fe commute train. These folks would get the first seating and were able to rub elbows and "hob nob" with the rich, famous and others who were traveling farther on the great Warbonnets...
Posts: 588 | From: East San Diego County, CA | Registered: Oct 2004
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