Rules regarding Diner doubling as a lounge

[tgstubbs1]

Chuck wagon... It looks like a flexible, functional place.

 

[basketmaker]

 

[Willbridge]

Chuck wagon... It looks like a flexible, functional place.

I never had the opportunity to ride the Denver Zephyr, but it was the result of a lot of thought over the years. And it lasted into Amtrak (when the San Francisco Zephyr was tri-weekly).

 

[MARC Rider]

1966 Denver Zephyr 'Chuck Wagon': includes OBS crew berths in the economy food service car. The Steward has a private room that could have doubled as a workspace.
View attachment 26545

I had a meal in the Chuckwagon when I rode the Denver Zephyr in 1968 with the Scouts. The food in the special dining car they had for us did not exactly fill up my voracious 14 year old frame, so I went to the Chuckwagon and got a pizza. I wouldn't exactly call it an "economy" food service car: the pizza was $5, which was the equivalent of about $40 in today's money. It wasn't a bad pizza, though. After that, I went up into the dome car and rode for a while into the night, looking ahead and watching the signals turn from green to red as the front of the train passed them.

 

[toddinde]

I haven't been able to find it with a Google search, so maybe not so famous.

Nobody's doing paperwork, just apparently checking tickets or the manifest. There isn't really anyplace to sit and do paperwork in that photo.

I did find photos of other lounges on the train with full tables, but not any with seated staff.

It’s in the Lucius Beebe book on the 20th Century.

 

[joelkfla]

It’s in the Lucius Beebe book on the 20th Century.

Sounds interesting. Unfortunately, the book is out of print, not available at my local library nor on either of its e-book services, and the cheapest used copy I could find sells for $20 with shipping.

 

[BlackDiamond]

Sounds interesting. Unfortunately, the book is out of print, not available at my local library nor on either of its e-book services, and the cheapest used copy I could find sells for $20 with shipping.

Not a bad price if it is in reasonable condition. Most new RR books nowadays are $50 and up.

 

[BalmyZephyr]

On the original California Zephyr consist, dome coach car CZ21, aka the "conductors car" had a tiny office with a table. Don't ask why I know this.

HO or N?

 

[tgstubbs1]

What part of a modern train replaced the caboose, which also was used for a crew office?

 

[BalmyZephyr]

What part of a modern train replaced the caboose, which also was used for a crew office?

Mostly on freight trains, no?

 

[crescent-zephyr]

What part of a modern train replaced the caboose, which also was used for a crew office?

On freight trains the conductor now rides the cab with the engineer. This is the same on VIA rail as well.

I’m not sure where the freight train crews used to stash the condiments however.... (that’s a joke).

 

[tgstubbs1]

On freight trains the conductor now rides the cab with the engineer. This is the same on VIA rail as well.

I’m not sure where the freight train crews used to stash the condiments however.... (that’s a joke).

I don't think they have a diner. How do they survive, year after year?

 

[me_little_me]

I don't think they have a diner. How do they survive, year after year?

They don't have to pay Amtrak's high prices for transportation. In fact, surprisingly enough, their company pays them to travel.

 

[IndyLions]

Let’s not forget on some east coast cafe/lounge cars there is a conductors office - a private space with a desk. On my dozens of Amtrak trips including those cars, I think I saw someone sitting in there once.

 

[toddinde]

Sounds interesting. Unfortunately, the book is out of print, not available at my local library nor on either of its e-book services, and the cheapest used copy I could find sells for $20 with shipping.

The book is a gem. You need to get it. It has a treasured place in my library. I got it when I was 12. Here is the picture which is from the 1930’s 20th Century Limited, so crews have been doing their paperwork in dining and lounge cars for quite some time. Happy New Year!

 

[joelkfla]

The book is a gem. You need to get it. It has a treasured place in my library. I got it when I was 12. Here is the picture which is from the 1930’s 20th Century Limited, so crews have been doing their paperwork in dining and lounge cars for quite some time. Happy New Year!

Thanks for posting it!

I notice that there are 4 crew members working at one table, not 4 crew members relaxing at four tables.

 

[toddinde]

What part of a modern train replaced the caboose, which also was used for a crew office?

Passenger trains, aside from mixed trains, never had cabooses.

 

[toddinde]

Thanks for posting it!

I notice that there are 4 crew members working at one table, not 4 crew members relaxing at four tables.

Interestingly, the photo caption identifies that those four have a combined 150 years of railroad service! Also, I was mistaken; the date is 1947.

 

[me_little_me]

Thanks for posting it!

I notice that there are 4 crew members working at one table, not 4 crew members relaxing at four tables.

I've seen two workers and 4 tables used - probably the other two were off doing something but they wouldn't want to let passengers use those tables because having one's own is a sign of superiority.

 

[tgstubbs1]

Passenger trains, aside from mixed trains, never had cabooses.

I wonder how much they could charge for a caboose, complete with pot bellied stove and coffee pot?

I bet they would have plenty of takers.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I wonder how much they could charge for a caboose, complete with pot bellied stove and coffee pot?

I bet they would have plenty of takers.

Several of the Tourist Railroads including the Hill Country Flyer here in Central Texas rent Cabooses as Party Vehicles for Groups!

 

[toddinde]

I wonder how much they could charge for a caboose, complete with pot bellied stove and coffee pot?

I bet they would have plenty of takers.

I would ride it. Imagine cooking your own meals? Like an RV!

 

[DaveW]

I remember a few years ago, I was heading east on Empire Maker getting on at Everett. It was running late as there was mechanical issues and they had to drop a coach car in Seattle. The diner was used as a coach until we hooked up with the Portland half in Spokane. The dining car people were not very happy when they started setting the tables early in the morning and we were still there. We did hit Spokane before they started serving breakfast.

 

[zephyr17]

What part of a modern train replaced the caboose, which also was used for a crew office?

The locomotive cab.