Railroad Dining Cars

[d. m. ellington]

Any of you guys have memories of eating in the dining car on passenger trains.

I lived in Davenport, IA in 1953 to 1956 and every summer my aunt would come up from Alabama and get me and take me South for the Summer. We would drive across the river to Rock Island, Illinois, catch the train to Chicago, get the L & N Train at LaSalle St. Station. The train was called the Georgian which went to Atlanta. then change on into Gadsden, AL I remember those large club sandwich's they served to this day.

After I went to work for the Southern Railway, would ride trains from Birmingham, AL to Washington, DC and from Birmingham to New Orleans, LA. Breakfast was Steak O Lean and two fried eggs, lemon/water juice and coffee. Lunch was Club Sandwich's like on the L & N Steak or Prime Rib for the evening meal.

I don't know how the food is on Amtrak as I have not been on a train in over 10 years.

Traveling by train was to me the most enjoyable way to travel.