Interesting article on 1990s German Trains with McDonald's dining cars

@TomlinsonRunRR posted:

I just stumbled on this article, "The McTrain: The Rise and Fall of McDonald's Ambitious Plan to Conquer the Railroads", written a few days ago.   I am a fan of dining cars, as well as rail cars and trolleys that have been converted to "diner" restaurants, but this one is a first for me.

The  article describes how the Deutsche Bundesbahn (German Federal Railroad) retrofit two dining cars to serve McDonald's food.  Apparently, the power consumption was unbelievably high.  The dining cars lasted from 1992-1995.  The article is well-illustrated and, if you read German, there are links to more information on German forums.

Tomlinson Run Railroad

Nice article - might make a cool scratch build project!

I was in Germany in about 1982 and asked the waiter what brand of coffee they served. He said "imported sir--Maxwell House."

"Power consumption was said to be twice that of a standard DB dining car, at 90 kilowatts, and logistically, the operation proved unusually demanding."

They should have made Golden pantographs.

@Sean007 posted:

Nice article - might make a cool scratch build project!

Sean,

I had a similar thought and so apparently did a couple of manufacturers: HAG and Marklin?

Showing lights and figures

Complete with container cars for intermodal fans

@Trinity River Bottoms Boomer posted:

I was employed by Deutsche Bundesbahn as a service rep at the Nuremberg main station when the McTrain diners were running on the designated InterCity trains.  The trains used Track 8 in Nuremberg.  When on duty, I'd order a couple of Big Macs "to go" with fries and a Coke (Reg.U.S.Pat.Off.) for me and my buddy who was the Track 8/9 platform supervisor!  Good Food, and oh sooooooo healthy too!  LOL

Sadly, my buddy came down with cancer and died around 2008.  He fought like H*** but lost the battle.

Item: First Class passengers could order from their seat and the meal was delivered hot to their lap...LOL

Joe

Joe/TRBB,

Wow. Thanks for your real-world story.  However, I'm sorry to read of the loss of your friend.  They sound like good times.

Here are two videos of the dining cars that might bring back more memories. These videos are apparently of the Swiss SBB EW IV  WR (?) dining cars, which the article said were tested prior to the German ones:

Interior

Exterior

A German enthusiast forum for English speakers has more info inspired by the same The Drive article.  One poster wrote that the grease smell lingered for 10 minutes after the dining car passed.  Having worked as a cook at McD's, I can tell you the grease smell never came out of my leather watch band . Ever.

TRRR

I can't believe they chose McDonald's !!??!

Think about it - meals on a train like those in Europe need to be turned pretty quickly.  European train travel is more point to point with most trips taking less than a day.  They're not looking for sit-down dining service.  What dining establishment has better perfected the art of quick, reasonably priced, ready to eat service?  It could be said that McDonalds invented the concept and definitely has spent years developing and perfecting it.  It makes perfect sense to me.

Maybe LGB could make these McDiners!

@Tinplate Art posted:

Maybe LGB could make these Mcdiners!

Of course, the model wouldn't be complete without hamburger/fryer-scented smoke .  Humm ...