MEALS DELIVERED BY MODEL TRAIN

Hey Bill - Been there a few times with my kids.

 

Here's the correct link!

 

http://www.thechoochoo.com/

Thanks Jeff! I revised my post.

Bill

There are 2 or 3 in the K.C., KS & MO area called Fritz's. The original is in K.C., KS and has been there since the '50s I believe (could have been earlier). They added another in the Crown Center Shops many years ago and then another in the KS suburbs just a few years ago. There could be more in other parts of the city?  Also I don't know if the original (K.C., KS) is still there or not? Train is on an overhead rail and delivers orders right to your table. They give all the kids a little paper engineer's hat to wear.

Back in 1960 in downtown Brooklyn near Court Street there was a restaurant that delivered your hamburger (or similar sandwich) by O Gauge train. Put the plate from the grill onto the train. It was only served that way if you sat at the counter. ( I always did.) It was expensive, (I was making $39.00 a week) but I ate there every Friday for 2 years with my working buddies. They and the restaurant are long gone, but fondly remembered.

Place near me still does. I think it's called Tyler's Tenders in Sherrerville,IN. 

The Iron Horse Restaurant in downtown Seattle had good burgers and sandwiches, delivered to your table by LGB-size trains. They closed in November 2000.

 

Oh sure, and I was just up in Des Plaines yesterday for Des Plains hobbies sale and could've stopped in there.

 

We had a place a few years ago, in Geneva that ran the food out for folks via LGB trains...sadly they closed. There is one across town now that does it, in west plaza.

There used to be a place in downtown Geneva that had an LGB train running around the bar/lounge area...small track....but I heard they remodelled and took it down.

Thanks, next time we're out visiting my brother-in-law we'll have to stop in there for a bite, since they live there.

In the '60's there was a restaurant called "Hamburger Express" on Broad Street in downtown Newark NJ.   Same premise as the others.

Snackville Junction, 9144 S. Kedzie Ave., Evergreen Park, IL 60805, has been delivering food via O Gauge trains since 1953. They have a FB page, if you're interested. During that time, they've been under several owners in several locations on the South Side of Chicago.

 

Pictures of their original store at 110th & Western (from the FB page):

 

 

My family lived in Levittown, Long Island for a couple of years in the early 50s. One of the handful of memories that I have of that experience (I was very young) was some kind of diner we would go to on occasion that had a train that would deliver the food to people at the counter. Made a big impression on me. 

I remember a trip there as a kid..I am surprised to hear its still around and longevity is not something I would associate with this gimmick. Its great to hear its still there.

Bill,

 

I am a native Western Springs, IL guy as well. Moved back to WS in 2004 after a job transfer and marriage. Great town!

 

Our two meals delivered on a train locations that we frequent are listed below with websites. One is in Downers Grove, IL and the other is in Door County, WI. You always need a back up plan while on the road with kids!! We will have to add the one you suggested to the list this winter.

 

All Aboard Diner: allaboarddiner.com

PC Junction: pcjunctiondoorcounty.com

Of course one of the best known meal delivering layouts from that era (1955) was this one:

 

Mark

Mark...I always loved that video!!  What a riot!!

 

Alan

We lived in Seattle for 10 years, and visited the Iron Horse Restaurant on more than one occasion.  Loved it.  I didn't have trains at the time, so lots of memories were brought back.

And then there is always this....................... Greg

 

 

Barry NJ,

From, around 1969, to 1980, I worked in Brooklyn and at various times I would be in the downtown area by Court St., but I never knew about the restaurant you mention,

had I known, my friends, who also like trains and I would have been permanent fixtures there!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Joshua Lionel Cowan have a 'Chow Train' set up at his Mann. Headquarters building?

Mark,

I never knew that this great movie existed!!!!

Thank you,

Ralph

http://www.google.com/images?hl=&q=huntington+hamburger+choo+choo&rlz=1B3GGGL_en___US458&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ei=_PLKUqaFGsPksASB84L4DA&ved=0CC0QsAQ

TM Books and Video had a segment on one of the Lionel Nation videos covering The Choo Choo. Pretty cool restaurant.

 

Bill

Not around the corner - Prague to be exact - but here's a clip about the Vytopna Railway Restaurant:

 

Bob

Boy, that brings back memories.  There were six of us kids, my parents, and my grandfather - that's 9 - at the table during the 50's, and meals consisted of constantly passing things with one hand while trying to eat with the other.  My dad kept suggesting we set up his old standard gauge Ives set in a loop on the table, but my mom kept vetoing it.  You can guess which side I was on. 

 

 

 

 

 

Choo Choo's Restaurant
2115 Galena Blvd.
Aurora, IL

www.choochoosicecream.com

 

I have not been to this place in a few years and looks like they expanded their menu.   They have a video on their website.  The last time I went it was mostly a fast food place and I was not too impressed, but maybe it has changed.  They deliver your ice cream and food on LGB size trains.  Ken  

 

There's the Boxcar restaurant in downtown Geneva, IL. They deliver food by g scale and have one running around the ceiling too. Food is ok.

There is also a place in Bartlett, IL right next to the Bartlett Metra station called Two Toots. They deliver by lionel.  There food is better. Shakes are real good so are the hot dogs

There's a ribs place in Wisconsin Dells that my family ate at 2 years ago.  They not only delivered food, but the drinks as well!

Its called Buffalo Phils they cheat and use G gauge.

 

http://www.buffalophilsgrille.com/