Nostalgia & History > Anyone know the "Railroader Restaurant" in San Bernardi

I've just heard about one of those "made from train cars" restaurants which used to be on 2nd Street in San Bernardino. Anyone have a photo? I always have fun trying to recognize the car types under the new paint schemes (which are usually made-up.)

I haven't heard about this one, but Monterosso's Italian Diner in Richland, WA, is sure worth the visit.

Fred Harrison
Central Point, OR
CORPpower/JSS/EORS

Yes I've been there many times back in the 70's and early 80's. From what I remember, some of the cars were heavyweights. But you guessed it: No pictures and I lived there for over 18 years.

Adam

There was once a Railroader Restaurant in Claremont (Calif) on Indian Hill Bl. at Interstate 10 (1980s). It too, disappeared, and what I'm sure are the same cars showed up at a business park in nearby Upland; two UP passenger cars and a SF caboose (I think on Ninth St. between Benson and Mountain...?).

Then, of course, there was the Depot Restaurant in Claremont as well, which came and went even earlier.

Mark

mwbridgwater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There was once a Railroader Restaurant in
> Claremont (Calif) on Indian Hill Bl. at Interstate
> 10 (1980s). It too, disappeared, and what I'm
> sure are the same cars showed up at a business
> park in nearby Upland; two UP passenger cars and a
> SF caboose (I think on Ninth St. between Benson
> and Mountain...?).
>
I used to see this one when passing on the 10 (the passenger car I could see was about the same shade of blue as the famous model railroad, "Virginian & Ohio" often featured in Railroad Model Craftsman.)
By the time I drove ON Indian Hill the first time, everything was gone.

There was a "Railroader Restaurant" in Riverside, CA. Had many a delicious burger there with my Dad, often on the way home from an afternoon chasing trains around Cajon, Colton tower, etc.
I never took a picture nor do I recall the exact location.

The Railroader in Riverside was on Magnolia near Brockton, as I recall. Great food and enormous portions of french fries. They didn't last too long--probably a better cook than a businessman.

Winston Hill

The following information comes from the "Private Passenger Car Annual Volume I 1980".

They list "Railroader Restaurants" in:
Claremont - ex-UP coach #528 and ex-UP club-lounge-dorm #6104
Hemet - ex-UP coach #573 and ex-UP coach #590
Pomona - ex-UP/OSL coach #695 and ex-Pullman 6 Double Bedroom Diner-Lounge "COMMODORE"
Redlands - ex-UP club-lounge #6204 "GREEN RIVER"
Riverside - ex-UP #5111 and ex-UP club-lounge #6205 "MOJAVE RIVER"
San Bernardino - ex-UP coach #530 and ex-UP club-lounge-dorm #6103

Each restaurant was named "CITY OF _________"

I believe the one in Claremont is still there, since I have seen it when riding Metrolink's San Bernardino line. The ones in Redlands, Riverside and San Bernardino are gone, and I personally have not looked for the ones in Pomona or Hemet.

Bob

Hemet moved west to Romoland. not sure if its still open.
Romoland is where the layover facility for Metrolink Perris Valley Line will be built.

bobc19024 Wrote:
----------------------------------------------------
> I believe the one in Claremont is still there,
> since I have seen it when riding Metrolink's San
> Bernardino line. The ones in Redlands, Riverside
> and San Bernardino are gone, and I personally have
> not looked for the ones in Pomona or Hemet.
>
> Bob

As I wrote above, the one in Claremont has been gone since, I guess, the late '80s sometime. I believe the cars went to the business park in Upland that I mentioned. I really have to question the existance of one in Pomona... can anyone confirm one was in that city?

Not sure what it could have been that you saw in Claremont, Bob. There's no parked railroad equipment of any sort (especially old) anywhere around.

Mark (50-year Claremont/Pomona resident)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/11/11 18:33 by mwbridgwater.