Nostalgia & History > Switching South Anaheim 1980

In this 1980 view SW 1500s 2459 and 2568 switch the industries at South Anaheim. The crossing is Katella Ave. To the right was a railroad themed restaurant which featured an 0-6-0 narrow gage steam engine. Does anyone know where the steam engine came from and where it is now?

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Carl's Jr. founder Carl Karcher wrote an autobiography (iirc When You With Upon A Star) and he mentions a railroad-themed restaurant he tried as an experiment in the 1970s. Located somewhere in Orange County, it was called the Whistle Stop.

The building was shaped like a station and decorated with all sorts of railroadiana. The waiters (dressed as engineers) would take your order at your table and then place the paper order on a model train that would wind it's way to the short order cook in the kitchen. (Carl didn't mention what scale.)

He admits the idea flopped and he moved on to other ideas like Green Burrito.

Sure wish I could've seen that place!

VenturaBob

N&Out Burger never tried a rail theme restaurant, but one year to celebrate its anniversary, the firm assembled a train of private varnish for employees to ride between L.A. and San Diego. I secured an invitation on the premise that the special coincided with a Santa Fe anniversary in Orange County that was not otherwise being commemorated. Managers flipped burgers for passengers in the grill car that was part of consist. Ever since, they are my preferred franchise burger chain.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/23/10 23:47 by SteveD.