Eastern Railroad Discussion > Trackside Dining - From "Ho-Hum Plain" to "Illegal Exotic"

The recent "Donut Run" video reminded me of all the times that I/we have grilled and cooked along busy railroads.  Yes, TO is filled with posts about trackside motels and restaurants with views of passing trains.  However, this post is filled with pictures of true trackside dining; no menus, restaurant bills or wait staff..

A small propane grill has flown in my suitcase many times to such far away places as Colorado, Wyoming, and California ...... without the propane cylinder of course.  The grill has never been flagged by TSA security.

1.  The first saved picture was a trackside picnic taken in the summer of 1969, somewhere in the Southern Tier of NYS where the Erie Lackawanna crossed another railroad on a bridge.  Because it was cheap, the meat of choice was chuck steak ......which was "hand-eaten"..

2.  In 1988,  another railfan couple joined us for a more elaborate picnic lunch at Mance, PA..

3.  In March of 1993, my brother and I flew out to Techachapi, CA where we cooked breakfast overlooking the "Bealville Crossovers".

(many more pictures to come; please be patient)

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4-6.  Two months later in 1993, we drove to Copper Creek, TN where we camped and dined along the Clinchfield (CSX) and the NS where coal trains ran day and night..

 

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7&8.  More exotic dining was had in 1995 at the Mance Traing Camp (MTC).  

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9-12.  Exotic turned to "illegal" in October 1995 when I "low-crawled" to nail a turkey with my .243 rifle.  Turkey parts were draped with bacon and baked in an RV oven, then devoured by hand. washed down by copious beer.  All evidence of the bird was moved well away from the MTC.

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13&14.  May of 1996 had us back at Cajon, CA  where "Hamburger Helper" was used.

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15-18..  April 1997 had us again flying to Cajon where we changed venues, but the menus remained similar.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/24 08:23 by cinder.

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19.  My wife cooked a more civilized dinner in our RV at Mance, PA in November 1997

20..  Wind was usually a problem on Cajon & Tehachapi. (Cajon 2000)

21.  My brother fashioned a portable "trunk table" for the rental car.

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 I remember those venues well.  First photo was a few miles east of Sayre/Waverly where the Erie Lackawanna crossed under the abandoned Lackawanna  and paralled the LV Owego=Sayre line. That chuck steak was TOUGH...but hey...Cornell was expensive.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/24 08:58 by mp208.

Hey...those "lobbies" don't need no nut crackers.  Train 135 is approaching around the bend!

"The wings of November came early'"

That hand-eaten chuck steak looked really good.

23.  Crawford Hill, WY,, 10 days after 9/11.  No problem with the  grill packed in the suitcase.  We drove three miles along the r.o.w. up around the curves near the top of Crawford.  Always lots of bacon!. 

24.  Cooking on a kerosene heater in the MTC at Mance, PA.

25,  Mance breakfast sandwich.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/24 13:53 by cinder.

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26.  April 1996 - Tehachapi.

OK, now it's time to share your trackside food memories ................



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/24 13:47 by cinder.

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The lobsters lined up on the rail gave me a good laugh. Thanks.

cinder Wrote:
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> 26.  April 1996 - Tehachapi.
>
> OK, now it's time to share your trackside food
> memories ................

Pizza from a local place, eaten on the hood of the car (Corunna, IN) or on the depot platform (Batavia,NY).

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These are great! Thanks for sharing. The memories we make trackside last forever. The lobsters looks great!😋

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When I lived in Arizona, a few of us would go camping at Canyon Diablo.  We had the permission of the Santa Fe to be on their property.  Hobo Stew was the order of the day.

My reaction is a bit of LOL combined with a measure of respect for dedication shown in these photos. Well done.

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