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(PD) Drawing: Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company
In 1869 Pullman-Standard filed patents covering two different dining car designs. The "hotel-car" (top) combined sleeping and eating accommodations in the same car, while the "improved dining-car" (bottom) provided meal service only.
(PD) Image: Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad
An 1894 print advertisement for Pullman dining car service on the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad.
(PD) Photo: Anders Beer Wilse
A restaurant carriage (dining car) operated by Norway's Norsk Spisevognselskap A/S in 1926. Meals, though relatively expensive, were available to all classes of travelers.
(CC) Photo: Robert A. Estremo
The cramped, yet efficient galley aboard the former Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway dining car #1474, the "Cochiti." The car (now restored to its mid-1940s condition) made its debut as a part of the road's Super Chief-2 inaugural consist.
(CC) Photo: Robert A. Estremo
The pantry aboard former Santa Fe dining car #1474, the "Cochiti." Over a million meals were served in the 36-seat car, which remained in service through the late 1960s.
© Image: Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
A breakfast menu from the first eastbound run of Santa Fe's Super Chief on May 15, 1936 is exemplary of the type and quality of the offerings available.
© Photo: George Votava
Built for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) in 1920, the heavyweight dining car "St. Petersburg" is pictured at the Manhattan Transfer station in January, 1937.
(PD) Diagram: Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company
Details of the kitchen, dining room, and lounge of a streamlined (lightweight) version of the ACL diner car "St. Petersburg" are provided in these builder's drawings.
© Photo: New York Central System
Built by the Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company for the New York Central's 20th Century Limited, this car was divided into four distinctive dining sections (seating 64 persons at tables) and featured a lounging ante-room and steward's office. Industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss was commissioned in 1938 to design the streamlined train sets in the Art Deco style.
© Image: Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company
A 1947 print advertisement for the "new Pullman-Standard diners" extols the virtues of the company's revolutionary car layout wherein tables are placed on a bias.
(CC) Photo: Chris Guenzler / TrainWeb.com
The "Plaza Santa Fe," built by Pullman-Standard in 1950 as Pleasure Dome-Turquoise Dining Room (a favorite of film stars and other notables) bar/lounge #503 for the Santa Fe's premier Super Chief streamliner.