Hamburger Coach

[LILarry]

Hey New Yorkers

Does anyone remember the Hamburger Coach on union tpke in glen oaks

Your food would come to you by lionel trains

Does anyone know what trains they used

                                   Larry

[wjstix]

Not sure if this is the one you're thinking of (apparently more than one restaurant did that with Lionel trains) but pg.208 of Ron Hollander's All Aboard shows a picture at the "Hamburger Express" lunch counter, with the patron's food being delivered by an A-A set of Santa Fe F3's 

[Seayakbill]

There was also many years ago a burger delivered via Lionel in downtown Seattle. The kids always enjoyed their food being delivered by train. I wonder if the state health boards would approve of that service today.

[Train-O]

LILarry,

I don't know of the Hamburger Coach, because I moved into Nassau Co. in Jun.1973, but if it was still in operation at the time my wife and I moved into the Co.and we knew about it we would have been frequenting said diner often.

I believe, Joshua Lionel Cowan had a rig like that using diesel power, without causing smoke fumes, and plenty of flats to carry plates filled with food.

[cwburfle]

They had a KW transformer, mounted on the wall, red flatcars, and a trainmaster (FM).
I used to love the little boxes of chicklets they'd put on the side of their hamburger platter.

[LILarry]

Thanks for the info

My aunt was a waitress there for many years (Ella Mae)

Just remembering what a great place it was

                                                 Larry

[cwburfle]

I neglected to mention that the KW was mounted below counter height, out of the way. The train was started by a push button, and ran at a fixed speed. They never touched the transformer.  As I recall, there were several buttons around the counter to stop the train so the waitress could take the plates off, and restart it. It automatically stopped when it returned to the kitchen.

[Train-O]

Larry and cwburfle,

When was the Hamburger Coach in operation?

Thank you, 

Ralph

[cwburfle]

I lived in Glen Oaks in the early to mid 1960's.
We only went to the Hamburger Coach on rare occasion. When we went out, normally it was either Italian or Chinese food.

[LILarry]

Ralph

I believe it was there from the late 50's to the mid 70's

Don't know for the exact dates for sure

                                                Larry

[Train-O]

Larry,

It might still have been in operation by the middle 1970's.
Evidently, I never heard of it, because if I did my wife and I would have journeyed to Glen Oaks many times to be served by trains.

Just, like Hamburger Coach ceased operation, probably due to excessive costs, upkeep, and some people loosing interest, so did many model train hobby shops and clubs.

Back in 1973, when my wife and I first moved into Nassau County, L.I., N.Y. there WERE MANY model train clubs and more hobby shops, which sold model trains.

It's a shame that model trains have waned in popularity.
Just, like prototype railroads went by the wayside and not on the right of way.

Take Care,

Ralph