Dinner train facts for kids
A dinner train is a special kind of tourist train where you can enjoy a meal while taking a fun, relaxed train ride. Unlike regular trains that rush you to a destination, dinner trains are all about the journey itself! You get to eat delicious food and see the sights from the train window, usually on a round trip.
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Dinner Trains: A Unique Adventure on Rails
Why Are Dinner Trains So Popular?
Dinner trains have become very popular, especially in the United States. Many people love them because they bring back a feeling of nostalgia for old passenger trains. Train travel used to be much more common in the U.S. than it is today.
Riding a dinner train offers a completely different experience from driving a car or eating at a regular restaurant. It's a unique way to spend time with family and friends.
The First Dinner Train
The very first dinner train in the United States was called the "Supper Chief." It ran on the Sierra Railroad in California back in the 1970s. This service was later brought back in 1999 as the Sierra Railroad Dinner Train.
How Dinner Trains Operate
Today, there are over 80 dinner trains operating in North America! Most of these trains run during certain seasons or a few days a week. However, some are so popular that they run every day, or even twice a day on weekends.
Most dinner trains use older passenger cars and travel on tracks that are not used very often. The trips usually last about 2 to 4 hours. They almost always return to the same place where they started. This is because the main goal is to enjoy the experience, not to reach a specific destination.
Some dinner trains even use steam locomotives for their journeys. These old-fashioned engines add to the historic feel of the ride. Dinner trains usually travel slowly, between 10 and 25 miles per hour. This slow speed allows passengers to relax and enjoy the scenery.
More Than Just Dinner
Besides serving dinner on a scenic route, many dinner trains offer extra fun activities. Some trains host special events like:
- Wedding receptions
- Family reunions
- Company outings
- Murder mystery events, where passengers try to solve a pretend crime during dinner!
Different Ways to Enjoy a Dinner Train
While most dinner trains serve meals right on board, some "dinner trains" do things a little differently. For these, the food might be served in a building or outdoors after the train reaches a certain stop. Then, passengers get back on the train for the return trip.
This is often the case for narrow gauge railways. These trains have smaller cars, which can make it tricky to prepare and serve formal meals while moving. Examples include the Puffing Billy Railway in Melbourne, Australia and the Lahaina, Kaanapali and Pacific Railroad in Maui, Hawaii.
