Reply to "Trains, Trolleys, and Diners: The real story"

I may just have to rewrite the initial post for this topic. In it I wrote that converted trolleys and rail car "diner" restaurants were actually more rare than legend (and toy train manufacturers) would seem to imply. But since I've started researching this area, I'm find that there are a ton (pun intended) of refurbished rail and trolley car "diners" and cafes out there. Add to that list rail cars that are used as dining rooms and the number grows even larger. Here is a nicely documented offering from Missouri --- and by "offering", I mean that literally. The whole kit-n-kaboodle can be yours for $375,000.

Pullman BBQ, Parkville, Kansas City, Missouri

This restaurant features a rail car, a caboose, and a building that looks as though it might have once been used for freight of some sort. The complex is located next to working BNSF tracks according to one visitor. I've cherry-picked the available photos and provided links to more at the bottom. This restaurant closed in October 2018 when the owners moved the business to Kansas City proper, after less than a year in operation.

The Pullman

Said to be from the 1920s, I couldn't ID this car's prior life. (Is it a real Pullman?) This car seems to be in excellent condition inside and out. It was once blue and now is yellow with a red stripe. It looks as though the last owners tried to mimic Union Pacific livery.

Look closely at the windows in the photo below and you'll see the outlines of oval frosted/etched glass.

Interior shot -- apparently, sometimes the tables are arranged length-wise for parties. The car looks wide here but cramped in photos showing the other configuration. Notice that an opening has been cut in the right side and there are windows visible on only one side. Other photos suggest some windows remain(ed) on both sides.

Here's a photo of the window etching with a real RR scene. One diner said how great it was to eat in the rail car as it shook when a train went by.

The Off-set Caboose

Marked for the Missouri Pacific Lines but with no number visible. This class 1 line could be legit as MoPac merged with UP in the late 1990s. The restaurant, under various names, has been here prior to 1993. You can see that windows have been boarded up and some sort of welding happened on the caboose's right side (look under the roof line). Apparently it contained antiques and a variety of stuff on display for browsing. It, too, looks like it is in overall great shape.