DINERS ON YOUR LAYOUT

From around the time when Lionel moved production to China....

Peter

 I have had a number of diners on the layout over the years. The Twin Whistle is probably 20 years old. No. laser   cutting back then. Lots of cutting and fitting. It recently got moved to what I call RR Ave. . It was once on a country road and now it resides just outside the city rail yard. I had two other diners in another portion of the RR. The first one was one from my wife. It was actually a working telephone if you chose to use it as one. It was actually a fairly well detailed close to O Scale Diner. The one that replaced it was an aluminum K-Line one. That got removed as well and was replaced with a Grill and a few other structures. I did detail the interior of it. I need to get a period menu printed to place behind the counter. Both of these areas do have a modeled sidewalk that resides on the edge of the layout. The road and what is parked there is left to your imagination.

Perhaps someday, I might get around to finishing this stainless steel (actual) diner that has been collecting dust on my layout. The kit that was offered by Miller Engineering years ago.

I fiddled with my Miller Engineering Diner kit for years, but finally finished it. It's different from any other kit I've ever built.

Interior lighting is very bright.

Ken

Here's mine!

I'd like to have a model of a local joint: 29 Diner

An early layout version.

Thanks to all for posting. Interesting...

MELGAR

The Miller Engineering model sure looks great. Hadn't seen that one before. 

bigtruckpete posted:

The Miller Engineering model sure looks great. Hadn't seen that one before. 

Wish they still made it!

Miller has discontinued numerous products they once made. It's an unfortunate circumstance for many modelers. I wonder why they discontinued such superb models.

I too have the Joe's diner phone, the sounds make it a hit.  It replaced one of those K-line kits that I was trying to detail.  I added some stainless steel duct tape to the corners, hexagon floor tiles was even installing some toy details behind the counter.  Never finished that one.  Think about buying a Lionel Irene's diner so both the wife and I are represented on the layout.

Mine is scratch built....the White Tower is too...I found the plans in an old model RR mag....The Tin Plate Diner is made from a Lionel 610 passenger car.

Here's the Starlite diner on a friend's layout. There's paving work going on in the lot....I hope those cars plan on being there for awhile!

Coalyard Andy's is an all night place down near the coal yards that attracts all sorts of folks.

These folks may have been indulging at the Star Grill earlier and are in need of some strong coffee and blotting paper (Andy's home fries) as the dawn is breaking.

Several years ago forum member Frank Knautz was taken down his layout and selling the buildings he had on it.  I bought a couple of them, including this diner.  These pictures are of it while still on his layout.  Unfortunately, its still in the box he sent it in.

  Gene I liked the Bellerose Diner.  I lived behind the Bellerose Diner in Queens ,N.Y. for over 20 years.

Choo-Choo Mike....Yeah I grew-up on 240 Street and we hung out at the original Bellerose Diner and the Bellerose Bowling Alley...I live in Mass now...If you would like to chat about Bellerose contact me at    genemaag@yahoo.com

Wow!  I'm so glad that I stumbled on this topic!  Coincidentally I just ordered the Whistlestop Diner kit from Model Train Stuff minutes ago.  When I did a web search for more photos and information on the kit, I got this hit.  

In case you are unaware, I started a Forum thread for real diners that used to be trolleys and railcars a while back.  It also includes photos of "real" diner buildings and train station restaurants: Diners, Trolleys, and Railcar Topic. The photos and info might inspire some modelers.

Everyone's posts here are certainly inspiring me. But I only have a carpet layout. Thus, my options are limited to "story telling" using an odd rail car or scale figure.  Here's what I ordered along with the diner kit for some of those stories:

Woodland Scenics Farmer's Market set so that my diner will have fresh produce.  I can also use the figures and objects for accessorizing a RR commissary if I ever have room for a train station.

Preisers Railroad Personnel (with waiter and etc.) and an Arttista milkman; and unpainted cows, sheep, and goats for more Farm to Table fun at the diner and my PRR dining car.

Lastly, an Arttista Pizza Delivery Boy figure for the diner so that the PRR dining chef (Chef Chuck Wagon) can order out.

MELGAR, I liked your vertical wood slat adaptation to the sides of the Whistlestop kit in your initial post's pictures.  My plan is to do something to fix the windows.  The proportions seem incorrect and could benefit from a band of 1940's Worcester Lunch Car-style orange stained glass at the top.  This will be my first kit, so I'll have to see how successful that will be.  My web search says the prototype diner was in Malden, MA.  I'll see whether I have any photos.

Tomlinson Run Railroad

banjoflyer posted:

I have the telephone diner "Joe's diner": (this picture isn't mine)

I also have this combo from years ago:

Mark

Mark,

That K-Line looks like an update on this plastic Marx example: 

Marx Diner Model and Accessories

Tomlinson Run Railroad