Altoona in Blair County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
PRR Class D78F Dining Car No. 4468
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 6, 2009
1. PRR Class D78F Dining Car No. 4468 Marker
"You had to be a waiter - a good one - to work in the Dining Department. You worked 16 and 17 hours a day. Half the time we had to sleep in the dining car."
- James Corbett, Dining Car Waiter
For passengers, eating aboard a train was always an exciting part of travel. For the workers who served them, it was very demanding. In 1941 alone, the PRR served 3.9 million meals. In the World War II years, they served five times that many.
This Altoona-built restaurant-on-wheels served "peach pie baked on car today."
The rolling kitchens were marvels of efficiency. Besides fixing food-to-order like any restaurant, they baked bread, rolls and pies from scratch. A typical 1930's menu offered double-rib lamb chop for 55’, filet of lake trout for 75’, liver and onions for 90’, and sirloin steak for $1.75.
In 1930, most of the PRR's 176 dining cars were like No. 4468 here. Class D78 diners like this one were built between 1911 and 1929 in Altoona.
A one-day shopping list for the PRR included 847 pounds of ham, 575 dozen eggs, 750 lamb chops, and 1,695 loaves of bread.
At 81 feet long,
this page online
Later, this car was modernized to contain a 32-seat dining area and a 10-seat lounge.
At the height of railroad passenger travel, more than 1,700 dining cars operated in the US.
Besides meals, diners sold Coca-Cola, playing cards, tobacco, aspirin, carbonated water, and Bromo-Seltzer (for when you ate too much pie).
Erected by Railroaders Memorial Museum.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Man-Made Features • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1941.
Location. 40° 30.826′ N, 78° 23.981′ W. Marker is in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in Blair County. Marker is on the grounds of the Railroaders Memorial Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1300 9th Avenue, Altoona PA 16602, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Posy Gang (within shouting distance of this marker); PRR Class X29L Steel Boxcar No. 2136 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Master Mechanic (within shouting distance of this marker); PRR Class N5 Cabin Car (or Caboose) No. 477577 (within shouting distance
Photographed By Unknown, undated
2. Photo on PRR Class D78F Dining Car No. 4468 Marker
[Caption reads] Chef Preparing Dinner. Virginia Museum of Transportation Collection.
Also see . . .
1. Pennsylvania Railroad Shops and Works, Altoona, Pennsylvania: A Special History Study. NPS website entry (Submitted on March 20, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. PRR Dining Car Department Cooking Instructions. PRR Railfan website entry (Submitted on March 20, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. PRR Standard Cooking and Serving Instructions (May 1932). PRR Railfan website entry (Submitted on March 20, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. Railroaders Memorial Museum. Museum website homepage (Submitted on March 20, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By PRR Company, 1939
3. Image on PRR Class D78F Dining Car No. 4468 Marker
[Caption reads] PRR Schedule, 1939. Fleet of Modernism. DC Collection
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 6, 2009
4. PRR Class D78F Dining Car No. 4468 and Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 20, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,378 times since then and 121 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 20, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
