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| Railside Dining - These are places which offer a meal and good train watching. |
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| Alabama |
Irondale, AL
The Irondale Cafe
Cafeteria style meal at the west end of NS' Norris
Yard. Covered trainwatching platform with tables and benches out front for after meal
enjoyment. Fried green tomatoes available. Great food and train watching.
- Vern Richardson & Mike Derrick |
|
| Florida |
Fort Lauderdale, FL - Florida
East Coast Main
Shirttail Charlie's
In the shadow of FEC's Ft. Lauderdale drawbridge.
They have semi-dressy upstairs in the A/C, and casual downstairs in the open air. Across
the New River is Riverwalk, which includes places like Hooter's, not that I would know
anything about that place. Both of those places offer great views of the railroad, and the
river when there aren't any trains coming. Both restaurants are far enough back from the
track that the ditch lights won't shine in your eyes.
- Jon Hollahan
Hawthorne, FL CSX JAX-Tampa S-Line MP- S701
Sonny's Real Pit Barbecue
On US301 directly across from tracks. One of the
south's premiere barbecue chains. My favorite is the sliced beef dinner with sweeeeeet
tea! Try all three types of sauce, too. Get a seat in the smoking section, if it's not
crowded, best view of the tracks. Bring your scanner in with you and lock it on 161.100.
Sonny's also in Ocala on SR200, in Starke on US301, Zephyhills on US301 and Brandon on
SR60. My video partner and I call 'em the "S-Line Sonny's". All within scanner
range of the S-Line.
- Danny Harmon
Hollywood, FL
The Islamorada Fish Company
The Islamorada Fish Company is part of the Bass Pro
Shop complex at Griffin Road and I-95 in Hollywood, FL. It is right next to the new
Tri-Rail Airport station on the CSX, and if you sit outside on the parking lot side you
can see the mainline. Pricey, but pretty good food. The real Islamorada Fish Co. was in
Islamorada (down in the Keys), and there are several pictures on the walls showing the
Overseas Railway.
- Jon Hollahan
Orlando, FL - CSX JAX-Tampa A-Line
Jungle Jim's at Church St Market
Great view from the patio dining tables. There are
also two indoor corner booths with similar view. The market is scattered with trackside
views, but this is the best!
- Kevin Andrusia |
|
| Georgia |
Cartersville, Ga
Antonino's, Quizno's, and Ross' Diner
All downtown near the tracks. Of the three I prefer
Quizno's the best. They offer great sub sandwiches, and a superb view of the tracks.
- Chris King
Dalton,Ga - NS and CSX Atl-Chattanooga Main
The Dalton Depot
In the old Western & Atlantic Depot, downtown on
CSXT and NS mainline. Good food. Medium priced.
- Frank Crowe (Chris Starnes also recommends the cajun
shrimp, not for the weak stomachs on the list!)
Dalton, GA
Trackside Diner
3 miles south of the Depot Cafe...little truckstop
...good meal...cheap.
- Chris Starnes
Douglasville, GA
Gumbeaux's Cajun Cafe
Great cajun food on the NS Alabama Div.
Atlanta-Birmingham main
- Mike Derrick
Kennesaw, GA (Big Shanty)
The Whistle Stop Cafe
The Wistle Stop Cafe is one of my favorites. It is
the only time I can get the wife to go railfanning!!! Decent hobby shop across the street
and then there is also the General museum. Houses "The General" steam locomotive
of Civil War Georgia's "Great Locomotive chase".
- Paul Amos
Kingston, GA: CSX Atl-Chattanooga Main
Can't recall the name right off hand...little
"choke & puke" joint right at the north end of the Kingston siding....good
view of tracks...decent meal....recommend the cheeseburger...right downtown, can't be
missed.
- Chris Starnes
Mableton, GA
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Standard nationwide fare for those looking for a
quick meal. On the Georgia Div. double track main just north of Atlanta 50+ trains a day.
- Mike Derrick
Norcross, Ga
Norcross Station Cafe
This cafe is an old Atlantic Coast Line depot. The
atmosphere is great and the food is excellent for the price (moderate prices). NS operates
the line running right next to the cafe - when trains pass by, you can practically reach
out and touch them. The Amtrak Crescent runs north on this line around 8PM every night and
south around 10AM every morning.
- Ed Wiley
Rockmart, Ga - NS Georgia division
The Pizza Depot
For pizza, subs and a view of the mainline. As an
added bonus, at the Pizza Depot, you can dine in an ex-Rock Island caboose.
- Chris King
Vinings, GA
New York Pizza Exchange
Patio dining during warm days with CSX W&A main
less than ten feet away. Bring your earplugs for this one!
- Mike Derrick |
|
| Ohio |
Berea, OH
The Puffer Belly
In the old depot. With both the NS and CSX mainlines
(ex Conrail) heading west from Cleveland by it, there are few dull moments.
- Scott Lindsey |
|
| Tennessee |
Emory Gap, TN
Cracker Barrel
Just south of the I-40/US 27 intersection. Front
window seats give a view looking down on the NS Kentucky Division's Third District main to
Chattanooga. With the morning northbound fleet and evening southbounds, breakfast and
supper would be excellent viewing times. Knoxville area fans give it high marks.
- Scott Lindsey
Harriman, TN - NS CNOTP Main
Shoney's
Good view with a window seat...right at the end of
double track at EG Tower,
- ?
Tullahoma, TN
Daddy Billy's
In downtown Tullahoma. Good food and great view! Not
open Sunday's. Lunch is best.
- Lee Yoder |
|
| Virginia |
Gate City, VA: NS TN division,
Appalachia district
Hob-Nob Drive In
Just west of town on old US highway 23 (rt. 870)
Great food, good prices. Right on the NS main, about 10-15 trains a day, all coal (just
west of my house!)
- Chris Starnes |
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The
initial list was obtained from the SERails mailing list with the original contributions
noted.
If you would like to add to this list, send me an e-mail. |
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