Discussion on All aboard the dinner train / LJWorld.com

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On All aboard the dinner train

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riverdrifter 6 months, 1 week ago

Bob can call it the 'Kansas Belle' but I'll call it the 'Nowhere Flyer'. The dang thing runs right by where I hunt deer. Damn. I do hope it works out OK for them, though.

fearthephog512 6 months, 1 week ago

Cool story, but Mr. Eveland's name is Bruce ... not Bob ...

RoeDapple 6 months, 1 week ago

At $60 plus per meal??!! No flippin' way! Seems the lesson of the Hereford House is too soon forgotten, there isn't enough market for over-priced meals in Douglas county. I give it a year . . .

happypill4014 6 months, 1 week ago

$60.00 for dinner - per person?? Absolutely not!

Ron Holzwarth 6 months, 1 week ago

It cost me $38 to eat at Teller's (that included a mandatory gratuity of 18%) for just myself one evening. I would imagine that being on a train would be worth an extra $22. And, I'm sure I didn't order the most expensive item on the menu.

Qualifier: that's an approximation. The total on the ticket for just me was $37.97. I don't think I'm going to eat there again anytime soon.

clovis_sangrail 6 months, 1 week ago

I haven't been in a huge hurry to eat there, but now, knowing these is a mandatory 18 percent gratuity for even a single diner, I'm even less inclined to patronize the place.

And I usually tip 20 percent or better, but in this case, I can neither forgive nor overlook the loss of having to prerogative to do otherwise.

I would, however, try the train if that price includes the train ride.

Ron Holzwarth 6 months, 1 week ago

clovis_sangrail - I was in a group of 8 or so diners, I was not alone, and for the most part we paid separately. For a group of our size the gratuity was mandatory.

It was a very nice experience, and the food was excellent.

hyperinflate 6 months, 1 week ago

Don't think that all of Baldwin City thinks this is a good idea. Many are quite peeved that the City ponied up a "donation" as well as backed a loan to make this lead balloon fly. It'll be all over and done with in 16 months or less. Then we citizens of BC will have some fine dining cars to use for storing old tires, etc.

Ron Holzwarth 6 months, 1 week ago

Years ago, many old railway cars were converted into inexpensive housing. There was one across the street from where I lived as a child, but it was removed about 1965. As of only a few years ago, there were a series of old railway cars southwest of Lawrence maybe 15 miles that were being used as a home. They are most likely still there. And, in the movie 'Harold and Maude', Maude's home was a converted caboose.

youngjayhawk 6 months, 1 week ago

Sounds like fun! I look forward to having dinner on board when it is up and running.

attorney1776 6 months, 1 week ago

While I am generally not in favor of these type of taxpayer funded financings of private ventures or city-built industrial parks, the city is very minimally exposed here and it's a done deal. I might have been hard to convince to vote for this, but now that it is a fait accompli, let's make it work.

I say let's give these gentlemen some encouragement and support to make this a success for them and everyone in town. I have met the guys involved and they are train enthusiasts and genuinely want to offer all of us a great benefit.

Reading all this sniping and the negative comments in the Signal and LJ World is not a "welcome mat" for the risks they are taking to benefit all of us too.

Their target market is the surrounding populations within 250 miles. That encompasses a very large potential customer base that is comfortable spending $60 for a good meal and trip. And those folks will spend additional dollars in the area and provide employment for our community.

Keep in mind they ran a successful and profitable operation in Nebraska for 24 years. Part of the reason they needed financial assistance coming here was the short time frame they had to make decisions and move the equipment.

Those that complain about the shortness of the current track system should realize that as the system adds equipment and income the track system can grow and improve. Although there would be huge obstacles, a rebuilding of the tracks to Lawrence through the Vinland Valley would be great someday.

I intend to keep an open mind, refrain from criticism and give these guys their opportunity to show us what they got without insulting them upfront.

Ron Holzwarth 6 months, 1 week ago

Why don't we talk about some real money, like $600,000? In my opinion, the taxpayers of Kansas were fleeced for that amount some time ago, and not a single commenter thought a thing of it.

I was the only commenter to point out that does not appear to be a good investment, and in my comments, I detailed exactly why. And exactly no one else had anything to say. $600,000 of their tax dollars must have been pocket change to them.

Kansas Bioscience Authority board to consider investment in medical device company by Andy Hyland LJWorld.com

riverdrifter 6 months, 1 week ago

I'd wager that the dinner train succeeds. When the Midland started up decades ago, nobody gave them much of a chance. Well, they've got their little railroad in fine shape and they keep chugging away. Time will tell whether the dinner train flourishes.

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