Retro Roadmap Writeup
When you've been a diner fan as long as Mod Betty has been, one of the things you get used to is the oft-told but incorrect tale that all vintage diners were once railroad dining cars, because of their shape and the diner/dining car similarity. This is wrong most all of the time.
Except if you're in Spokane Washington...because Frank's Diner is an actual railroad car converted into a diner!
(There are actually 2 Frank's Diner (Dining Cars) in Spokane - we made it to the one "Downtown" just before they closed for the evening, but there's also another one at 10929 North Newport Highway that is a also a railroad car.)
The interior immediately reveals itself as a train car, with stained glass clerestory windows, inlaid wood counter and windows on either side of the narrow "car."
Speaking of windows - be mindful you don't have a heart attack if you sit in this booth-!
The history of Frank's Diner's railroad car, from their website:
During the golden days of railroading, Barney-Smith and Pullman vied for supremacy of the elegant rail car business. In 1906, Barney Smith manufactured this car as an “observation car”. It remained unsold until 1909, when it was purchased by the Northern Pacific Railroad and remodeled to suit their needs as a private car for the president of the railroad.
Car NO. 1787 (this car) served as a presidential car until it was replaced in 1931.
Stranded in Seattle at the height of the depression, NO 1787 found a new home. Franks Knight, the brother and sometime partner of jack Knight of Spokane, bought the presidential car and converted it into a diner car in 1931.
We had a tasty meal of burgers and Mod B's fave BLT, and enjoyed that as one of the potato offerings you could get hash brown potatoes instead of fries.
It was hard to choose as they have quite an extensive menu and their breakfast choices are award winning!
So if you're in Spokane looking for diner food in a diner that is an exception to the diner rule - Frank's is your place!
xo
Mod B
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SusieQT
June 21, 2015 at 8:55 amThe Red Caboose Motel in Strasburg, PA also has a railroad car diner/restaurant if you want to visit one a little closer to home.
tangeria
June 19, 2015 at 9:57 amThere is also a third rail car diner in town called Knight’s Diner at 2909 N Market St, Spokane, WA 99207. All three are great!
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com
June 19, 2015 at 10:10 amThat’s RIGHT! I had that on my list to check out before we had to scoot to Couer d’Alene but ran out of time. Thanks for putting the info here on the thread Tangeria!
tangeria
June 19, 2015 at 11:05 amHey, this site is so cool, it is kind of fun to be able to contribute! =)