Dining Car to the Pacific
The “Famously Good” Food of the Northern Pacific Railway
By William A. McKenzie
Softcover, 8.5x11" landscape format, 176 pages, 85 b/w photos, 150 recipes. 2004.
"In a prevailing atmosphere of optimism and excitement, workers broke ground for the transcontinental journey of the Northern Pacific Railway in 1870. Recalling a time when travelers were treated with geniality and respect, Dining Car to the Pacific is a tribute to the most unforgettable part of the rail journey westward - a meal in the dining car.
"William A. McKenzie offers a lavishly illustrated and richly detailed account of hospitality on the NP - a service that many considered to be the best in the industry - drawing on sources ranging from railroad records of the 1860s to anecdotal accounts from the people who were there. In addition, McKenzie includes more than 150 authentic recipes used on the line, such as
- the Great Big Baked Potato,
- Washington Apple Pan Cake, and
- Northern Pacific Fruit Cake.
"Dining Car to the Pacific will be a treasured addition to the libraries not only of historians and cooks, but also of anyone with nostalgia for the dining car experience."
"William A. McKenzie (1926–2003) worked for nearly thirty years as an editor, public relations manager, and corporate historian for the Northern Pacific Railway. He spent two years as a consultant to its corporate successor, Burlington Northern Inc., organizing the company's archival records. His wife, Violet, has standardized and tested each of the recipes for use in modern family kitchens.
