Platform | Observation Parlor | Guest Room | Beebe Room | Bath | Clegg Room |
Dining Room | Virtual 180° Dining Room View |
Galley | Crew's Hall | Crew's Quarters | Vestibule | Meet the Staff

The Virginia City Interior - Galley

Just beyond the dining room, a doorway to the right leads to an appreciably less lavish area that is shared by the car's two attendants, usually a chef and steward. The kitchen is pretty much as it was when the car was reconfigured in 1955; an under-the-cabinet coffee maker and a microwave oven are the only two appliances that have been added. In addition to the specially designed cabinets, spice rack and customized storage for pots and pans, the kitchen also features a wine cellar for fifty bottles of wine and champagne. A few of the original pots and pans remain with the car as it would be almost impossible to purchase new ones to fit the spaces allotted. In our History section you can see the type of dinner menus that were created for Mr. Beebe and Mr. Clegg in their heyday!

The original set is the Belgian version of Le Cruset, and has served the car well for almost 50 years now. Many wonderful gourmet menus are still created in this kitchen!

The car's O'Keefe & Meritt stove operates on propane gas, and is one of the great mysteries of the car's reconfiguration in the 1950's. Looking at it as it stands now, the only way that they were able to get it into the car (let alone the kitchen) was to have brought it in in pieces! More than likely, the stove was built inside the car. Also, as far as I know, this is a very rare example of a O'Keefe & Meritt professional range. In other words the two forward burners have two settings: off and incendiary, to facilitate searing and fast sauteing. The rear burners offer a more moderate heat for gentle steaming, simmering, and stewing. The oven is cavernous and can easily handle a 16-pound turkey, a large baking dish of broccoli and cheese, and a dozen rolls to boot! And for the sake of efficiency, the oven also doubles as a broiler!

Happily, the car also has a stainless steel deep sink for cooking and washing up the dishes afterward. The counter space next to the sink is enhanced by a fold-up counter between the sink and the wine cellar. When you need the extra space when setting up your plates, it's there in an instant. When you don't need it anymore, it's gone!

The very small room behind the small kitchen is the Crew's Quarters, and is not to be missed!