I'm not so sure either restaurant would want a dinner train 20 feet away. There won't be any extra business. People would be riding a dinner train. And yes, both places make an outstanding breakfast.SousaKerry wrote:Has anybody ever heard if the JAIL was thinking of moving the dinner train from Charlotte to Lansing/Jackson? It sure would seem to me to be much more profitable to be on a route that actually goes somewhere and is longer then 2 miles. Besides the fact that the population bases are much bigger. they could even take advantage of both cities and start form opposite ends on alternate days or weekends. Jackson has the station for it and I sure a place in Lansing could be found. Heck the stations in Mason and Leslie are still in good shape and I bet the resteraunts that own them would love the extra business.
BTW the Depot Restaurant in Mason is one of the best greasy spoon's you'll ever come across even though they only do Breakfast and Lunch it is well worth it.
That said, I haven't heard they were considering changing the route, but I agree that the route change would bring it to a bigger market and make the ride a lot more interesting. Even Mason to Lansing would probably be OK in terms of length, although stopping short of crossing the CN would probably be wise operationally. Mason to Jackson and back would probably take too long. Maybe Mason to BFE and back for a southbound.
Of course, that would leave nothing on the trackage in/from Charlotte. Perhaps the end for that segment?