When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Original two-sided Pennsylvania Railroad dining-car promotional handout advertising meals, snacks, children’s menus and PRR souvenir merchandise.
The dining-service side opens with:
“Did You Know…”
It informs passengers that the dining car remains open throughout the day, whether or not it is a regular mealtime. Available refreshments reportedly included hot and cold beverages, sandwiches, soup, cheese and crackers, salad, pie and ice cream sundaes in addition to full-course meals.
CHILDREN’S MENU AND TOY DINING CAR
The lower section invites passengers traveling with children to ask the steward for a free souvenir children’s menu.
The menu folded into a realistic toy Pennsylvania Railroad dining car and offered junior-sized portions of breakfasts, luncheons and dinners at junior-sized prices. An illustration of the streamlined PRR dining car appears prominently on the sheet.
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD SOUVENIR ORDER FORM
The reverse is headed “Something Special” and illustrates merchandise formerly offered through the Pennsylvania Railroad Dining Car Service.
Available souvenirs included:
King-size 15-ounce decorated glasses
Gilt-edged 9-ounce glasses
Stemless Roly Poly cocktail glasses
Railroad-signal drink stirrers
PRR keystone playing cards
A gold-colored ornamental rail spike
The glasses were priced at $3 for a set of six. Playing cards were offered at $1 per deck or $1.90 for a two-deck bridge set. Six signal-shaped drink stirrers cost 50 cents, while the individually wrapped gold-colored rail spike sold for $1.50.
The unused order form is addressed to:
“Sidney N. Phelps
Manager, Dining Car Service
Pennsylvania Railroad
Long Island City 1, New York”
APPROXIMATE DATE
No publication date is printed on the sheet. The address uses the older numbered postal-zone format “Long Island City 1, New York,” rather than a five-digit ZIP Code. This supports production before the introduction of ZIP Codes in 1963.
Its graphic style, dining-car presentation and merchandise prices are consistent with a likely 1950s date.
This is an appealing piece of Pennsylvania Railroad passenger-service ephemera documenting both onboard dining and the souvenir products offered directly to passengers.
This listing is for the single original two-sided promotional sheet shown. None of the illustrated glasses, playing cards, stirrers, rail spikes or children’s menus is included.
ITEM SPECIFICS
Railroad: Pennsylvania Railroad
Abbreviation: PRR
Approximate Date: Circa 1950s
Subject: Dining-car service and PRR souvenirs
Named Employee: Sidney N. Phelps
Position: Manager, Dining Car Service
Address: Long Island City 1, New York
Type: Two-sided passenger-service promotional sheet and order form
Color: Green and black printing on cream paper
Theme: Railroad Dining, Passenger Trains, Railroad Original
Country of Manufacture: United photographs, screenshots and reference materials are not included in the sale.
