In Wisconsin, north of Milwaukee, there is a bar with a deck near the crossing of two lines (I think the ex-Wisconsin Central line and ex-CNW). It is a true tain watcher’s paradise. It has a nice elevated deck, you can see westbound CNW/UP and both north and south bound WC/CN. I have only been to Wisconsin three times, so I forgot the name of the bar.
In Indianapolis, there is a great–but very pricey–restaurant called Dunaways. In the summer, it opens up the roof, which is about four stories. If you sit on the north end of the roof, you can see a great view of downtown Indy train action. The CSX line is very busy. If you are going to spend $100 per person on a meal, with fine wine, you might as well do it with a great view of trains.
Anyway, my question:
Does anyone else know where there are bars–preferably with decks–or restaurants where you can go grab a nice cold beer, order some wings–or in the case of Dunaways, spend a few $100–and watch trains with a great view?
Especially significant is Illinois and Indiana locations. Iowa would be great too. One of these days, I will make it there and explore.
Thanks,
Gabe
P.S. I can name about 100 restaurants near the tracks, but sadly none of them have a great view of the tracks. For some reason the owners thought windows facing the streat are more asthetic than those facing the tracks. Go figure?
As of 2001, there was a bar in Swansea Il (technically considered Belleville I believe) called the “Sidetrack”. It is where hwy 159 ( N. Illinois St.) crosses the NS mainline. There is a nice deck out front that was about 100’ form the mainline, if not less. The beer was cold and cheap, and they had good food. It is under new management now. The great thing about this place is it was only a couple of blocks from my house. They had a great pool table too. I don’t know if that is still there.
Sheesh…under the heading of “you learn something new every day” let me tell ya a little story.
When I saw Gabe’s question, I immediately thought of Monari’s 101 Club in LaSalle, IL. Has the former Rock Island (now Iowa Interstate) running right in front of the place. As I recall, there were/are windows facing the tracks. But the windows are a little high, and the action on the line would be considered light, I would think.
But I wasn’t certain if it was considered a bar…so I yahoo’d a website and sure enough they have one. Bar is open til 2 am!
NOW…I always figured that the place was called Monari’s “101” club because they were at milepost 101 on the aforementioned Rock Island. Silly me. The Club’s ADDRESS is “101!” (doh!)101 First Street, I think.
According to a Rock Island website I just visited, LaSalle is at milepost 99, so I was not too far off in my original thinking. Yep you really do learn something new every day.
A side note: they always advertised their place with the slogan “you think this is easy?”…which I never really got when I was growing up. Now that I run my own small business, however, I get it.
I will also add that there are quite a few bars (mostly night clubs) in Laclede’s Landing in St Louis that have decks that face the elevated line that runs along the Mississippi River. This is the same ROW that runs practically under the Gateway Arch. It is best to go during the day when things are a little quiter on " The Landing".
Yes it is at 101 First street in Lasalle il. and i think the tracks are CSX,and just below that area is the Old CB&Q used now by Illinois railnet Inc.Was there last week as i still have family there.I think Iowa rail has just rights thru to Chicago.Was not to long ago the train derailed there and took part of there canopy down
This thread appears to be one right down my alley - so to speak. I know of a place, right here on the Forums - Classic Trains, General Discussion - called “Our” Place. It’s a bar 'n grill, right by the tracks and is for those of us who appreciate railroading AND the atmosphere of a tavern. Lots of good conversation, pix and great guys.
Whoops! Didn’t mean to slight the CSX fans with my post. Jjohnieray is correct, of course, those are CSX tracks through La Salle and Iowa Interstate would have trackage rights. Thanks for the correction. Sorry about that.
You beat me to it. It was about 15-ish years ago that a train derailed and came within a few feet of taking out the front part of Monari’s.
Another bar, west of Monari’s (behind Maze Lumber) is the Riverview. When its warm out they have a pretty expansive deck open with a view looking down over the tracks. Excellent food and some really nice people running the place.
Come to think of it, there are a lot of pretty decent places all up and down the IL Valley along the ex-RI tracks. Just too bad there’s hardly any trains.
Northsides Tap in Valparaiso is next to the CN tracks (GTW). Further, it is right across from the GTW depot AND…at the very crest of the world famous Valpo Hill.
There is a deck and the crowd is a young group.
Total trains per day would be about 30 (24 hours). The food is typical bar food.
Gabe, the first round is on me.
Next stop would be the Wheeler Inn in Wheeler In, about 10 minutes west. The NS (NKP) and CFE are across the street. No outside deck, but the food is really good.
Finally, on our world tour, we will stop at Duffy’s in Valparaiso, which is also by the NS (NKP) line. College crowd, particularly the law schoolers…gabe you will no doubt fit in.
There is the bar and grill at Duplainville, WI next to the CP tracks and within sight of the CN crossing. I keep forgetting the name, but I know how to get there!
Not far from the Kalmbach offices, it has some favor with the Trains Magazine staff. I believe that the Quadgraphics plant that prints the Kalmbach magazines is right in that neighborhood. How’s that work for a reason to stop there for lunch.
I imagine this is one of the few areas of train watching where you can still regularly see a set of B units and caboses. Something tells me there isn’t a real good window to view trains in these places though.
