can anyone tell me the layout of a tavern or buffet car? is a buffet car similar to safe a cafe car? A tavern car is it similar to a lounge car, but has tavern in one part of the car?
Buffet and cafe cars are terms that are likely in use interchangeably in many cases. They won’t have a full kitchen, like diners do, and generally have more informal seating arrangements, as service will be at the counter, rather than by waiter. Buffet likely will include food, while the cafe car may just be coffee, etc.
Lounge and tavern cars tend to be a little more different. A lounge car might be like a parlor car, without anything but comfy seats to distinguish it, but typically does have some sort of refreshment service, often with an attendant acting as a waiter. A tavern car always would have the bar, may or may not have waiters/waitresses.
So that’s the way I understand the differences, although I’m sure other could probably shed more detail as I’m not a passenger service expert (other than to highly recommend the parlor car service on both D&S and the C&TS narrowgauge lines [;)] as well worth the extra cost.)