For those new to this place, Jeffrey´s Trackside Diner is the place for you to go to relax and talk off topic about most anything - as long as you stay within the forum rules, which means certain hot button topics are excluded. Please refer to Steven Otte´s post on Forum Policies. Everybody is welcome to participate in the Diner !
The staff - that´s Zoe, Chloe, Flo, Janie, and Brunhilda — is very friendly and will serve up plenty of virtual diner fare with a smile. Just don´t forget to leave a generous tip! Now and then, our host Steven Otte chips in and brings along some goodies for us to try - which is always heartily welcomed!
Come in and sit for a while, ALL are welcome.
As always, in rememberance of our fallen but not forgotten comrades, here is the RIP Track:
Mexico’s railway history starts in 1837, but by 1880 there were only 400 miles of track in service. Indeed, the line started in 1837 wasn’t in service to Veracruz until 1873. Unlike the USA and Canada, neither the Mexican economy nor the terrain favoured building railroads.
In 1880, the Mexican government began offering concessions to U.S. and British companies willing to build Mexican railroads. Development was not that rapid but eventually the Mexican railways were connected to the U.S. at Nogales, Arizona and Laredo and El Paso in Texas.
Given that the Mexican railways were primarily controlled by American and British companies, they were mainly devoted to north-south commercial trade. The majority of lands in Mexico were already devoted to agricultural use so the railways did not change the country like they did in Canada and the USA.
Eventually, Mexico did develop a national railway system. By 1910 there were 11,800 miles of track. More on that later.
My first time across the Rio Grande. I’m headed out to see if I can find any of the old Century and Broadway Limited Pullmans. Scores of them were bought by N de M all through the 1960s. Wish me luck. Maybe I’ll find one that I can adopt and take back to Ohio [8D]
Ah, tequila!!! I have had more than my share of that stuff. When we lived in Chatham, Ontario in the 1980s we developed a really close knit group of friends who liked to party!!![D][B][Y] We would regularly have tequila partys where we would down shots of the stuff until our legs were wobbly. Don’t ask me how we got home! We were young and dumb!![D)]
I have never seen a bottle with the fabled worm inside. I can only imagine how that tradition got started![+o(]
Have a challenge for Steven Otte and all you other foodies out there. Show me some good Mexican food!
I’m not a fan of Mexican food, with a few exceptions. I love guacamole and I love burritos (without the refried beans please) but anything else that I have tried hasn’t inspired me, not that I have tried a lot of Mexican food.
So, show us your favourite Mexican dishes, including the recipes if you can, and explain what it is great about them if you will.
In the spirit of sharing recipes, here is our version of the ingredients for a good burrito:
Well cooked ground beef or beef/pork sausage combo with garlic, paprika, chili peppers and a healthy dollup of extra beef concentrate flavouring (which is not exactly healthy given the salt content but it tastes great).
Roasted corn (on the BBQ with Old Bay seasoning).
Home made salsa: Chopped fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, avacodo, celery and green onions, with Loblaws (Canadian grocery chain) ‘No Name’ Light Italian dressing and garlic, pepper and salt.
Chopped lettuce.
Shredded nacho cheese.
Sour cream
They taste great! I don’t know how authentic they are.
Mexico has a long Indigenous history. It is identified as one of the first 6 cradles of civilization. The first humans arrived 10,000 years ago. They formed the Maya and then the Aztec civilizations. Both the Maya and the Aztecs created amazing monuments to their cultures. Their Pyramids and temples were huge, almost rivaling those in Egypt. The canals built around Mexico City were wonders of engineering.
Unfortunately, Mexico was taken over by the Spanish in 1521. The Spanish converted millions to Christianity, but the indigenous populations were heavily exploited in order to mine the rich deposits of gold and other precious metals. The Spanish became rich as a result of their exploitations.
Mexico became an independant state after the Mexican War of Independance in 1821, but the following years were far from stable. Texas separated from Mexico in 1836, and further assaults on Mexican independence occurred through to 1910. In 1910 the Mexican Revolution established a new governing party, the Constitutionalists. In 1929, the Institutional Revolutionary Party gained power and governed Mexico as a one-party state untill 2000.
Okay, enough history! Let’s start talking railroads! Please tell us what you know!
My latest discovery is “Élote” or Mexican Street Corn. Traditionally seasoned right on the cob, grilled as Dave mentions. But for simplicity (and neater eating) I like to cut the corn off the cob then toss it in to the cheese and seasonings. There are quite a few recipes for it via Google.
We have fresh cilantro which really adds some flavor and I give it a twist of lime just before serving. I substitute a cheese called Queso Fresco, a soft, white cheese. Chili powder and/or paprika is good in it as well. Try it, you’ll like it!
My old neighbor John was Mexican and that man could cook. Homemade tamales was a start at 5 in the morning all day event. They were so good[dinner] One of his other Specialties that is so simple is Mexican corn roasted on the grill, spread Hellman’s mayonnaise, roll in white cheddar and parmesan cheese with a light dusting of cayenne. Authentic was goat cheese.
John told me about back in his party days how his friends would fight over the worm. The next weekend they partied, one of his friends said things will be better this time, we left the worm in the van[:P][(-D]
Dave, The original old world tequila was developed by the Spaniards in the 1500’s around the time of the invasion. They were running out of Brandy and had to find a substitute.
Mezcal was born, that is the tequila with the worm in it. All tequilas are derivatives of mezcal but not all mezcales are tequilas.
My railroad knowledge of Mexico is limited honestly. I know a lot of American narrow gauge equipment ended its days in Mexico, since it was cheap to purchase second (or third) hand. I believe several RGS and Rio Grande locos were standard gauged ( a standard gauge 490series Mikado looks weird, even though it was a Standard to begin with!) I believe a few EBT coaches ended up there as well.
Since my last visit:
My condolences for Neil, what a loss.
I saw posts asking about the EBTs plan for the 14th and 15th of this month. Well, they ran their consist to test the new trackwork yesterday- the M7 (Centercab steel mill diessl), the rider cars built from boxcars, the open cars, a caboose and parlor car #20, so 7 cars. Steam is supposed to return in 2021, with 16- which hadn’t run since 1956. Coach 8 is currently having part of the frame rebuilt,and the turnbuckles tightened to reduce the sag in the car. I saw yesterday the Colorado railroad museum steamed up RGS #20, a loco that had a 14+ year 1.5 million dollar restoration. It hasn’t steamed since 1951. Today is the public debut of her.
Work is slow due to the obvious reason,but im still full time and just purchased a good bit for my layout, and T trak. Ive got three consists now for the N scale setup now. I expect some layout work today- PA is gonna have a monsoon. Ive also been burning off 300 calories and 16 miles a day on my bike. Going by calorie loss, Ive lost 5lbs already. Closer to 145 than before
I’ve been lurking but have had naught to say so I didn’t. I’ll have the breakkie burrito and a coffee please Chloe. Thanks to Dave for moving and setting up the diner in our new location.
IIRC Ed Murphy had moved to central Mexico from Hamden in my back yard. He had posted some good pics way back when in the diner (when it was still Elliots I think). I’ve never been and frankly don’t intend to go.
I developed a taste for Mexican food when I lived in California and actually eat more of it now since it works well with my dietary restrictions and yes I like the refried beans as well as the rest of it even if it doesn’t present well.
Wisconsin trip was ok if bizzare as no-one seemed to wear masks so I go back in Tuesday to retest. The flight out and back was more stringent as the airports and airlines required masks and Southwest is running their flights so you can leave the center seats in each row empty. Now if they’d only fix the seat cushions.
Not much else to add but belatedly Garry I am glad your operation went well. I am in the shop today doing some stuff on a friends car. Long story with it but I won’t bore you. Ciao, J.R.
I too thought I did not care for “Mexican” food until I tried the real thing. The same experience with sushi/sashimi. When made by the genuine ethnic chef or someone who learned from that type of chef I venture to suggest one would enjoy any food from any culture, based on those experiences. Any style of food can be poorly prepared leaving the impression that it is that type of food that is not preferred.
My particular favourite “category” of ethnic food, or from my own culinary background for that matter, is what I call peasant food. Food probably prepared by a mom (or moms) far in the distant past who was short on ingredients and maybe nutrients as well. It’s cheap to make food made from ingredients that may be a little questionable but all put together and cooked up into what is now a traditional dish from that culture. Enchiladas are my particular Mexican favourite. I now know why having the whole enchilada is important…
Dave: Thank you for moving the diner. It must have been hard to get it over the Atlantic and the South of the border so quickly. Great job!
One of the great advantages of living in Florida is the huge population of immigrants we have, and the foods they brought with them.
The Cuban Restaurants are what we are famous for, but the Brazillian, Columbian, Puerto Rican, and Mexican restaurants are all just as good.
I have only been to Mexico once, but the food there is just like the food we can get here in Florida, if you know where to look.
There are Mexican restaurants all over Florida where they prepare Mexican food to be eaten by Mexicans. It is very authentic in flavour and atmosphere.
My favorite Mexican restaurant is Contreras in Labelle, and I am always the only person in there speaking english. I cannot read most of the menu. I just fumble my way through it and order my food. Everything I have had there has been just fantastic.
Easier to access… if you are ever in Florida on I-75 South of Tampa… get off at exit 240 and head East to the city of Wimauma… There is a little Mexican take-out restaurant there called Taqueria Del Sol that will amaze you.
If you want Americanized Mexican food… Try Capital Tacos in Tampa. Mind blowing Mexican fusion Austin style tacos.
I would imagine the Mexican food in California and Texas is just as good.
Dave … Thanks for moving the Diner to Mexico … It is good we are honoring Neil who had retired there.
JR … I recall Ed Murphy when he posted here in the Diner. I remember he posted very interesting photos of Mexican trains as he went railfanning there. I remember, too, he sent some very good virtual oranges to the Diner from his grove.
I have been to Mexico three times, and I do not have expert knowledge of the country. I will say, I have favorable impressions of Mexicans who I have met. I like Mexican food, and I have been to countless Mexican restaurants.
If there any Mexicans out there who are looking in, I would encouarge them to particpate. We will welcome them. Interntional participation is good.
One of my first trips to Mexico was as a geology student in college. We were staying at the Copper Queen hotel in Bisbee, AZ, and touring the mines in Douglas.
The hotel bar closed at 1:00 a.m., so we headed across the border to the Mexican bars.
One thing we didn’t think about was coming back into the U.S., at 3:00 a.m., with quite a bit of tequila under the belt, and nothing but driver’s licenses as IDs. The border agent was not happy, but I guess he figured that this was such a stupid story from a bunch of drunk college kids that it must be true.
My other trips to Mexico have all been great. The people were welcoming, and the food was great.
My last trip there was two years ago. We drove to Puerto Peñasco to stay a few days. In the evening, the shrimp boats came in, and at the docks we could buy all the fresh shrimp we wanted, for literally pennies a pound.
I don’t think we have any plans to return, since we still have so many other places to see and a declining number of years to travel.
My only trip to Mexico was earlier this year. We went to Cozumel, an island off the east coast. That was the embarcation point for our Caribbean cruise. It was one way, so we didn’t return through Mexico.
No trains out in Cozumel, but we did see a local freight on one of the Caribbean islands.
We went out for Mexican food last week, one of the higher end places. Nice setting, but the food was not impressive. I prefer the place just down the street that has beer and plain old beef tacos. Fish tacos are fashionable, but not satisfying to me. Are fish tacos every served in true Mexican places?
N de M had a decent roster of 4-8-4 Niagaras. These were built in 1946 at Alco right along side the New York Central’s thoroughbreds. The only difference is that you could see these monsters still running in September of 1966!
