A buffet car (British English) or café car (American English) is a passenger railroad car, where food and beverages can be purchased at a counter.The American Railroad Passenger Car - John H. White, Jr.. p. 333. It offers a lower level of service than a dining car (also called a restaurant car in some regions), where passengers are served at tables, but requires fewer staff, reducing operating costs.
Some buffet or café cars include a seating area where passengers can consume their purchases. Typically, passengers are not allowed to eat or drink items brought from elsewhere. On trains without a seating area, passengers are expected to return to their seats to consume any onboard purchases.
History
The invention of the buffet car has been attributed to George Pullman, who desired "light refreshment" as he traveled, which the heaviness of a diner or restaurant car didn't satisfy. In 1883, Pullman ordered the first buffet cars for the West Shore Railway- although there were cars that offered light refreshment before this point.The American Railroad Passenger Car - John H. White, Jr.. p. 333. The introduction of buffet cars, and other sorts of "semi-diners" like cafe cars, grill cars, sandwich cars, etc. reestablished Pullman in the food trade. Full diners were rare in the Pullman fleet, but cars offering "light food" were much more common- for example, in 1933, Pullman was operating 64 restaurant cars, 171 buffet cars, and 137 cars that also offered light food.The American Railroad Passenger Car - John H. White, Jr.. p. 333.
After 1955, dining cars- which were heavy, and expensive to run- were infrequently built in the USA, although semi-diners such as buffet cars continued to be built and offer food to customers.The American Railroad Passenger Car - John H. White, Jr.. p. 331.
See also Bar car British Rail coach type codes Buffet Lounge car
References
Further reading Banger, Chris (March–July 2004). "On-train Catering in New South Wales - 1921-2001." Australian Railway History, pp102–118;123-141;188-198;222-237;264-279