Dining Car China Collection

Highlights from the china patterns currently on display.

Some items are backstamped with date of manufacture.

Florida East Coast Mistic Pattern Oval Platter

Florida East Coast Railway

Pattern: Mistic
Item: Oval Platter

Manufacturer: Syracuse
Date of manufacture: February 1945

Florida East Coast Seahorse Pattern Bowl

Florida East Coast Railway

Pattern: Seahorse
Item: Bowl

Manufacturer: Sterling
Date of manufacture: Circa 1950

Seaboard Air Line Orange Blossom Pattern Dinner Plate

Seaboard Air Line Railroad

Pattern: Orange Blossom
Item: Dinner Plate

Manufacturer: Syracuse
Date of manufacture: June 1951

Atlantic Coast Line Palmetto Pattern Bowl

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad

Pattern: Palmetto
Item: Bowl

Manufacturer: Warwick
Date of manufacture: November 1924

Atlanta Coast Line Flora of the South Pattern Oval Platter

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad

Pattern: Flora of the South
Item: Oval Platter

Manufacturer: Buffalo
Date of manufacture: Circa 1942

Backstamp below

Southern Railway

Pattern: Piedmont
Item: Soup Bowl

Manufacturer: Buffalo
Date of manufacture: October 1964

Southern Railway

Pattern: Peach Blossom

Item: Oval Platter

Manufacturer: Buffalo
Date of manufacture: Circa 1942

Pennsylvania Purple Laurel Pattern Oval Platter

Pennsylvania Railroad

Pattern: Purple Laurel
Item: Oval Platter

Manufacturer: Scammell
Date of manufacture: Circa 1930-1940

New York Central Mercury Pattern Dinner Plate

New York Central Railroad

Pattern: Mercury
Item: Dinner Plate

Manufacturer: Syracuse
Date of manufacture: November 1951

Pennsylvania Liberty Pattern Oval Platter

Pennsylvania Railroad

Pattern: Liberty
Item: Oval Platter

Manufacturer: Syracuse
Date of manufacture: February 1922

Chesapeake and Ohio George Washington Pattern Service Plate

Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad

Pattern: George Washington
Item: Service Plate

Manufacturer: Buffalo
Date of manufacture: Circa 1932

Baltimore and Ohio Centenary Pattern Dinner Plate

Baltimore & Ohio Railroad

Pattern: Centenary
Item: Dinner Plate

Manufacturer: Shenango
Date of manufacture: Circa 1950

Norfolk and Western Yellow Bird Pattern Oat Meal Bowl

Norfolk & Western Railroad

Pattern: Yellow Bird
Item: Oat Meal Bowl

Manufacturer: Shenango
Date of manufacture: January-June 1952

Pullman Car Co.

Pattern: Indian Tree
Item: Plate
Manufacturer: Syracuse
Date of manufacture: April 1947

Great Northern Mountain and Flowers Pattern Dinner Plate

Great Northern Railway

Pattern: Mountain and Flowers
Item: Dinner Plate
Manufacturer: Syracuse
Date of manufacture: March 1961

Great Northern Railway

Item: Placemat

Description: Great Northern Country - Food Basket
Date of manufacture: Circa 1960

Illinois Central Pirate Pattern Service Plate

Illinois Central Railroad

Pattern: Pirate
Item: Service Plate

Manufacturer: Syracuse
Date of manufacture: September 1968

Illinois Central Coral Pattern Oval Platter

Illinois Central Railroad

Pattern: Coral
Item: Oval Platter

Manufacturer: Syracuse
Date of manufacture: September 1960

Chicago & Northwestern Flambeau Pattern Bowl

Chicago & Northwestern Railroad

Pattern: Flambeau
Item: Bowl

Manufacturer: Shenango
Date of manufacture: Circa 1970

Milwaukee Road

Pattern: Pioneer
Item: Dinner Plate

Manufacturer: Syracuse
Date of manufacture: November 1956

Milwaukee Road

Item: Placemat

Description: Milwaukee Road Green Route Map
Date of manufacture: Circa 1958

Milwaukee Road

Pattern: Traveler
Item: Dinner Plate

Manufacturer: Syracuse
Date of manufacture: March 1958

Backstamp below

Great Northern Glory of the West Pattern Oval Platter

Great Northern Railway

The Empire Builder was the railroad's premiere passenger train, started in 1929 and named after James J. Hill, who was nicknamed 'The Empire Builder' for creating a successful, privately funded transcontinental railroad.

Amtrak continues to operate the Empire Builder between Chicago and Seattle/Portland.

Pattern: Glory of the West
Item: Oval Platter

Manufacturer: Syracuse
Date of manufacture: June 1953

Backstamp below

Great Northern Glory of the West backsta

Santa Fe Railway

Pattern: Adobe
Item: Dinner Plate
Manufacturer: Syracuse
Date of manufacture: January 1951

Santa Fe Railway

Item: Placemat
Description: Principal Routes of the Santa Fe Railway

Date of manufacture: Circa 1960

Santa Fe Railway

The Super Chief was a luxury passenger train operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway from 1936 to 1971. It was known as "The Train of the Stars" because it was a favorite among Hollywood celebrities traveling between Chicago and Los Angeles.

The Super Chief was celebrated for its streamlined design, luxurious accommodations, and exceptional dining services.

The dining car china used on the Super Chief was part of the Mimbreno pattern, designed by Mary Colter of the Fred Harvey Company in collaboration with R. Guy Cowan of Syracuse China. This china featured stylized animals and borders inspired by ancient Native American designs from the Southwest. The distinctive red and white pattern added to the elegance and prestige of the dining experience on the Super Chief.

Pattern: Mimbreno
Item: Dinner Plate

Manufacturer: Syracuse
Date of manufacture: May 1953

Backstamp below