Kitchen Equipment

[ryan125hst]

I posted a thread similar to this many years ago, but now a number of new trains have entered service, plus a few questions weren't answered back then, so I thought it was time to ask again!

What equipment is located in the kitchens of the various trains on the network that offer a catering provision?

To start this off, having seen LNER's "Day in the Life of a Chef" video plus a few other photos of GWR's IET's, it seems that Hitachi AT300 train's large kitchen (or Level 1 as it is know) consists of:

• Four halogen hobs
• Grill
• Microwave (perhaps a Microwave oven?)
• Two combination ovens (steam capable?)
• Sink for pot washing that can be covered over to use the space as a counter
• Hand washing sink

It also seems like they have a couple of hot water boilers and a coffee maker at the end of the kitchen nearest the passengers. I presume they also have fridges but I don't know how many. Do the catering trolleys get refrigerated or do things have to be moved out of the fridge and into the trolley?

There is also a Cafe Bar on Azumas that seems to include:

• Two Microwave ovens
• Coffee Machine
• Fridges

If anyone has any photos of the above that'd be great to see.

The Transpennine Express and Hull Trains Class 802's and Avanti West Coast's 805's all have a smaller (Level 2) kitchen, taking up two instead of three windows. What equipment do these have? Only a microwave, or more equipment than this?

The new Caledonian Sleeper Mark 5 kitchen also seems to be well equipped. This photo shows a hot water boiler and toaster on the left, a microwave oven and I presume a microwave in the centre, and an oven on the right. I presume the piece of equipment to the left of the oven labelled as a "Hold-o-mat" is for keeping food warm? What's the equipment under the microwaves? A dishwasher maybe? There's something to the right of this too.

I don't think I've ever seen photos inside the kitchen of a Mark 1 RBR (Restaurant Buffet Refurbished). Does anyone have any they can share?

 

[Steddenm]

I posted a thread similar to this many years ago, but now a number of new trains have entered service, plus a few questions weren't answered back then, so I thought it was time to ask again!

What equipment is located in the kitchens of the various trains on the network that offer a catering provision?

To start this off, having seen LNER's "Day in the Life of a Chef" video plus a few other photos of GWR's IET's, it seems that Hitachi AT300 train's large kitchen (or Level 1 as it is know) consists of:

• Four halogen hobs
• Grill
• Microwave (perhaps a Microwave oven?)
• Two combination ovens (steam capable?)
• Sink for pot washing that can be covered over to use the space as a counter
• Hand washing sink

It also seems like they have a couple of hot water boilers and a coffee maker at the end of the kitchen nearest the passengers. I presume they also have fridges but I don't know how many. Do the catering trolleys get refrigerated or do things have to be moved out of the fridge and into the trolley?

There is also a Cafe Bar on Azumas that seems to include:

• Two Microwave ovens
• Coffee Machine
• Fridges

If anyone has any photos of the above that'd be great to see.

The Transpennine Express and Hull Trains Class 802's and Avanti West Coast's 805's all have a smaller (Level 2) kitchen, taking up two instead of three windows. What equipment do these have? Only a microwave, or more equipment than this?

The new Caledonian Sleeper Mark 5 kitchen also seems to be well equipped. This photo shows a hot water boiler and toaster on the left, a microwave oven and I presume a microwave in the centre, and an oven on the right. I presume the piece of equipment to the left of the oven labelled as a "Hold-o-mat" is for keeping food warm? What's the equipment under the microwaves? A dishwasher maybe? There's something to the right of this too.

I don't think I've ever seen photos inside the kitchen of a Mark 1 RBR (Restaurant Buffet Refurbished). Does anyone have any they can share?

The "dishwasher" is a glasswasher and next to this is an ice machine on the Mk5 sets. The Hold-o-Mat is a food warmer.

 

[littledude]

There’s no such thing as Level 2 catering on the UK AT300s

9 car LNER units have L1a, the largest. The 5 car LNERs have L1b, similar to L1a just smaller. TPE 802s have L1c, a completely different design of kitchen produced by the Italians.

The cafe-bar on LNER is L3 and is identical on 5 and 9 cars. Opposite L3, where the trolley is/was stored, is L4 catering. This is present on all LNER and TPE units, but it is only in use with TPE. It consists of a water tank, and docking station for hot water urns to boil the water for the trolley. LNER no longer use a trolley, hence L4 being decommissioned.

Tom

 

[ryan125hst]

The "dishwasher" is a glasswasher and next to this is an ice machine on the Mk5 sets. The Hold-o-Mat is a food warmer.

Not a bad guess then. Are ice machines used on any other UK train or is that unique to the Caledonian Sleeper?

There’s no such thing as Level 2 catering on the UK AT300s

Oh right, I thought it was one of the options. Unless I saw L1, L3 and L4 written down and assumed there was an L2 as well, which is possible!

9 car LNER units have L1a, the largest. The 5 car LNERs have L1b, similar to L1a just smaller. TPE 802s have L1c, a completely different design of kitchen produced by the Italians.

I didn't realise the 5 car units have a smaller kitchen. They still result in three windows being blanked out, with just three windows remaining in the passenger area, as with the 9 cars so I assumed they were both the same. I also notice that GWR often use 5 car sets for Pullman dining services. What is different in a 5 car compared to the 9 car?

What equipment is included in a L1c kitchen? I presume less than in a L1a and L1b?

The cafe-bar on LNER is L3 and is identical on 5 and 9 cars. Opposite L3, where the trolley is/was stored, is L4 catering. This is present on all LNER and TPE units, but it is only in use with TPE. It consists of a water tank, and docking station for hot water urns to boil the water for the trolley. LNER no longer use a trolley, hence L4 being decommissioned.

I didn't know they no longer use a trolley, I guess this came about during Covid as I think the Lets Eat at Your Seat came in then?

By being decommissioned, are they physically removing equipment from the L4 store room? Is it being repurposed, for general catering stores perhaps or luggage, or left locked and disused?

 

[ryan125hst]

@littledude Are you able to describe the differences between L1a, L1b and Level 1c kitchens?

 

[Helvellyn]

No toasters it seems. Used to enjoy the toast on VTEC/LNER breakfast trains.

 

[ryan125hst]

No toasters it seems. Used to enjoy the toast on VTEC/LNER breakfast trains.

Yeah I did wonder - no mention of toast on LNER breakfasts these days.

 

[800001]

No toasters it seems. Used to enjoy the toast on VTEC/LNER breakfast trains.

I believe the toasters are still in the kitchen on LNER. As they occasionally have Crumpets and Waffles on the menu.

A 9 car has/had two toasters and a 5 car has/had one toaster.

 

[dodecahedron67]

TPE 802 kitchen consists of two combi oven/microwaves, a couple of hot water boiler/dispensers as well as several fridge cupboards. The waffles/crumpets are done in the combi ovens and I suspect this will be the same on LNER

 

[ryan125hst]

TPE 802 kitchen consists of two combi oven/microwaves, a couple of hot water boiler/dispensers as well as several fridge cupboards. The waffles/crumpets are done in the combi ovens and I suspect this will be the same on LNER

So no combination ovens and a second oven/microwave instead is the difference, and I presume no hobs at all?

 

[trainmania100]

What is a microwave in a professional kitchen environment? Ramsay would throw it out the window at the first opportunity lol

 

[Carlisle]

The "dishwasher" is a glasswasher and next to this is an ice machine on the Mk5 sets. The Hold-o-Mat is a food warmer.

The 390 kitchens had dishwasher’s & ice machines but the dishwashers were removed some years ago.

 

[800001]

TPE 802 kitchen consists of two combi oven/microwaves, a couple of hot water boiler/dispensers as well as several fridge cupboards. The waffles/crumpets are done in the combi ovens and I suspect this will be the same on LNER

Crumpets most definitely did get done in a toaster on LNER.
And the toasters still remain in situ in the Kitchens.

 

[ryan125hst]

A 9 car has/had two toasters and a 5 car has/had one toaster.

Is that the only difference between the kitchen in a 9 car and the kitchen in a 5 car Azuma?

 

[800001]

Is that the only difference between the kitchen in a 9 car and the kitchen in a 5 car Azuma?

I think so equipment wise yes. Maybe slightly more space for the food/drink carts.

 

[Tugzrule]

TPE sets also have a large coffee machine installed that’s never seen service on any 802 or 397. Next to that is water boiler, some worktop space and a twin sink

On the other side 802s have 3 chilled cart slots in the fridge then 2 combi microwaves rather high up with worktop space below.

Beneath both the coffee machine, boiler and microwaves are ambient stock cart storage

 

[ryan125hst]

I think so equipment wise yes. Maybe slightly more space for the food/drink carts.

Thank you

TPE sets also have a large coffee machine installed that’s never seen service on any 802 or 397. Next to that is water boiler, some worktop space and a twin sink

How bizarre they aren't used. What do they use to make the coffee instead?

 

[Tugzrule]

Thank you


How bizarre they aren't used. What do they use to make the coffee instead?

I did actually forget the filter coffee machine which is what’s usually used

the bean to coffee machine proved difficult to clean onboard so there’s 31 unused over the fleet. Believe the MK5s had them too but don’t quote me on that

 

[Lyle_Lanley]

Hopefully not a thread hijack, but I didn’t think that this catering related question would potentially warrant a thread of its own … I have a pre-privatisation book about Intercity and it mentions the introduction of “Pursers” to manage the onboard catering services after the introduction of the Senior Conductor grade in 1989. How long did this “Purser” role and/or job title stay (ie into privatisation?), and was it like the RSM role that you get on XC services nowadays.

 

[ryan125hst]

Having been on the GCR on Saturday with their Griddle Car being in operation, what equipment do the Mark 1 RBR's have? I know they have propane as a fuel and I presume no electric appliances due to no ETS being available. How does refrigeration work on these coaches?

Has anyone got a list of equipment and, better still, any photos of a typical Mark 1 kitchen setup?