What can you realistically do in an IEP kitchen?

[Egg Centric]

There's surprisingly little info about the technical details of this online (as opposed to the consumption of the results of the technical details!) so I started a thread. I found photos of a GWR IET kitchen and an LNER one here where the perspective has been used in a bizarre way to make it seem about 5 times the size it presumably is.

Anyway the facilities seem kind of rubbish - like trying to hold a dinner party for thirty in a studio flat*, but more extreme. On the other hand, it will be professionals operating in there, not dingbats like me who need two ovens, a microwave combi, a kettle, and two hobs simply to make a Sunday roast for a couple of people. Is anyone able to expand more upon this? I note that GWR's pullman option gets rave reviews here but a) it's not hard to make a steak (especially if you start it sous vide but there's no evidence of that in the pics so I assume it's grilled as there is one there) and b) we're all inclined to rate everything on trains perhaps a little over enthusiastically.

*Am referring here to the typical cooking facilities in a studio flat, not the dining space. Imagine the flat has a very large garden with an appropriately sized table perhaps.

 

[tomuk]

There's surprisingly little info about the technical details of this online (as opposed to the consumption of the results of the technical details!) so I started a thread. I found photos of a GWR IET kitchen and an LNER one here where the perspective has been used in a bizarre way to make it seem about 5 times the size it presumably is.

Anyway the facilities seem kind of rubbish - like trying to hold a dinner party for thirty in a studio flat*, but more extreme. On the other hand, it will be professionals operating in there, not dingbats like me who need two ovens, a microwave combi, a kettle, and two hobs simply to make a Sunday roast for a couple of people. Is anyone able to expand more upon this? I note that GWR's pullman option gets rave reviews here but a) it's not hard to make a steak (especially if you start it sous vide but there's no evidence of that in the pics so I assume it's grilled as there is one there) and b) we're all inclined to rate everything on trains perhaps a little over enthusiastically.

*Am referring here to the typical cooking facilities in a studio flat, not the dining space. Imagine the flat has a very large garden with an appropriately sized table perhaps.

They have a hob why can't they fry the steak in the traditional way?

 

[Nym]

They have a hob why can't they fry the steak in the traditional way?

Time and skill...
(Also the pre su de vie means lower quality meat can be used.)

 

[Hadders]

They have a hob why can't they fry the steak in the traditional way?

Given the ride quality of the IETs would you really want to fry something on a hob? Can't see it ending well!

 

[Hairy Bear]

Toast........and lots of it !

 

[Western 52]

At least they have a fridge in there to chill the beer for the trolley!

 

[northernbelle]

There's surprisingly little info about the technical details of this online (as opposed to the consumption of the results of the technical details!) so I started a thread. I found photos of a GWR IET kitchen and an LNER one here where the perspective has been used in a bizarre way to make it seem about 5 times the size it presumably is.

Anyway the facilities seem kind of rubbish - like trying to hold a dinner party for thirty in a studio flat*, but more extreme. On the other hand, it will be professionals operating in there, not dingbats like me who need two ovens, a microwave combi, a kettle, and two hobs simply to make a Sunday roast for a couple of people. Is anyone able to expand more upon this? I note that GWR's pullman option gets rave reviews here but a) it's not hard to make a steak (especially if you start it sous vide but there's no evidence of that in the pics so I assume it's grilled as there is one there) and b) we're all inclined to rate everything on trains perhaps a little over enthusiastically.

*Am referring here to the typical cooking facilities in a studio flat, not the dining space. Imagine the flat has a very large garden with an appropriately sized table perhaps.

The kitchens are quite well appointed to be honest, which makes it a pity they aren't used to greater effect. From memory, they include 4 x ceramic hobs, 1x grill, 1 x combi microwave, 2 x steam ovens, 1 or 2 toasters, 1 or 2 coffee brewers, hot water boiler, plate warmer, chilled cart storage, washing facilities, refuse and recycling and various ambient storage areas. The kitchen area also includes a crew locker area and two crew seats behind the driving cab.

On GWR Pullmans I have heard comment about the amount of dedundancy that is designed in - for example if an oven fails then there's either a second oven or a good chef can cook in other ways such as under the grill or in a pan. On HSTs kitchen equipment failure was often the weak point as there was generally no alternative way of preparing food if something broke. It always seemed to be an "all or nothing" scenario with them.

There was something in the original IEP spec which said how many dinners should be provided in a certain amount of time by the design although can't remember what it was now.

 

[Master29]

Considering on the vast majority of journeys with GWR they remain unused more seats is what should be done....Oops. I`ve said too much.

 

[Hadders]

Considering on the vast majority of journeys with GWR they remain unused more seats is what should be done....Oops. I`ve said too much.

Agreed. Either install more seating or use the space for luggage.

 

[jamiearmley]

I have heard some idle gossip that using the microwave on an Azuma can knock out the electric supply to the whole carriage. Probably just wibble ...

 

[irish_rail]

The trouble is, you still need a staff area plus somewhere to make coffee etc. So adding more seats, you aren't going to get many more , it really wouldn't be worth the hassle of doing it, unless you go for the nuclear option and make the trains completely DOO without any catering whatsoever , in which case the whole area could be removed. But that wouldn't really be palatable on trains that do 5 hour plus journeys.

 

[Benjwri]

I have heard some idle gossip that using the microwave on an Azuma can knock out the electric supply to the whole carriage. Probably just wibble ...

One would assume the microwave itself was fused and so this wasn’t possible, but given its Hitachi who knows.

Regardless probably just a one off failure which triped a fuse for a wider area, could happen on a short circuit from many things.