Railroad Cook

Eating a tasty snack can make a long, tiresome journey seem shorter. Drivers on a tight schedule make do with quick bites, however, and airline passengers content themselves with salty, reheated foods. Railroad passengers travel in luxury by comparison, eating food prepared just for them by talented Railroad Cooks.

Many railroads have fully equipped kitchens with all of the tools and amenities normally found in a standard kitchen. A railroad kitchen may be quite small, however, so if you’re a Railroad Cook, you do your best to keep your gestures small, and you never run with knives in your hands.

Railroads often have a list of foods that you must prepare, and you study these recipes closely. While you might be tempted to experiment with recipes, you’re not encouraged to deviate from the plan in any way. Over time, you will learn to dampen your creativity while at work.

The Railroad Cook prepares for the lunch and dinner rushes by chopping vegetables, baking bread, preparing sauces, and creating soups. When an order comes in, you cook the dish quickly and place it on a plate with a tiny garnish. Sometimes Line Cooks help you prepare some of the finishing touches. Other times, you do all the touches yourself.

The exact duties of a Railroad Cook can also vary depending on the employer. Some may ask you to take orders and deliver them yourself, while others rely on Porters or Waitresses to do that work. Similarly, some may ask you to wash the dishes and clean up after meals, while others hire Dishwashers to handle those tasks.