Seattle, Washington: Orient Express: FDR's Train Car
A Chinese restaurant, lounge, and karaoke bar/disco inside a warren of seven decommissioned train cars, including one used by President Roosevelt during his 1944 reelection campaign.
- Address:
- 2963 4th Ave S., Seattle, WA
- Directions:
- On the west side of 4th Ave S. just north of S. Hanford St. The most brightly colored building in the neighborhood.
- Hours:
- M-F 10:30am - 2am; Sa 11am - 2am; Su noon-2am. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 206-682-0680
- Admission:
- Free to look.
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In the SoDo district of Seattle sits Orient Express, a Chinese restaurant, lounge, and karaoke bar/disco completely inside of a warren of seven decommissioned train cars. One car in particular used to belong to former President Franklin D. Roosevelt (in which he traveled around the country during his 1944 reelection campaign), aptly marked "FDR'S PERSONAL CAR" on the side.
The restaurant was first called Andy's Diner and was opened by Andy Nagy and his nephew Andy Yurkanin in 1949. It originally had only one rail car, but over the years expanded with cars salvaged from Seattle City Light, the city's power utility.
Orient Express is also supposedly one of the most haunted places in Seattle. An angry ghost is rumored to haunt the place, making lightbulbs explode above the owner when she expressed her disbelief in the supernatural.
[Kapten Hanna, 03/31/2020]
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The FDR car is the one at the south end of the restaurant, and still has its end-car platform for whistle stop campaign speeches.