Roadside Distractions 

VICTORIA STATION 

I miss the Victoria Station restaurant at Oakland’s Jack London Square. The unique railroad themed restaurant, made up of a eclectic collection of actual boxcars and an iconic caboose, was easy to spot near the busy mainline. The creative concept of a British Railway themed restaurant chain began as a hotel administration graduate project by Bob Freeman, Peter Lee and Dick Bradley. The trio’s first restaurant opened in San Francisco in 1969 after several years of fine tuning, obtaining of funding, and obtaining historic British Railway artifacts. Restaurant guests were greeted in the central lobby featuring railway station decor and seated in one of the authentic boxcars or in the always popular caboose. 

In less than ten years the highly successful enterprise had ninety seven company owned franchised Victoria Station restaurants spread across the country offering delicious prime rib, steaks, BBQ ribs, and  “Victoria Shrimp”. Johnny Cash even produced an album of train songs that were sold in the restaurants that included the original song Destination Victoria Station. The highly successful branded chain flourished in the 1970’s culminating in a joint venture with Hollywood’s Universal City establishing a signature restaurant at the “top of the hill” that included a funicular railway ride that carried hungry patrons six hundred feet up to the one of the most popular and highest grossing restaurants in the United States. Victoria Station ran into financial problems in the mid-1980’s resulting in the gradual closure of under performing  restaurants and ultimately the filing for bankruptcy protection. The last remaining restaurant closed in 2017, ending the opportunity to dine in an authentic boxcar.

I really miss Victoria Station.                                      -Bill 4/24

VICTORIA STATION

Unique and exciting restaurants featuring Prime Rib and Potable Spirits. Dine in authentic boxcars and cabooses decorated  with historical 

British Railway artifacts.

Circa 1970’s Victoria Station Postcard from the collection of Bill Ralph