Steaming Tender Restaurant in Palmer, Massachusetts

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The nickname of the city is "Town of Seven Railroads", and one location in Palmer helps explain why. When the Industrial Revolution and rail travel began in Massachusetts, Palmer was transformed from a small rural community into a major regional transport hub very quickly. Multiple train companies existed in the 19th century, and they all competed with one another to find the best rail routes.

Springfield, the largest city in the area, was the natural choice for a rail hub. However, wealthy business owners in the city charged expensive track usage rights forcing companies to look elsewhere and eventually settling on Palmer due to its close proximity and favorable geography. At its peak, five operating railroads (Boston & Albany Railroad, Central Vermont Railway, Springfield, Athol & North-eastern Railroad, Ware River Railroad, and Central Massachusetts Railroad), one unused railroad (Hampden Railroad) and one incomplete railroad (Southern New England Railway) operated through Palmer.

The main train station designed to service all these rail lines was Palmer Union Station and when it was built in 1884, it was the 5th largest train station in the United States. It was in operation for almost a century until it finally closed in 1971 following the decline of passenger rail travel. In 1987, the abandoned station was purchased by Blake and Robin Lamothe who spent 17 years restoring and converting it into the Steaming Tender Restaurant, which opened in 2004.

The Steaming Tender is an absolute delight to visit. It’s more than just a restaurant within an old building; there’s dozens of historical artifacts on display both inside and out which makes the location double as a miniature museum and offers a glimpse into the past. The restaurant is especially popular with railfans and train watchers.

The tracks directly outside the restaurant are still active, and the outdoor dining options give customers a front row seat to watch the trains go speeding by. The staff also openly embrace the restaurant’s heritage as the wait staff all wear train engineer costumes and are referred to as such. Overall, eating at the Steaming Tender is an experience you will not be forgetting.