Leuthey's Kitchen Denver, CO in Tales of the Jointed Track

Leuthey’s Kitchen was a staple in my early railroad life. It was close to the Yard office and the Roundhouse. I lived in northeast Aurora, CO at that time. It was usually a 25 to 30 minute drive, to work depending on the call, and the time of day.

it was hard to get in there between 600 pm and 730 pm due to the clientele, and its popularity. It was located in an older area of North Denver , off of Federal Blvd and 50th Avenue. This building was housed in an older set of storefronts. There was a Beauty Salon, a Gun Shop, Luethey’s Kitchen, a Small Appliance repair shop, and two other store fronts I can’t remember. On the corner of Federal Blvd and 50th Avenue, was a gas station. It was at one time a Phillips 66, and the funny thing, when I was small my late father worked there part time. From 600 to 1000, weekdays and on Saturday, as a second job. I don’t know what it is now or if it still there.

The original owners were Swiss and their last name was Leuthey. So, it was a Swiss / German style of place. It was small for a diner or restaurant. There were about 12 stools at the counter, with a break in between them to access the work station for the waitresses. Along the north wall was about maybe 10 or 12 booths.

Depending too, on the lunch and dinner crowds, there was two to three waitresses working the tables and counter. Two were stalwarts, that I remember. One was a tall slender woman, about early to mid-sixties, and a a short German woman. The tall one, was a cranky old gal. I usually got the sneer, if she waited on me. She slowly warmed up, not much though, after the German gal told her I worked for the railroad. The German woman, my mom knew her. my mom and her husband would come in to eat from time to time. My mom was from Bavaria and she was from the North central region of Germany. So they yapped in German, much to the chagrin to her husband, which did not speak the language. She knew that I worked for the railroad, and she treated me well and made sure my order came out quick. The funny thing about her, was if it was busy, she’d place the ticket in the window, recite the order, and yell out, WRITE IT DOWN!!!.

The Coal Load, Extra 77, and Leuthey’s Kitchen 1978:

I am still working the Pool, south to Pueblo. It is a 530 pm call, so I am out on, or close on 10 hours rest. I am ready to go, when the call comes in. I head to Leuthey’s for dinner. There are stools at the counter, and the crowd hasn’t gathered yet. A familiar figure sits next to me. It is Ronnie Harrop, a C&S engineer, he is called for 540 pm on an Extra 77 to Cheyenne,WY. The German lady is working the counter.

In a thick german accent, she asks, “You guys called out for work today?” We answer and she takes our order. Now at Leuthey’s, all was included. Soup or salad, the entree, and pie, cake or ice cream for dessert. The pies and cakes were homemade and baked there. The dinners were all scratch made as well. I usually got the Weinerschinzel, because IT WAS REAL VEAL, not pork. It also wasn’t one of those tenderized processed patties either. it was the real thing. She goes to the window in her usual fashion. She barks out the orders and hands in the tickets. In a loud voice for the whole place to hear, “THESE RAILROAD MEN ARE CALLED FOR TRAINS, GET THOSE ORDERS OUT!!! WRITE IT DOWN!!!”

Ronnie and I talk, he thinks this Extra 77, is a slough drag and will have work at Loveland. Depending on the the southbound traffic, he may be waiting at Broomfield siding , North Yard (2.2 miles north of Ft Collins, not Rio Grande North Yard) or Norfolk siding. Probably for train 78, which arrives Denver between 1030 pm and 1230 am. Me, a standard coal load. We may or may not add one in the coal tracks. never know, i will report, like Ronnie to the 23rd st Roundhouse.

A good meal with a fellow rail, our trips to begin soon.

Last updated October 25, 2018