A beanery sits close to the yard or depot, serving coffee, pie and quick meals to crews on short layovers. The word covers any greasy-spoon diner near the tracks, from a counter inside a depot to a booth across from the crew hotel, and crews hit the beanery while waiting on their train.
Heard on the job
We've got two hours while they fix the power, let's walk over to the beanery and get some pie.
Also heard as
- lunch counter