Railroad Bread

November 22, 2007 1:29 PM

My grandfather remembers his mother making a type of bread called railroad bread from the 1930s or 1940s. Every major holiday we hear about this type of bread and now how he can not find a recipe anywhere. If anybody has a recipe or remembers this elusive bread any information on it would be use full. Thanks in advance.
posted by lilkeith07 to Food & Drink (7 answers total)

A Google search for "railroad bread" recipe turned up a result for a request on another site for a recipe by the same name. The site called it a type of "Ficacia." Looking up Ficacia gave a corrected spelling of Foccacia.

Recently I made my first loaf of bread from scratch and have browsed many recipes. I wonder if "railroad bread" is known by another name?
Depression Bread?
Hobo Bread?
posted by bonobo at 2:05 PM on November 22, 2007

According to this website, "railway bread" is another name for Irish soda bread.
posted by iviken at 2:06 PM on November 22, 2007

Sorry, the spelling is Focaccia.
posted by bonobo at 2:10 PM on November 22, 2007

I'd have to wonder if this bread involves Bisquick, as Bisquick originated from the railroad dining cars.
posted by dr_dank at 5:03 PM on November 22, 2007

What does it look like? What are some of the ingredients?

Is it possible it's also called Railroad Cake? It's plain like pound cake, and has a bready texture. Here's a recipe from the Civil War era, and an updated one.
posted by iconomy at 6:28 PM on November 22, 2007

You sure he doesn't mean Pullman Bread kind of like Pullman trains?
posted by dancinglamb at 8:47 PM on November 22, 2007

A recipe for Pullman Loaf (if that's what your grandfather means).
posted by dancinglamb at 8:50 PM on November 22, 2007