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Teresa,

I think the recipe is simple enough and it is similar to the famous white manna in NJ, which is easier to find online.

It's fresh ground beef, in balls of about 1.5 ounces or so, maybe 2. They are griddled over a bed of grilled onions, some salt and pepper. They use the smash method, a real subject of burger debate. I think it works on this genre. Last up a potato roll, more of a dinner roll size.

I would try this on a griddle like for pancakes. And I think the onions are steamed or parcooked first.

Apparently the concept of Electric Train burger places was popular in those days. I fondly remember going to a place in Huntington, NY, with my Grandpa in the mid to late 1970's. It was called Hamburger Choo Choo, and it was on Main Street, Rt. 25A.
This article got me thinking, and I had to Google the old place - it burned down decades ago, was replaced by a sucession of restaurants, and is now an upscale Japanese place.

http://talk.nycsubway.org/perl/read?subtalk=89525

There were tables and booths but the main attraction was sitting at the counter and having the train deliver your food. If I recall correctly there was also an elaborate model train display that ran around the entire restaurant along the top of the walls.

Hey Chief,

I certainly know about Cincinnati chili but am sticking with my statement that Coney Dogs are indeed a Detroit area staple. Just searching for "Coney Dogs" and no other term brings up a lot of Detroit references. The always dubious Wikipedia discusses the Michigan area and the large number of Coney places.

A more reputable source, a Chicago Tribune article "The Coney story: How Detroit went to the dog," details the area's unofficial food. A Google search for "coney dogs" and "Detroit" brings up 8,910 hits, where a search for "coney dogs" and "Cincinnati" only yielded 1,380.

Personally I hate Coney dogs as they usually use a disgusting and cheap chicken blend hot dog, like an Oscar Mayer or a Eckrich. I'm still a Jersey Boy at heart and I'll take Texas Wieners all the way from Johnny & Hanges!