Service Plate. In the great age of railroad passenger service, dining cars often featured service plates on dining car tables. A service plate is basically a piece of china that indicates a place at the table; it is usually not actually used for eating. Some railroad service plates were beautiful works of art, and surviving pieces are a major focus of railroad china collectors. Few service plates were as beautiful as the Illinois Central Railroad's "French Quarter" series of service plates. An example is shown here. COLLECTIBLE VINTAGE RAILROAD CHINA DINNER PLATE BY BAUSCHER CHINA GERMANY FOR THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL SYSTEM FEATURING FAN WINDOW IN CLAIBOURNE COURT TOULOUSE STREET NEW ORLEANS.PLATE IS ABOUT 10 1/2" IN DIAMETER.VERY NICE CONDITION.MARKED ON BACK AS SHOWN IN PHOTO.ARTHUR SCHILLER & SON. there is what looks like a crack only visible on the back part of the plate which pictures will be included of and price has been adjusted enormously for. only visible on back of plate, if displayed it will be unseeable