#TBT

This week for #throwbackthursday we’re stepping back in time and exploring the history of dining on the rails. Early trains lacked food service, so passengers often chose to bring preserved foods like jerky and dried fruits.

Over time, locals began selling fresh food at stops, but quality was inconsistent. In 1868, George Pullman built the first dining car, which he named “the Delmonico.” These dining cars primarily catered to affluent passengers, providing high quality linens, fine China, and menus for a leisurely dining experience. To address the need for alternative meal options, in 1878, the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway partnered with Fred Harvey, opening the first Harvey House in Florence, Kansas. This restaurant aimed to serve quality meals quickly, allowing passengers to eat and re-board in 30 minutes. The Harvey House became America's first restaurant chain, revolutionizing rail dining.

Colorado was home to three Harvey House locations in Trinidad, La Junta, and Colorado Springs. To learn more about the history of dining on the rails, check out our past Dining on the Rails blog posts, available online - https://coloradorailroadmuseum.org/news/

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