Past Exhibits

Harvey Girls Exhibit

When railway food was at it's worst, and passengers at their wits end, Fred Harvey stepped in and made the railroad experience a much nicer way to travel. Fred Harvey started out small, buying and transforming depots across the Santa Fe line, and soon Harvey Houses dominated the way train passengers ate en route.

A major improvement in railway meals came with the service that Fred Harvey implemented. Passengers no longer had to worry that they wouldn't get a chance to eat the food they paid for before getting off the train. Orders were taken on the train, and sent ahead to the station, where food was ready to eat as the passengers exited the train.

The biggest change of all was how the passengers were served, waitresses who were trained to serve people fast and efficiently. The Harvey Girls who are some times forgotten are a key factor in

San Diego Model Railroad Museum

1649 El Prado

San Diego, CA 92101

ph: 619.696.0199