Grand Central History

Grand Central History

Grand Central Terminal, is a sight that contributes to all the wonders of New York. Whereas, some people dream of witnessing this sight, as for others, the Grand Central Terminal has become a routine for commuters. So what exactly is the history behind the Grand Central Terminal and why was it created? The first Grand Central Depot was initially created in 1871, which was the pivot for several railroad lines in Manhattan. However, several complications became among this, where it wasn’t until 1902 where it had become clear a change had to be brought. For a while New Yorkers complained of soot and smog left by the trains, it became a problem where a traumatic accident occurred. It was January 8th, 1902 when a commuter train crashed into another train, killing 15 passengers. When found that the origin of the crash was solely due to of the clouds of smoke blinding the driver, the people demanded change where politicians then announced plans to forbid steam engines from the city. With that, the family that created the Grand Central Terminal quickly rushed to make changes. The Vanderbilts then announced they would be creating a new state-of-the-art that would use electric rather than steam trains. The system then moved from above-ground to underground creating a business boom that made Midtown Manhattan we know today. The creation of The Grand Central Terminal then became of the largest construction projects of Manhattan, It’s 70-acre compound had 32 miles of track, which led into 46 tracks and 30 passenger platforms, making it nearly twice the size of the recently-opened (and original) Pennsylvania Station built by the Vanderbilt’s railroad rivals. The system of the Grand Central Terminal had made were then instituted into tons of transportation spots centers across the world. Now as I said before, the Grand Central Terminal is one of the many wonders of New York, so I would highly recommend visiting.

By: Nethma Iddamalgodage