New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-17
Is THERE DANGER AT THE GRAND CENTRAL
DEPOT
ALL TRAINS CROSS EACH OTHERS TRACKS AT FIFTY
THIRD-sT


The recent railroad accidents, and particu-
larry the collision on the 9th of July Long Island,
have attracted attention TO extraordinary bnner or
defect the gcmonts at the Grand Central Depot
which may be most briefly stated by saying that the
depot built not exactly wrong side foremost, but Win
the passenger rooms ticket offices baggage rooms etc.
oil placed exactly the opposite sides from where they
should be. Thus it happens that the outgoing trains
which arc compelled to the DEPOT the western
aide, In order to be next the ticket ofhee ana pas
sengers waiting rooms, must necessarily cross
20 the eastern side for the trip, in order
90 Keep TO tho right the law OF the
railroad requires. So the incoming trains, which
on their trip necessarily been on the western SHE OF
TIE tracks are compelled TO the eastern side of
the depot order TO reach the baggageroom and the
outlets for passengers arriving BY consequence every
train either leaving or entering the Grand Central Depot
must necessarily the tracks for the trains going in
the opposite direction. This they do at Ffy-thirdst,
few hundred yards above the upper end of the depot
yard The various tracks in the depotyard gradually
converge until above the yard there only two tracks
which run a distance nearly parallel to each
other aud then at Fftyhrds cross each other in the
form OF an X and Immediately after again run parallel
There can doubt that this arrangement involves
certain elements of necessary danger, which no amount
OF precauton escape. Every possible precauii0n
seems ~ have been taken The crossing at ffty-thrd
st. In full view distance both above and below
70 thai approaching each other can be seen in time
by the engineer Constant and vigilance ON the part
OF tho employees are OF necessary also, and this
watch.ulness appears to be strictly maintained The
trains on t, part Of the line very slowly probably
not faster than six miles hour and the consequence
OF collision could in be very serious except to the
Company. The whole route from tine depot To Harlem
Is further guarded by electric sgnasSnd the approach
of train is announced al each street crossing mile
ahead it, that warning given In time TO avoid any
collision. Mr.. Toucey, the Superintendent, OF whom
inquiry was made relative to the reports this subject
says that since the opening OF the depot in November
1871 to the present time accident has occurred on ac
count the crossing each other III this way The
trains now run on sunkcn tracks, below the level of
the street. The offices and passenger rooms were STU
sted they are, for convenience, when the depot
built and there Is no intention 10 alter In any way
the internal arrangements
The original blundeling arrangement Of the depot,
which oonpels this awkward crossing, and subjects
every passenger who enters leaves the depot to the
danger OF collision seems to have been decided upon
chiefly as matter Of convenience. 1t necessary to
take the freight cars, which mp from the down.
town depot on line of the Fourth Avenue Railroad,
along other side of the depot They could not
turn the sharp curve FOrtysecOndst after coming
out OF the tunnel to up 10 the western side OF
the depot II they taken along the eastern side,
this made necessary that the passenger arrangements
should be put at the western; and so for temporary
convenience Of this kind magnificent structure, to last
for hundreds OF years. constructed with an essential
element Of error and every train that the depot
was subjected OF danger greater or less in
proporton 10 the watchfulness Of employees. The
true policy is to avoid every of danger which
be avoided The policy adopted has been TO perpet
nate the sources of danger and then guard against
them by extra watehfuness on the part OF EN-
ployes.