Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1899-01-05
A MAMMOTH DEPOT.
he Largest Railway Station 10 the World
at Boston.

.. h.@
at Boston.
The largest railroad station in the
world was thrown open to the public on
New Years day. when trains began to
leave and enter the new South Union sta.
ton In Boston. Mass.
Here are some facts about the new sta.
tioa:
IL Is the largest one In the world, build.
ing. sheds and yards Immediately con-
nected covering thirty five acres OF land.
The roof Of the shed alone covers fourteen
and q half acres.
II has cost about ga 100000.
To make room for IL moro than 200
buildings were torn down, some OF them
dine new business structures.
The station itself contains fifteen
miles OF tracks and thirty miles OF rails.
There are 3it clearing" switches and
1854 'fouling" switches.
The train shed will hold 4Oi ordinary
passenger cars at one time.
Twenty. eight thousand people can take
seats at n time In the cars In the train
shed on the street level. aud more in the
sub-station under the other. The Plat.
forms will accommodate more than 10.
600 people at one time.
Thirty two express trains can be IN.
loaded at one time.
The city OF Boston gave up streets and
wharf property to the assessed value OF
about 100000. receiving In return two
new lO0-foot wide street.. making the
net cost Of tho enterprise to the city
1925. 1924 10.
The granite eagle on the top OF the
front OF the depot was carved from a
single block which weighed twenty tons.
II took four granite cutters three months
to do the work and the figure now weiphs
twelve tons.
The clock under the eagle IL the larg-
est In the world. the dial being IA feet in
diameter. 1t Is warranted by its makers
not TO vary more than one second a
month.
The station Is the first one In the
world TO provide for a new suburban
surface motive power, such a. electricity
OF compressed air.
1t has taken eighteen months to build
the new South Union station. The
foundations OF the structure are seventy
feet below the level of the streets and
land which 1t covers, and besides the
work necessary to make room for the
main station the tunnel out OF the city
to the southwest, owned by the Boston
and Albany Railroad company, has been
doubled In width Its entire length,
necessitating the destruction OF scores OF
lne buildings and the rebuilding OF a
dozen great steel bridges where the
streets cross the tunnel.
In addition TO the main entrance, ac.
cess 10 the trains on the street level Ia
provided from Cove street. Sumner street
and dorchester avenue. To tina left OF
the main entrance on Sumner street, and
almost In the center Of the head Of
tracks, is the general waiting room, 50
by DO feet and twenty eight feet high.
The office on n side contains twenty
four windows and Is ~ by 92 feet. II il
accessible from the train house and
waiting room. The remainder OF this
side OF the larger room is occupied by
the bureau OF information, telegraph
and telephone offices, and an inside en-
trance TO the sub. station.
Other rooms on the main floor are a re-
firing room for women, 90 by 3i1s feet;
wOmen's layatory, 40 by ~ feet; restau-
rant. Gs by 10 feet; barber shop, 35 by 421S
feet; smoking room. 81 by 40 set; mems
liyatory, 80 by 20 feet; parcel room, AZ by
"a feet, and carriage offices. kitchens,
lunch counters, news stands. etc.
In the upper part OF the main building
are offices for the terminal company and
the railroads which will use the station,
permitting them TO aban'on their pres
ent offices altogether,