The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-27
New Station to Be the Largest
I'm the World.
New York Central Builds In
Heart of New York City.
USES 10 CITY BLOCKS.
Some of the Advantages of the
New Station.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
in Railroad Circles.
USES 10 CITY BLOCKS.

H.
terminal of the New York Central in
wolves the use of an area of more than
1s city blocks between Forty-second and
Fffty-second streets, Madison and Lex
ingtOn avenues.
The station proper. together with the
postoffice and express buildings, will
cover the blocks between Vanderbilt
and Lexington avenues from Forty
fifth to Forty-third streets, inclusive.
and the block fronting on Forty-second
street, between Vanderbilt avenue and
Depew place.
The buildings will be set back from
Forty-second street a distance of about
40 feet, and back from Vanderbilt ave
nue. a distance of about 20 feet, so as to
afford a generous approach to the sta
ton and give the effect of 140 feet open
space on the Forty-secOnd street 'front.'
age and $50 feet open space or the Van
derbilt avenue frontage
The frontage of these buildings will be
$50 feet on Vanderbilt avenue, CPS feet
on FOrty-ffth street, 460 feet on Lex
ington avenue, 275 feet on Forty-fourth
street, 260 feet on Depew place, and 800
feet on Forty-second street.
In addition to the public streets there
Will be connections by ample private
Toadways and walks to Madison avenue
on the west and Lexington avenue on
the east
Passengers Are Segregated.
The suburban trains will be on a low
er level than the express trains, thus
separating the commuter from the ex-
press passenger and affording better
facilities Tor both. The suburban con-
course will provide for nine tracks. The
express concourse will be slightly de-
pressed below the street level and will
provide for % passenger train tracks,
two baggage tracks, two mail tracks,
and eight express tracks, making 4S
tracks in all. with platforms so connect
ed by subway and elevators that bag
he. ffplr 1xy
transferred without crossing the tracks.
The main entrance to the station is on
Forty-second street. Its architectural
composition is three massive arches,
each arch being 50 feet wide and 60 high.
Beyond these arches one enters an
enormous ticket lobby, 30 feet by 300
feet. This ticket lobby is on the level
with the street. on the right of this
lobby. and practically a part thereof, is
the outgoing baggage room.
Concoursc Largest in World.
The concourse is approached by four
grand staircases, each % feet in width.
1t is the largest in the world. being $50
x47O feet and $50 feet high, with wide
entrances at each and extending to
Madison and Lexington avenues. The
waiting rooms contain twice the area
OF those in the Grand Central station
as il is at present.
Through this concourse pass the de-
parting and arriving passengers, but the
arriving passengers are separated from
them. thus avoiding the usual cOnfus
ion in railroad station caused by the
meeting of incoming and outgoing pas
sengers.
The platforms are of ample width
averaging from fifteen to eighteen feet
wide, whereas the narrowest of the
present station is but eight feet wide
and the widest is but twelve feet wide.
The exit from the station is along
ample staircases. To the north and
along Vanderbilt avenue is the incom-
ing baggage. conveniently placed for
arriving passengers. The company'S
cab stand is on the level of the con-
course and the express tracks.
The baggage room adjoins Depew
place, Forty-fifth street, and Wander
bilt avenue with 1900 feet of street
frontage and 1000 square feet of
floor space. sufficient to care for bag
gage in rush seasons without the de-
lay in delivery now experienced at all
large stations.
Insures Admirable Facilities.
The architects have admirably ac-
compliShed the following results:
They have provided the best posi-
bic facilities for getting to and get
ting away from the station.
The cab stand is situated in the
most convenient place for arriving
passengers.
The outgoing baggage is convenient
to the ticket offices, and the incoming
baggage is convenient to the exits.
They have separated the incoming
ana the outgoing passengers, thus
avoiding the usual confusion.
They have provided ample waiting
rooms and grand concourse suf-
ficiently large to accommodate the
largest possible excursion or holiday
crowd
The suburban passengers are sepa-
rated from the express passengers.
but with the entrances and the exits so
arranged that there is perfect facility
Tor getting from one to the other.
Ample space is provided for the in
coming crowd. and there is a waiting
Vesubule for those desiring to meet ar
irving passengers.
The express concourse and waiting
rooms are so situated that suburban
passengers can use them if desirable
and these accommodations are so
placed that from the standpoint of
facility in handling the passengers
either tier of tracks may be used in
terchangeably.
There is ample space for the hand
ing OF incoming and outgoing bag
gage
The approaches and departures
from the station are on the company's
own property.
Capacity Can Be Doubled.
To the north of the concourse ana
carrying the cornice line of this mon
umental part of the building around
the entire structure, are placed the
company's Offices, containing about
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