The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-05-27
SOUTH BENDS
new RAILROAD
STATION OPEN
New York Central and
Grand Trunk Lines
Use Building.
PART OF HUGE PROJECT
Track Elevation Eliminates
Thirteen Grade Crossings
in City.

RY Times specicl
SOUTH BEND, Ind, May az
South Bends new union station, 2
large factor in the extensive i'm
provements in the city upon which
the New York Central Railroad has
been at work for the last three
years, was opened for service today.
A short dedication ceremony, par
ticipated in by Mayor Chester r.
Montgomery and other public off,
Gals, was held in the station this
morning when President P. E.
Crowley of the New York Central
turned the station over to the public
for use. A luncheon was rendered
President Crowley and the visiting
railroad officials by the Chamber of
Commerce at the South Bend Coun-
try Club.
The stations facilities are shared
by the Grand Trunk Railway and
New York Central.
The architecture is modern
American. The dominant feature
is the vaulted roof, which gives OPP
portunity for great arched windows
at either end. relieved by pilasters
in front of the outer quarters of
each window rising nearly to the
top of the arch. The main entrance
is on North street, facing Franklin
street. On either side of the en-
trance is space for lawns and
shrubbery.
Office Space Provided
The main building, of buff brick,
is one story in height, 100 feet long
and IS feet wide. At either end are
wings 40 by so feet for mail, bag
gage and express. The express wing
has q second story for offices.
The concourse, 1913 by 55 feet, with
vaulted ceiling so feet above the
floor, is imposing. 1t is well light
ed. for in addition to the great win
dow at each end there are windows
on each side, so that the whole
place is bright. Walls and cell
ing are Of cream color special tile,
which is sound absorbing as well as
decorative. Thus the noise from
passing trains or from other sources
will not disturb passengers. VAIN
scoting is of Bottincino marble. Inc
floor is terrazo in two shades. Open
ing upon the concourse are rest
rooms, baggage and parcel rooms,
and rooms for concessionaires. The
ticket office screen is Of orna-
mental wrought iron and glass with
seven windows.
Access to the train platform Is
through a subway 81 feet long and
Is feet wide This subway makes
an attractive additional waiting
room. for it has marble walls,
sound absorbent tile ceiling and
terrazo floor and is furnished with
seats. The train platforms, which
are "a feet wide, are reached both
bv stairways and by ramps, the lat
ter having a pitch of 10 per cent.
Baggage, mail and express are
handled on ramps having a pitch OF
T per cent leading to subways under
the tracks and into the station, so
that such things may be handled eX-
peditiously and without interference
with passengers. The station has
an independent heating plant, MOD
ern plumbing and semi-lndlrect
lighting.
Three Miles of Track Raised
The station has been provided as
mart of one of the largest grace
separation programs undertaken at
one time and place by the New York
Central in recent years Tracks
have been elevated for distance OF
three miles through the principal
part of the city. Half million cubic
wards of material were required 10
raise the tracks about twelve feet
above the level Of the ground.
Street grades we're depressed az
crossings from two to nine feet to
provide necessary clearance. Thlr-
teen grade crossings we're eliminated
hv construction of eleven SuoWayS
and diversion of two streets.
In connection with the track ele-
walton four main tracks have been
proyided where formerly there we're
but two. As another incident In
connection with the grade separa-
ton South Bend now has a new ana
larger modern freight house and
team track layout on Prairie ave-
nue. in place Of former trelgnC
facilities.
The Grand Trunk railway former
" crossed the New York CentraIs
tracks at the western edge Of the
CITY and traversed the city, for some
distance in street about four
blocks north Of the New York Cen
trail. Both roads maintained sepa-
rate passenger stations. In order the
more economically to separate
grades of both roads about two
miles of the Grand Trunk through
the city was abandoned and ar
rangements were made to handle
Grand Trunk trains over the New
York Central tracks and for JOINT
use of the new station. This en-
tailed construction Of Grand Trunk
connection at both ends Of the
tracks used jointly and construction
By that road of a new bridge over
| the St. joe river east of the station.
|
S1,SO8 Received on Note
| BIZ Times Special
| NAPTON Ind Nav 27-A iurv