Grand Central Terminal is one of the famous commuter train terminal stations of New York City, situated at Park Avenue. It has grabbed the attention of a huge number of tourists worldwide through its pleasing appearance and beauteous construction. It is well known as Grand Central Station or simply Grand Central and is the world’s largest rail station in terms of the number of platforms. This largely and attractively built train station incorporates 44 platforms and a total of 67 rail tracks along the platforms.
On an annual basis, the terminal is found to host 21,600,000 tourists, giving a unique travel experience to each one of them. According to the study conducted in the year 2011 by one of the successful travel magazines, it is the sixth most visited travel destination on the planet.
Design
The Grand Central Terminal is designed in a systematic and well organized manner, with each rail track numbered according to its placement in the Terminal construction. Some of the upper level rail tracks were abstracted for the expansion of a few platforms and the construction of the concourses. Track number 14 of the upper level is used for moving a garbage train.
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The design of the terminal makes it easier for the rail travelers to determine the location of departure of the trains and avoids the chaos that generally occurs in other rail Terminals. The main concourse facilitates the departure of the peak trains, super expresses, and express trains. On the other hand, the lower level of the terminal makes the departure of the off-peak and local trains. One of the most noted aspects of the terminal is the location of the tracks where the tracks with even numbers are placed to the west while those with odd numbers are placed to the east of the platform.
Things to See
The Grand Central Terminal not only includes platforms, tracks, and rails. There are many more exciting and eye catching things to see in this immense terminal.
Campbell Apartment
The renowned Campbell Apartment is a cocktail lounge and open bar which faces the entrance of the Vanderbilt Avenue. It successfully attracts passengers inside the terminal and even the tourists present in New York City. It used to be the office of a US financier named John W. Campbell.
After being renovated in the year 1999, the ceilings and walls of the Campbell Apartment were constructed in their former design and format, giving it an original look. There was a steel safe which was secretly concealed in a particular wall, which is now kept at a large fireplace to showcase the riches and wealth of Campbell. The restoration that took place in the year 2006 brought the addition of a brand-new and cherubic carpet with some new amenities in the bar section.
The Ceiling
The ceiling of the Main Concourse is a highly ornamental, elaborated, and has an astronomical look. The ceiling was seen to have altered by nicotine and tar from tobacco smoke as per the spectroscopic investigation. The restorers have left a patch of stain that previously altered the ceiling for the visitors to view.
The two distinctive features of this ceiling are the slight displacement of stars and the backward movement of the sky. The displacement of stars is due to the activity of the celestial point as per the medieval manuscript. The backward motion of the sky was portrayed keeping in mind the God’s visualization of the sky from the exterior parts of the celestial orbit. The ceiling has a minute hole in the middle of the placement of stars above the picture of Pisces. The hole is believed to be used in different ways like it was used for erecting the ‘American Redstone Missile’ in the year 1957.
The Main Concourse
The Main Concourse is generally filled with actively moving, large masses of people and makes the central part of the Grand Central Terminal. One of the identifiable masterpieces of the terminal is the huge opal made clock that face on all four sides. It is arranged above the main information booth located in the Main Concourse.
Grand Central Market
The Grand Central Market located inside the bustling Grand Central Terminal is a fascinating food market that is filled with unique and ‘never seen before’ food dishes and eatables. It is one of the major attractions that the tourists like to see when they enter the terminal. It is well known for its gourmet chocolates, peculiar coffee beans, spices, and fresh sea food. With a number of options available for snacks, the market gives you an opportunity to buy high quality exotic foods.
The market has arranged a ‘Greenwich Produce’ outlet, where you can take home different varieties of vegetables and fruits. The market facilitates you to buy various types of food items all under one roof. Cheese is one of the prominent food varieties found in the market. It provides you with assorted types of cheese such as Brie, Clothbound Cheddar, Ombra, and Manchego.
Dining Concourse
The Dining Concourse is situated just below the main Concourse and facilitates the entry to the lower level rail tracks. It is linked with a number of escalators, ramps, and stairways. The tourists and passengers find it fascinating to have a central seating arrangement and lounges around the terminal. The Dining Concourse is encircled by notable restaurants and bars such as the Oyster Bar.
Vanderbilt Hall
The Vanderbilt Hall was once a primary waiting room for the passengers at the Grand Central Terminal. It was originally built by the Vanderbilt family and located adjacent to the Main Concourse. It was recently used for the 15th Teen Masters Bowling Championship, which attracted thousands of bowling lovers from throughout the city.
Likewise, it hosts as an impressive venue for other grand events such as wedding parties, exhibition, corporate events, product launching events, promotional events, etc., to take place. It provides 12,000 square feet of open space for the events to take place smoothly. The events performed here receive a guaranteed and huge number of audiences from all over the city.
Apart from these, there are a few other attractions of the Grand Central Terminal such as the Subway Station, Solari Display Board, and Grand Central North, that make the terminal an entrancing travel destination to visit in New York City.
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