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Pennsylvania Station (also known as New York Penn Station or Penn Station) is the main intercity railroad station in New York City and the busiest transportation facility in the Western Hemisphere.
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The shockingly beautiful Penn Station was opened in 1910. Because of it you “entered NYC like a God.” Fifty years later, “you scuttle in like a rat” through what is left. Explore the wonder that was; see its demolition; hope for the future. Learn of the Pennsy’s fall and its connection to Grand Central Terminal. Cross the Hudson River to see the Railroads that ended there.
The “Pennsy” went West from NYC, which meant the Appalachian Mountains were in the way — the NY Central went North before turning West. Despite this advantage, the Pennsy was enormously successful… wealthy enough to privately dig tunnels under the Hudson River, and then build its Station. The NY Central had a “Terminal” (Grand Central).
Before its tunnels, the Pennsy’s tracks ended at the river, and passengers and freight took ferries.
Both Railroads suffered from the impact of the automobile, of trucks, and of airplanes arrival, and in the 1950’s both merged… which did not stop their decline… with Penn Station destroyed for its “air rights”, and Grand Central Terminal almost suffering that same fate.
There is a lot to this story.
Presented by: Michael J. Czuchnicki
Mike’s earliest memory is of his father teaching him to read. He spent his summers being guided by his grandmother, on the mined-out Appalachian mountain where his grandfather had worked. Back in Brooklyn, he would often help his mother behind the mahogany bar of the family’s tavern – child labor laws, or no. His Xaverian High School years were spent in an experimental curriculum with all classes taught in Spanish, a precursor to his language hobby, now including Hindi and Mandarin. He has earned two Degrees from Stevens Institute of Technology and spent time at MIT, too. Mike’s career included executive positions in technology offices at the AMEX and AIG, before he began consulting around the world on some interestingly large financial systems.
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