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 did 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 GCT almost suffering that same fate.
There is a lot to this story.