Book: Grand Central Terminal: Railroads, Engineering, and Architecture in New York City
Author: Kurt C. Schlichting
This book provides an excellent overview of the historical and social context of the building of Grand Central terminal in New York, but where it excels is in conveying the genius behind the engineering of the complex. That the terminal continues to function so well in the 21st century is testimony to the creativity and forethought of the original design. The engineers, learning from the very short life of the original terminals due to skyrocketing volumes of passengers, set out to ensure that the new Grand Central would be flexible and handle ever increasing traffic. Of course intercity rail travel is almost dead in the US and the premiere passenger trains which called on Grand Central are long gone, but the station functions very well as a gateway for ever growing numbers of commuters to New York’s northern suburbs. Also featured in the book is the role of the terminal’s design played in its success. Even today walking through the terminal is an uplifting experience surrounded by the grand scale of its wonderful architecture. The author expands upon the process where the building was designed to impress and create an image and be more than just a functional building.
