Johnny Trains sent me a couple of pix for posting that reveail something of a treasure that has been hidden away for many years. I can't say much about where it is, except to say it is related to New York's Penn Station. If there are any details that can be added he will do so. The first is a relic recently discovered. This was shot somewhere in the old station's sub basement, or was it sub-sub basement, or... [ 18. January 2005, 15:51: Message edited by: Peirce ]
Ah, thanks Perice for posting those! I was fortunate to have a real behind the scenes tour of Penn Station two weekends ago. Well, I know you all will realize that the sub basement is one creepy place to explore! Getting there was even more weird than being there! There were hisses and bangs and all kinds of strange noises down there! I'm glad I was with a friend that was armed at the time! There are what seems like miles of corridors all leading to dead ends. A great place for a horror movie to be filmed! As for the number "board" (?), well it is one of the only remaining pieces of the original Penn Station. That piece must be nearly 100 years old by now! It was in secret place that millions of people pass by each week, and never know it is there! I am not able to really say where exactly it is, because it is in a location that is not open to the public. As a matter of fact, you couldn't believe that we had to duck under ducts and we had to squeeze into a very narrow space to see it! Thanks again Peirce for posting those! I know you are a historian and someday I hope to get you there too! Ah, one thing I forgot to add was the fact that that board looks very much like a grandfather's clock! As a matter of fact, it's innards are still intact, and you can see where a station employee would place a key into it and turn the key to change the numbers on top!
Johnny, are those numbers adjustable? I just assumed it was the entrance to the concourse for tracks 16 and 17. Not so? How were they labeled at Grand Central?
If my memory is correct the boards at Grand Central has something like window shades that they changed for each train.They would put it in and unroll it to show the station stops. As I remember it was put in at the bottom and unrolled up to display the data. Usually the same trains left from the same track but if it had to be changed they just moved the roll with the train information. They used the same system at North Station in Boston.
Well, I hated to use the term "board", but I don't know what else to call that thing. Yes, there were gears inside just like a grandfather clock. Sorry I didn't take a photo of those too. The only other idea I have, is that maybe it WAS for the track numbers, and what I was looking at may have been "gears" to turn on and off the gas lamps that would have illuminated it! Now that I think about it, my "tour guide" did say something about pre-electricity but hearing him above the noise was impossible. I wasn't paying enough attention as I was mezmerized by this relic.
Here are a couple more from Johnny Trains. This track board looks to be in excellent condition. This baggage cart could possibly be put back into service. [ 18. January 2005, 15:57: Message edited by: Peirce ]
Those YALE built baggage carts are still in daily service!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are electric! I asked Peirce to post the Acela track sign because as far as the numbering of the tracks in the old Penn Station, this sign is rather close to the old relic number.
COLONEL MUSTARD IN THE FIRST CLASS PASSENGER ROOM! LOL! My problem is that my guide is nearly impossible to get in contact with. I will write to him again and see if I can get some response. But.......if you study the numbers carefully, it sure looks to me like they are on rollers......... I must say too, that even experienced tour guides had no idea that this exisited.
JT wasn't kidding when he said his guide was heavily armed. What about that tank. I wonder what use it had. [ 18. January 2005, 16:01: Message edited by: Peirce ]
Did anyone notice the chain & sprocket drive mech. above the numbers. Thanks for the photo's JT,this reminds me of the times I would go exploring Gen. McAurther's WW2 under ground HQ bunker system in St. James Stn. on the Sydney City Circle in Australia!Geez wish I had a camera then.
Hi Jason, Welcome to TrainBoard. I wasn't quite sure what that was above the numbers. It makes more sense, now.
Hiya Jason! That thing must have been for train numbers. Thanks Peirce for posting them! For those of you who have never met Peirce in person, you are missing out on meeting one of the nicest persons I have ever known!
I was reviewing this old thread with the pictures sent me by the late Johnny Trains. These are worthy of bringing up to the top of the forum again. They should not be lost.
