Grand Central Terminal is the third station to occupy the location where it now stands. The first was Grand Central Depot, built by Cornelius Vanderbilt, which opened in 1871. It served as a meeting point for numerous lines entering Manhattan, with storage yards and a boarding spot for passengers. It was considered the biggest station in the world, boasting 12 tracks capable of accommodating 150 cars at once.
However, tragedy struck when an accident resulted in the death of 15 passengers. The excessive amount of soot in the air blinded the driver’s view, leading to a collision with a stopped train. In response, politicians banned the use of steam trains in the city. This prompted the Vanderbilts to close the terminal and reconstruct one that operated on electricity instead of steam.
Unfortunately, the all-new station was not built to last. After years of mismanaged maintenance, the building began to crumble, eventually necessitating reconstruction. This led to the creation of the building now known as Grand Central Terminal.
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