New York Documentary

Pennsylvania Station segment from New York: A Documentary Film

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• New
• York
• Documentary
• Penn
• Pennsylvania
• Station
• Jane
• Jacobs
• Ric
• Burns

[hubaba2]

I have to admit, this was really touching - thank you :)

[bryson217]

@hubaba2 You bet...I still find it amazing how few New Yorkers realize what once graced those two blocks.

[da4an1qu1]

How utterly depressing. I've taken it for granted that in the modern day, our societies would never allow us to destroy such wonderful examples of fine architecture with such callousness.

In recent times Highbury Stadium and Wembley Stadium, both endearing examples themselves, have been torn down in the name of modernism. However, in both cases, there was at least the token gesture of preserving some of the important facades.

Penn station should have been completely preserved.

[4knobby7]

I walk through Penn Station nearly every day and every time I feel like crying over what was put up in its place. The only reminder of old Penn Station are the two stones eagles that stand in front of the office building that was put up in its place. There is no excuse for this sacking of an american icon.

[bkeesecker]

I recently started reading "Conquering Gotham" by Jill Jonnes. It is about the building of Penn Station. We must remain diligent to not allow the greed, ignorance and politics that destroyed Penn Station rear it's ugly head. This is an ever-present danger with today's corporate corruption and ignorant politicians, both as strong as ever. We will never see the likes of Penn Station ever again in America. What a devastating loss for America.

[intercityrailpal]

At one time there were sleeping car routes to Mexico City via Saint Louis. Havana Cuba via the FEC's Oversea's Railroad. (Boat Train from Key West, which is NOT the western key! Just was the end of the steel rails to Cuba) And the last route to Montreal. Via the famous "Montrealer" I never could understand why a one seat ride was never offered from Long Island via Long Island RR direct to Philly or anywhere on the Northeast Corridor. Direct NO change in NY!

[intercityrailpal]

What was worse was the 15% federal ticket tax on all the passengers and railroads. The billions collected were added to trust money and used to build airports and highways. This bankrupted the whole passenger rail industry. Now with bankrupt airlines, riseing fuel prices, and lost of bus services. Passenger rail growth is only held back by the lack of services. Powerful lobbys are working day and night to keep it in the past.

[speeta]

While I am in favor of preservation, especially an architectural gem like Penn, I also understand that railroads were bleeding money badly in the mid 20th century. Who would pay for Penn's preservation? It was corporate property then, not municipal. Had it not been torn down in the 60s it would likely have become even dirtier (it already was) and in disrepair, and begun falling apart in the 80s from deferred maintenance, like other neglected parts of the city infrastructure were at the time.

[Railroad921]

@mugshotesp That is going to happen in 50 years when MSG comes down, the repairs will make it last for another 50 years. The day that happens i'm going down there and celebrating when the first piece of steel gets torn down.

[Railroad921]

@Dexman60 Yes NYC destroyed a great place, and repaced it with an arena with teams that can't even win a championship. As a New York Citizen, Railroad Fan and History person, it's a shame that the station was not saved. But Penn's destruction literally saved another, Grand Central Terminal. I'm greatful though that people stood up to try and save the station.

[Railroad921]

@da4an1qu1 It should have been preserved. Now the city is having major problems with the Penn Station of today because it can't handle the capacity of many people now in that Terminal, where as the old Penn Station could have definatly handled it. This is a disgrace on many New York people and replacing it with that garbage dump called Madison Square Garden. When the Garden gets torn down i'm going to celebrate.

[Dexman60]

NYC destroyed a palace and replaced it with a roach motel.