Trains from Hudson NY to Grand Central in 1970s

Factual Questions
1

Last time I was in NYC, staying with my good friends who have lived in Manhattan since 1978, we got into a discussion about trains between Albany & Hudson to NYC. I maintained that on my first visit to the US, in 1974, we took an early morning train from Hudson (closest railroad stop to my uncle’s farm, where we had been staying) arriving at Grand Central. My friend Bob claims this to be impossible - trains from Albany/Hudson “have always arrived at Penn station”. In support of my claim I related how when we arrived we were greeted by our guide for the day, a college friend of my cousin from Queens. She said she was glad our train was a little delayed as, while waiting, she had noticed for the first time the star mural on the Grand Central ceiling. She couldn’t have noticed that waiting at Penn. In addition my first impression of the city was exiting the station right by the Pan-Am building.

So, can any NY dopers of that era categorically confirm either position?

2

Trains from Albany, Buffalo, Toronto (the “Empire Corridor”) went into Grand Central until 1991. when Penn Station created the “Empire Connection”, which was a switching station in the Long Island Railroad’s West Side Yard. So you’re right and your friend is wrong.

3

:slight_smile:

4

The two big private railroads that historically served the east-west route between New York City and Chicago were the New York Central RR and the Pennsylvania RR. Each had a terminal station in NYC, named after the railroad. The NYC began its routes by going north to Albany, then following the Mohawk/Erie Canal route to Buffalo, largely avoiding the Appalachians, while the Pennsylvania took the more direct route that plunged straight through them. They eventually merged as the Penn Central, which went broke, leading to the creation of Conrail.

5

Yep, Amtrack use to pull into Grand Central Terminal. And the Pan-Am Building, is now the MetLife Building.