Hi, I just watched cities of the Underworld on the History Channel and I learned about the secret platform and siding that were used for FDR and his limo. Does anybody know anything else about it?
Hi,
This is my second attempt to reply to your post - the electric went out during the first attempt…
I heard and read about the siding at the Waldorf and other places - many that are no longer used and perhaps forgotten.
I worked/lived in Manhatten for 6 weeks in 1975. I roomed at the Biltmore Hotel, right across the street from Grand Central Station. I walked a lot in the evenings and weekends and did some major exploring. The “underground” Manhatten is unbelieveable, another world!
Manhatten is one giant rock structure, and tunnels - while hard to drill - seem to be all over the place. There is a plethora of tunnels and railroad tracks under 5th avenue, and the Waldorf is located on that street.
By the way, remember the Superman movie where Lex Luther has his hideout right off the train/subway tracks? Well, that is not as unbelieveable as it might seem.
ENJOY,
Mobilman44
…That subject has been discussed on here in the past. Check the search function and perhaps you can pull up the threads that did so.
HASHAS BEEN ON SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, ALSO SHOW ON CAR “MNCX 002” AND “1101” AND OF COURSE “MW”, SUPPOSE TO BE PARKE NEAR BUT NOT NEXT TO ASTORIA PLATFORM
A guy did a story on it in NY.
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-rrties1sep27,0,7683933.story?page=1&coll=stam-news-local-headlines
Is there a follow up to that story? I remembering reading it from last year. Sure had my intrest. Very cool indeed.
Wish they had some better pictures! and yes a follow up would be nice
After living in New York City for six weeks I am surprised I have to correct your spelling mistake…it’s spelled Manhattan, NOT Manhatten…just like it’s Texas and not Texes. How am I able to be so sure, I was born and raised there, that’s why.
Gosh, I’m really sorry about the spelling, - I usually do pretty good in that arena.
I was writing under threat of another electrical outage, and was obviously in a hurry - but that certainly is no excuse! And of course my 6 week work session was 32 years ago (1975), and the need to spell the name of “that island” never came up until last evening.
No offense meant to any of you New Yorkers - especially since some of my best friends are from there.
All that being said, please don’t blame my spelling deficiency on being “from Texas”, for I was born and raised in Chicago, finished school and worked in Louisville, and lived/worked in Joliet for a number of years… And then I moved down to Dallas, and finally Houston.
Hey, ENJOY the day!!!
Mobilman44
That’s quite OK Mobil. Even though you used the apparently forbidden spelling of the name with the dreaded and horrific “E”, I knew what you meant and I enjoyed your post.
For what’s its worth, I never even noticed.
I have spent my who life here in Phoenix Arizona, and compared to big cities back east, its quite boring. Most of the city is less than 30 years old. Reading about old tunnels, forgotten rooms, etc, I find extremely fascinating.
Use a Smart UPS battery. I use a Cyberpower 1500 model. I get about 20 minutes of power to computer regardless of power outage. I think mine was from newegg for about 180 on sale recently.
I too am curious about this platform. Whatever happened to that FDR car?
Thank you Canazar!
I was transferred around a bit (Chicago - Louisville - Joliet - Dallas - Houston) and also had a number of assignments in DC and New York, Beaumont, etc. Funny thing is, I couldn’t wait to get out of the big cities. I guess the grass is always going to be greener on the other side.
The travel sounds glamorous to some, but after hitting the same place more than twice, it just ain’t too much fun.
I will say this, places like NY, LA, SF, Chicago, and DC are wonderful places to visit and sightsee, but living there is a whole different ballgame.
Hey, hope you get more info regarding your question!!
Mobilman44
"February 07, 2006
Waldorf-Astoria’s private rail platform forever closed
Down under the Waldorf-Astoria sits an abandoned train platform and a few cars, once used as a private entrance to the grand hotel by presidents and at least one general.
The Waldorf, which was built on top of the New York Central RailRoad tracks from 1929 to ‘31, is supported by steel columns placed between the tracks. The closest most people will ever get to the hotel’ private platform are the shiny gold doors at street level on the Waldorf’s 49th Street side. The lore around the storied underground entrance is often too good to check. A recently-aired “Secrets of New York” TV show hinted that one of the rail cars abandoned under the hotel may have belonged to President Franklin Roosevelt; unfortunately it’s just not true, according to researchers at the FDR Museum. President Roosevelt’s Pullman car, the Ferdinand Magellan, is a star attraction at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum – in Miami."
The Whole article at this link:
http://www.newyorkology.com/archives/2006/02/waldorfastorias.php
I saw it, too. I like the History Channel but some of the programs (Cities of the Underworld and Deep Sea Mysteries among them) tend to be too much shouting and too little information.
If memory serves, one of the visitors to this platform was one of three early UP “motor-train” articulated streamliners, City of Selinas, City of Denver, City of Portland. It was a publicity show, no actual rides or operation, just newspaper people touring the train and hearing a lecture, around 1934 and 1935, UP’s answer to the “Q”'s dawn to dusk Chicago to Denver hogh-speed Zephyr demonstration.
The platform has or had a direct stairway and an elevator connection to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel lobby.
The Bagage car is a standard PRR B-60 bagage car assigned by Penn Central to Metro politan region.
It was one of 2 used on Metro North the other one is at Danbury railway museum and was part of old wire train as workshop car, now with roof walk removed.
The presidents car did not travel by rail to GCT it was driven, and backed into elevator to be lowerd to platform where president was picked up.
The MNCX reporting marks were only applied to the cars in 1983 when MNCR was created, they did not have a X in reporting marks under Conrail/Penncentral days.
See:
As you can see the doors are not big enough to have a small car enter the car and turn.
The Waldorf Astoria platform can not be seen from a passenger train unless the train goes around loop track, to poster who says he sees it everyday your confusing it with the 59th street emergency exit.
The Waldorf astoria platform is track 59 and 56, north of yard ladder O and M and north of yard tracks 3 and 4 at extreem right side of terminal, the tracks are still used for storage of MU equipment during the day.
For some of Debunking and maps see Mr Brennan’s site:
I heard that Richard Staropoli with the United States Secret Service did some type of investigation into the the car(MNCX 002) last year. I requested the report from the USSS of the findings of their investigation. Now i just have to see when/if they send it. lol
When/If i get anything from them i will post it and try figure out all the bull that is going around about it being used for FDR.
I don’t think it was ever used for him but i would love to know what my tax dollars came up with when he looked into it.
Also anyone know when abouts the History Channel filmed the episode? It seems like all the news reports about it and everything was about a year ago.
I got a response from Richard Staropoli Friday(11/30) morning and he said he is returning to New York on Tuesday and will forward me all the information at that time. When i get the information i will post it.
Brandon
Its funny. … . A part of me wants to believe that this story will turn out to be true, and that there really is an old presidential railcar tucked away underground in New York, and that they might find an old automobile still inside, or a car set up to live comfortably in, while making a hasty exit from the city. Another part of me wants to say that its just an old car, maybe even millitary surplus, put there because there was open track space a long time ago, and then forgotten about, either the paperwork for the car was lost, or they didn’t need it anymore, and because no one knows what is actually in it, it’s just been left there, because it doesn’t cost anything or take up anyones time while just sitting there, happily left alone.
Then a third part of me doesn’t want to know what the story behind the car is, and what’s really in the car, happy to enjoy a modern story of unknown railroad lore, and the mystery and intrigue that goes with it.
Like I said in post before the car is part of old wreck train and is filled with blocking, slings, etc.
It was repainted in North White plains shop in 1984 and went back to GCT the key is with Mof E dept. its a standard B 60 PRR car, the Current Chief Mechanical officer had his promotion party in the car trown by MofE forces when he started to go up the ladder.