Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 177, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 July 1912 — FINE RAILROAD DEPOTS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FINE RAILROAD DEPOTS

UNITED STATES HAS ITS SHARE OF THE WORLD'S BEST. Larges* In the World Is the Southern Station at Vienna, Austria, and That at New York City Ranks Next.

Mr. George A. Wade, in the Tlailway Magazine, discusses the question

as to which Is actually the biggest railroad station in the world. He points out that, first of all, one must settle what is meant by "big-" geet” Is it the one covering the largest area, the one which has the greatest traffic, or

the one with the most platforms and passengers? No single station is first in all these requirements. The New York city station —certainly now one of the grandest and most extensive railroad stations in the world—covers an area of 18 acres. After this comes the Gare St Lazare, in Paris, with an acreage of over 25 acres; then the Waverley station, Edinburgh, with 23 acres; followed by Waterloo, London, with acres; Euston, London, with 18 acres, and Liverpool street, London, with 16 acres. But there Is a railroad station Immensely bigger In extent than any of these, and there Is the Souht Railroad station, Vienna, the whole of which area Is close upon 100 acres! This makes It easily the largest station in the worjd, from the point of view of space covered. Much of the land included in this area is not employed, however, as railroads use all their land at English and American stations. The New York city station is the costliest ever built; 120,000,000 was expended upon it, and, Including ease elated work, the total cost of the scheme has exceeded >100,000,000. During the first year of working 10,000,000 passengers used It, 112,000 trains were worked In and out, 1,929,320 tickets were issued and 1,500,000 trunks, parcels, etc., were handled. Its magnificent facade Is one of the finest of Its kind in the world. ; When complete, the new Leipzig station will be far above the average in respect of size and beauty of German architecture In railway buildings. The magnificent central hall, with its six enormous bays, splendid ticket offices, and superb waiting rooms, will be just about the "last word” In each particular sphere. As regards the number of platforms at various railroad termini, the new Waterloo station of the London and South Western, stands at the top, with 19, which will shortly become 23, when the alterations now going on are finished. .Then we have Liverpool strfeet, London, and Waverley station, Edinburgh, with 18 platforms; Manchester (Victoria) 17; Euston, IB; New castle (Central), 15; Glasgow (Central), 13; Glasgow (St. Enoch), 12; Victoria, 9—lß. Probably next would come Washington station, in the, United States, which can boast of 337,920 square feet of platform accommodation, some of Its platforms being extremely long. Cologne follows with 14 platforms, and Canada is next, with its Canadian Pacific Windsor Street station in Montreal, possessing 12 platforms.