Grand Central Gatemen 1950s-1960s

I don't see that any of the posters talked about gatemen "collecting" tickets. Many posters mentioned "checking" tickets, which is a different thing, as the original poster mentioned. I know that at many stations where sleepers were open for occupancy prior to departure, both the Pullman conductor and the train conductor collected tickets and pouched them so that the passenger would not be disturbed later.

Right, you could not access the platform unless you were a ticketed passenger. I can report some 55 years after the fact, however, that I had a way of doing it many times as a "youth," and only got challenged once which resulted in the GCT police placing a phone call to my mother to verify that I was not a runaway. Got a nice escorted tour of the catacombs of GCT that time, too.

There's a photo of a gateman and the ticket checking procedure in the May 1953 New York Central Headlight on pages 8-9 (posted on the Canada Southern website). Here's the link:

http://www.canadasouthern.com/caso/head ... t-0553.pdf

Also if anyone has the Spring 2012 issue of Classic Trains, there's a 1957 photo on Page 78 showing the New Haven's Owl boarding at GCT with the New Haven conductor, Pullman conductor, and a GCT gateman all sitting at the check-in desk in front of Track 21.

The 1946 book Grand Central by David Marshall is an in depth description of the daily operations at GCT in that era and explains that the procedure of gateman checking tickets at the gate was a procedure that dated back to the original Grand Central Depot. It seems it would be safe to say it was still being done for the long distance trains in 1958, but the question still remains as to when the procedure officially ended.

PC1100 wrote:....The 1946 book Grand Central by David Marshall is an in depth description of the daily operations at GCT in that era and explains that the procedure of gateman checking tickets at the gate was a procedure that dated back to the original Grand Central Depot....

I've read Marshall's book, and besides good history, it's a fun book to read.

I have also browsed digital collections of old New York City newspapers. That's apparently true about the gatemen at old GCD, they resticted platform entry to "Ticket Holders Only." I've read many 19th century letters-to-the-editor in which some gentleman would complain that on a recent trip to Grand Central, to see off a female family member, the gateman stubbornly refused entry to the platform for the purpose of assisting with packages or non-checked luggage.

The letters usually end with a couple of snide comments directed at "the Vanderbilts."

I apologize for the consecutive entries but I found something else about GCT gatemen in an ETT.

In a Hudson Div employee timetable issued in October 1960 is the following from page 4 in the section "Special Instructions":

12. Hand, Flag and Lamp Signals
G.C.T.

"Signaling device at east end of Tracks 11 to 37 inclusive, must be operated as follows: When concourse doors are closed at leaving time of train, gateman will push key switch illuminating green bulb at 45th St. When train has started, gateman must extinguish the green light."

"If bulb fails train may proceed on verbal instructions from gateman to train crew."

Tommy, I've never seen any ETT's, but maybe you can confirm (or deny) something for me. I had heard that the ETT's had departure times of trains from GCT exactly one minute later than those advertised in passenger TT's. In other words, the 20th Century Limited left at 6:00 pm, but was listed in ETT's at 6:01 pm. Is that so, and did it have to do with the idea that the concourse gate would shut at 6:00, but the platform had to be cleared?

Mike yes that is true, absolutely. No. 25 is shown as departing GCT at 6:01PM. All the other departures are listed one minute later than in the public timetable as well.

I'm sure the reason is as you suggest. In fact I think that is explained in the Marshall book, or more likely, explained to Marshall by a Central employee.

Time in the employee timetables was one minute later, the time in the public timetable was known as "gate time" the employee timetable as departure time. There were a few exceptions at least on the New Haven side. I don't know the reason for any exceptions. I will dig for some of the exceptions but not tonight.
Noel Weaver

I found a used copy of "Grand Central" on Amazon, and ordered it. I'm pretty sure I read it as a youngster (weren't lending libraries a great thing?), but it's time to revisit it now. Thanks for the memory jog.

Interesting I noticed in the October 1960 employee timetable, NYC No. 25 was shown as departing at 6:01 PM (from Track 34).

NYNH&H Train Y28 (the swanky Gilt Edge for Boston) is shown as departing from Track 19 at 6:00 1/2 PM.

That is interesting, Tommy. Guess over on the "Y" (Yankee) side, they could get the platform cleared in 30 seconds!

If you check the Electric Division (later Hudson / Harlem Division) employee timetables, you will find that 1/2-minute timings were used at GCT and on the road at SS's into the 1960's.