This impressive book is more than just a coffee table book, although the photography, including black and white historic prints, beautiful restoration photographs and current color prints, is exceptional. The book tells Grand Central Station’s story in words as well as photographs, and the text is not secondary to the images. Beginning with the ultimately successful effort to prevent the Penn Central Corporation from razing the terminal, the authors take us through Grand Central’s history and through the arduous effort to restore the terminal to its former glory.
The preservation of Grand Central Station had an impact that was wider than just New York City. Many people believe that it marked a turning point, both legal and philosophical, in the historic preservation movement. Communities throughout the United States, and beyond, have taken this victory as an example of what can be done by a community that unites behind its historic structures. And, the rebirth of Grand Central Station has given new hope to old and crumbling train stations throughout the country.
Whether you are interested in historic preservation, train stations, public architecture, New York City, or just beautiful and interesting books, you should purchase this one for your library.
GRAND CENTRAL, Gateway to a Million Lives John Bell and Maxinne R. Leighton Copyright 2000, W.W. Norton and Company, http://www.wwnorton.com ISBN 0-393-04765-2 $39.95
RAILROAD TYCOON II
This game is incredible! It is part strategy game, part financial simulator, and part creative enterprise. The game features eighteen scenarios, with modern dilemmas, which must be resolved. How do you design and build your railroad? How do you handle natural and man-made design challenges? Build over a gorge, through a mountain, around that body of water? What is the safest design, what are the cost benefit ratios, how much risk is acceptable? Railroad Tycoon II includes many twenty-first century dilemmas – melted Antarctica, flooded United States – as well as new train designs and architectural solutions.
Railroad Tycoon II is for the gamer, the designer, the financial strategist, the railroad fan, and anyone who loves to find solutions to multi-faceted puzzles. As the publisher’s web site says, “If you want to hop on a plane, car or ship, hop on another game.”
RAILROAD TYCOON II, $19.99, available at http://amazon.com or from the publishers web site, http://www.railroadtycoon2.com/railroadt... 800-GODGAME (463-4268)
A reader recently emailed me a question about tipping protocol when traveling Amtrak by sleeping compartment. I thought that my reply to him might be useful to other travelers who are unsure about tipping the various Amtrak personnel.
