[Cloistered] [the Half-Life Grand Central Terminal] [the Real-Life GCT] [Half-Life Mapping]

Here is some real world views of Grand Central Terminal in New York City. The Half-Life map I am building is based upon this building and seeks to stay as true as possible to its character. The gaming engine requires certain limitations and changes in structure to maintain playability and performance. I hope not to remove anything that would detract from recognition.

The background which may take a moment to load, is the 1911 map of its street level. The real GCT has changed since it was first built and has recently been restored, with additions and original plans that went unimplemented completed. The building looks great, and I think the flow will play well, assuming it isn't too big to play in.

GCT actually has over a dozen levels. The lower platform of tracks runs below the Lower Concourse(a large central room). You can come up from the Lower Tracks at either end of the Lower Concourse. Two esclators, two ramps, and two grand staircase, plus at least twelve elevators bring you upward. I also found on an old 1911 map that a spiral staircase in the center of the floor linked the two floors inside the information booths. I've decided to add that back. The Main Concourse is directly above the lower with the upper track level lying north of the concourses and slightly below the levl of the Main room. GCT is possibly the only Terminal in the world with two full levels of tracks. The main room has an east and west wing of stores. To the South is the Vanderbuilt Exhibition Hall, formerly the Main Waiting Room. This used to filled with rows of heavy wood benches. Now it is used to exhibits and shows. The east and west have balconies, reached from the two grand staircases that are continued from the lower concourse. The balconies give access to the four towers in the four corner compass points. All four walls are filled with massive 40 foot windows of steel frame panes of glass. In the west and east, above the balconies galss walkways pass between these and an outer set of similar windows. These walkways along with an unseen north walkway tie the four towers together in a U. The towers hold offices, police stations, cocktail lounge (converted from the historic Campbell Apartment), and restaurants. The towers rise an uncertain number of floors. The higher floors above the Vanderbuilt room have hosted art galleries, art schools, and even tennis courts, gyms and massage rooms.

The tracks...well there are 30 on the upper level and 14 on the lower. However, the plans from earlier in the century show many more. The old trains needed to be turned around to face the direction they would travel. A semi-circle of tracks leads around the edges of the south-facing tracks back to 42nd street and then back around to face north again. This appears to pass through a battery and rotary room. GCT consumes a massive amount of power and they have their own generators beneath ground. A set of 10-12 straight tracks run to the west side of the regular tracks leading up to or under the Waldorf Astoria. I'm guessing that this was a yard for parking trains. It is unclear how many of these old features were built, abandoned, or never made it off the drawing board. The circular tracks on the upper level I know exist. I wasn't aware on one on the lower or the presense on tracks 115-124 or the straight "yard" tracks. I will take some creative license to implement whatever plays well.