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Grand Central Terminal is already full of hidden corners and stories, but one of its most intriguing secrets lies beneath the iconic Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

It’s called Track 61—a private train platform built in the 1910s, shrouded in secrecy and used by some of the most powerful figures in American history.

Track 61: Built for Convenience, Cloaked in Secrecy

Originally part of Grand Central’s power station infrastructure, Track 61 was never intended for public use. But its proximity to the Waldorf Astoria made it a perfect backdoor for VIPs to arrive—and disappear—without ever stepping into the public eye.

The platform is directly accessible by elevator to the hotel’s basement. At its peak, it allowed dignitaries, celebrities, and presidents to travel to and from the Waldorf with total privacy.

FDR and the Armored Train Car

The most famous user of Track 61 was President Franklin D. Roosevelt. During World War II, FDR used the platform to avoid being seen in a wheelchair, which he considered politically damaging.

He traveled in a specially modified, armor-plated train car that could be discreetly parked and unloaded via a private elevator directly into the hotel.

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A Platform Frozen in Time

Track 61 has long since fallen out of regular use, but the remnants are still there—rusted rails, dusty platforms, even rumors of the old train car still sitting there, hidden away.

While it's not open to the public, it remains a fascinating artifact of New York's layered and secretive history.

Thousands of people pass through Grand Central every day, never knowing they’re walking just above a Cold War-era secret platform.

Sometimes, history doesn’t disappear—it just hides in plain sight.

Until next time,

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