It’s a giant relic watching over the East Side. The Central Terminal’s size and beauty represents a once booming city.
“It was uh, I guess 21 tracks under the yard,” remembers former train conductor Ray Campbell. “It was a busy place. I guess they used every floor in the terminal for offices. 15 floors.”
Back then, it wasn’t like it is now. No broken windows. No worn down walls. Back then, the rails ruled, and Ray the conductor ruled the rails.
“One of the things that I would preach to the guys that worked with me is there’s one thing we have to sell and that’s service,” said Ray
It was Ray’s daughter that saw the story on our website. Wanted: Extras for a movie set during World War II at the Central Terminal.
“It was by a Cheektowaga native, set in WWII in the Central Terminal. I emailed Chuck Grady, and he immediately emailed me back and told me he’d be honored to have my dad in the film,” said Teddi Eberhardt.
But, Ray was never an extra. Not here. Not in the grand hall where made the trains run on time. After all, the scene was in a train station, and they needed a conductor.
“It’s one of those serendipitious things that’s happened on this film. You come to this station because it kind of has magic in it. Then you get a call from a guy who was a conductor in the time period you’re recreating. You’re like wow, he’s got to be in it,” said the film’s director, Chuck Grady.
So once again, the suit went on. Sure, it wasn’t the same. The hat was different. And the hands had a little more age. But that smile was something time couldn’t change.
When it came time for the big moment, with the white lights shining down, Ray didn’t flinch.
He didn’t panic. He just did what he knew how to do. He stepped up, and called for one last train.
“It’s a re-visitation. I see all these sailors. And that reminds me of the days of yore. Look at all the fun I’m having tonight. This is enjoyable,” said Ray.
WGRZ TV Channel 2
*CTRC Note* A note from CTRC Treasurer Mark Lewandowski: “The man that they are talking about was my fellow conductor in the movie. Chuck (director) asked me for the movie to announce the train. I said it would not be right when a real New York Central conductor was present. This put an everlasting smile on the older man’s face. It was really heart wrenching to see him step back into past and relive it just one more time.
