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This was a major terminus in Edinburgh originally opened in 1870 and entirely rebuilt in 1893-94. After the reconstruction the main station building was a single storey (but very high). In its final form, it had seven platforms, a 850 foot glass bayed roof and the "Caledonian Hotel", built 1899-1903. There was much in common with the architectural style of Glasgow Central station. On the concourse was a noted clock in a 'wooden castle'.

The hotel is in red sandstone, from Locharbriggs Quarries, which would stand out compared with the lighter sandstone of the New Town. It is four and five storeys high with an additional three attic floors - to create grand ground floor rooms those close to the north end of Lothian Road have very high ceilings (four floor section), the floor being subdivided elsewhere (five floors). Architects: Peddie and Browne. The hotel extended the existing ground floor (which was modified). The pillars and arches surviving from the original design, but with some changes to the main entrance including the removal of a clock and curved mansard roof.

The station's large trainshed was by Blyth, Cunningham and Westland. Inside were seven platforms and a concourse with a round booking office built in timber (semi-circular versions exist at Stirling and Wemyss Bay). The longest platforms were on the west side with platforms becoming progressively shorter to the east. Carriage sidings were laid outside the trainshed on the west side.

The first incarnation replaced the Caledonian Railway's Lothian Road terminus which was just to the south and became a goods station. The original station had its ticket platform between Morrison Street and Grove Street.

Princes Street station closed completely on 6 September 1965 and the trainshed and platforms were largely demolished by 1970. The hotel remains intact and open.

A box opened with the first incarnation of station in 1870, replaced in 1893 during the rebuilding. The large box was on the east side of the lines as they approached the platforms, with the Lothian Road Goods lines to the south. There was a resignalling in 1937 which led to a signal bridge being erected over the passenger lines, just west of the box. It closed with the station in 1965.

A screen remains at the former vehicle entrance to the station, on the east side of Rutland Street, with entry and exit arches. This led directly into the west side of the trainshed, to the cab road between then main platforms, 1 and 2 (on the west side of the station).

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The former Caledonian Hotel was sold by British Transport Hotels in 1981 and is now independent of the railway.

It was refurbished in 2011 and renamed the Waldorf Astoria.

Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian

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