The Street railway journal (1901) (14572071339)

Identifier: streetrailwayjo181901newy (find matches)
Title: The Street railway journal
Year: 1884 (1880s)
Authors:
Subjects: Street-railroads Electric railroads Transportation
Publisher: New York : McGraw Pub. Co.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries



Text Appearing Before Image:
placed above it, with a reflector over them, so thatthe light is thrown down on the lettering, making it asvisible by night as by day. The lamps are entirely inde-pendent of the revolving part of the sign. When this company assumed control of the Third AvenueRailroad a new prolilem confruntetl us. We found our-selves with one hundred long box cars, with cross seats, andwith car bodies 32 ft. long. These cars are equipped withfour Westinghouse No. 69 motors, on Peckham center-bearing trucks, with 33-in. wheels. During the rush hoursit was found, especially at transfer points and prominentstreets, that much time was lost by the congestion in thenarrow aisles. To overcome this we have, during the pastsummer, taken the three seats out of each of the four cor-ners of the car, and in their place inserted side seats. Theseating capacity is not materially lessened, while the stand-ing room is increased about 75 per cent. This change hasalso had a good eiTect on the life of the motors and con-
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SIGN ON CAR trolkrs, as the motormen do not abuse them as much intrying to make schedule time with them. The plow, or underground trolley, of these cars is, ofcourse, peculiar to New York. The method of supportingthe plow in the trucks is shown herewith. The cast-ironshoes which we use on these plows last from ten days totwo weeks. At the line of slot rails there are placed overthe main plate twa clips, called wearing plates, which arerenewed as often as necessary. The body of the plowwhich passes through the slot is composed of three piecesof sheet steel, with space between them for the flat insulatedwire to run down to the contact shoes. The latter arefastened directly on springs, and two flexible conductorsrun to each shoe, as it was found that one conductor isliable to become broken. The lower part of the plow is en-tirely of wood, with the exception of the contact shoes,springs and iron for spring support. The plow is taken offthe car when any repairs are to be made on it. When a