The Street Railway Journal

Street Railway Journal Vol. XVI. NEW YORK AND CHICAGO, DECEMBER 1, 1900. No. 48. THE REPAIR SHOPS OF THE BROOKLYN RAPID TRANSIT COMPANY The main shops of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company and the plans given will enable the reader to thoroughly present to-day one of the most complete examples of understand the general arrangement. Two maxims have modern methods in the systematic handling of street rail- been adopted by which all work in the shop is guided : One way repairs. The shops are located at Fifty-Second Street is to move large material as seldom and as short a distance and Second Avenue, South Brooklyn, near one of the com- as possible, and the other to never pass the same point twice pany's largest power stations. Thev are the mechanical with any piece of apparatus under repair. The latter is as GENERAL VIEW OF ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT head of a system of auxiliary repair shops which includes applicable to a description as to the actual work, and in eleven depot shops and four elevated railway shops, the en- the following outline of the methods employed the same tire system being controlled from the Fifty-Second Street general order is retained as is followed by the cars and office. During the past year the shops have been thor- equipments. oughly reorganized and greatly extended, and, although The cars are run into the shops from the Second Avenue there are still many contemplated additions to both build- end, there being five receiving tracks, holding from six to ings and equipment, the plant as it now stands is of such nine cars each, in the front part of the main floor, and eight positive interest that it merits a comprehensive description. tracks of about equal capacity in the rear portion. There The engravings which accompany this article illustrate are under construction pneumatic hoists, which are soon to many of the novel features of the methods used in the shops, be installed, which will be used to lift the car body from the 1 144 STREET RAILWAY JOURNAL. [Vol. XVI. No. 48. ti ticks. These can then be rolled on to one of the two elec- and, if necessary, the entire motors, are removed and the trie transfer tables running across the shops, and trans- truck thoroughly renovated, the facilities for heavy repairs Machine Shop Blacksmith Shop Oil Storage Erecting Shop 8 Tracks Mill Room n 350 ft. -350 ft- PLAN OF GROUND FLOOR ported to any desired point. The transfer table nearest the being close at hand in the machine shop and blacksmith receiving tracks will carry the truck to a point midway be- shop. The latter is equipped with twelve down-draft Electrical Department Paint 3 Stock Storage 1 Oven Elevator Paint Shop Stock Room PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR A LINE OF FORGES tween the machine shop and the blacksmith shop or forge forges, made by the Buffalo Forge Company, Buffalo, room, where it can be run over any one of the fourteen re- N. Y., which give excellent service. These forges are par- GALLERY OF ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT, SHOWING DIPPING VATS AND STORAGE RACKS FOR ARMATURE COILS pair pits, which is most conveniently located for the supply- ticularly adapted to work of this kind, as the entire absence ing of its necessary requirements. Here, the armatures, of overhead draft tubes allows of much better illumination, December i, 1900.] STREET RAILWAY JOURNAL. and the efficient regulation of the heat, which can be ac- mentioned multiple drills, which will drill four holes at one complished by the hood, enables the workmen to turn out operation, and turret and monitor lathes, finishing six op- the most faultless material. The mechanical draft for these erations without further attention as to chucks. The ma- forges, as well as for a large reheater used in bending chinists are also employed in fare register repairs. At one motor-supporting cross bars, is furnished by the blower and side of the shop is a tool room, separated from the shop by exhauster, which are shown on the suspended platform in a wire net partition ; the tools being delivered to the work- the illustrations of this room. These are both driven by a men by a check system, which enables the foreman to ac- 25-hp General Electric motor. The blacksmith shop also count for the disposition of every article. contains a combination punch and shear, which will cut off After the armatures and fields have been removed from a piece of iron 8 ins. by 1 in., and will punch a i^-in. hole the motors, they are taken up stairs on electric hoists to the in 1 in. iron. The machine which bends the motor-suspend- winding room, which is immediately over the forge room. ing bars after they leave the reheater mentioned above is This department is large, light and airy, and the progress known as the "Bulldozer," and its appearance and operation of the armature through it is so arranged that no inter- VIEWS ABOUT THE MACHINE AND BLACKSMITH SHOPS surely merit the name ; one man could formerly turn out ference or blocking occurs. The armature, after entering three bars per day, whereas, by the use of this machine, sixty the room is thoroughly inspected, and a statement of neces- bars can be easily finished. The shop is completely sary repairs made. It is then delivered to the winders, who equipped with steam and trip hammers, shears, punches, are furnished with two pairs of the armature stands shown etc., so that every variety of repairs can be made. At the iu the cuts. These stands are of a peculiar design, and other end of the room, on the other side of the transfer give most efficient service. They consist of a heavy cast- table tracks, is the machine shop already referred to. This iron base, with the fork and sheaves which support the department contains lathes, shapers, slotters, etc., etc., of armature shaft on the end of a longitudinal screw, thus the best construction, and capable of handling a great enabling the height of the stand to be readily varied. The variety of work. The machines are placed in line, and like box, with which one of the stands of each pair is provided, machines are placed near together in order that one man forms not only a convenient receptacle for the workman's can attend to two or more similar operations at once, thus tools, but can be used by him as a rest or seat. It is a great rendering possible large economies in labor. Some of the advantage to supply each winder with two sets of stands, as work done in this department is of quite a heavy character, the armatures are tested out thoroughly before leaving the as many of the power station repairs are made in this shop. stands, and if only one set per man was provided, he would Among the special machines which are installed may be necessarily lose a great deal of time during the testing op - 1 146 STREET RAILWAY JOURNAL. [Vol. XVI. No. 48. eration. With the present system, however, as soon as he especially for the purpose. These boxes provide for their is finished with one armature, he can immediately com- safe transportation to any part of the shops or outside. mence upon another. The armatures are moved about the The coils are all wound in this room on the ordinary ONE OF THE TRANSFER TABLES HAMMERS IN BLACKSMITH SHOP FENDER BENDING MACHINE AND ELECTRIC HEATER PAINT STORE ROOM shop on the carriages shown in the illustration, and their style of machines. After being wound they are placed upon construction, as can be easily seen, is such as to facilitate a carriage, and conveyed by a hoist and overhead track to greatly the handling of such heavy and delicate apparatus. the dipping vats, which are placed upon the gallery of the While out of their shells, they are never placed directly upon room. The floor of the gallery, in the neighborhood of the floor, but are either on the stands or else in boxes made these vats, is covered with sawdust, which entirely pre- : December i, 1900.] STREET RAILWAY JOURNAL. vents the workmen from tracking- the insulation about the After the motor parts have been returned to the trucks buildings. Both armature and field coils are placed in racks and the latter painted, it is run under the car body, and the or separate divisions of the floor of the gallery, arranged ac- complete car taken to the paint shop on the floor above the cording to their various types and sizes. Thus, when an receiving tracks. This is accomplished by an electric ele- armature is to be repaired, it is very easy to obtain the cor- vator, which delivers the car to an electric transfer table, rect coils. In this room also are repaired controllers, re- from which it can be run on to the most convenient track of the paint shop. Overhead trolley wires are provided so that the car is run by its own power. Adjoining the paint shop is the "harness" shop, where all leather work, such as repairing window curtains, hand straps, etc., is done, and the glass shop. Near the offices, which are situated about the center of the main building, are the men's locker rooms, and above them the pattern room. This latter, as well as the blue-print and draughting room, is in charge of Charles Peterson, and a complete system of receipt tags is employed for ac- counting for each pattern.

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