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"Glimpses into the New Repair Shop of the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation" (1927)

ELECTRIC RAILWAY JOURNAL · Vol. 69, No. 12 · March 19, 1927 · pp 503-510.

Glimpses into the New Repair Shop of the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation

An electric railway shop equipped completely with the latest machine tools and other modern equipment is an inspiration to men responsible for electric car maintenance. Such an example is furnished by the new DeKalb Avenue repair shop of the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation.

Prior to June, 1926, all maintenance work on surface cars for both the above corporation and the Brooklyn City Railroad was consolidated under one head. The separation of this work for the two companies made it necessary for the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation to have increased facilities. The DeKalb Avenue shop was rebuilt and enlarged and the very latest shop equipment that could be obtained was installed.

Like other officials of city railway systems. those of the Brooklyn property felt that suitable facilities and shop equipment for maintenance work are essential to safe and reliable car service. Particular attention was given to the selection of machine tools. Experts studied the various machining operations that are necessary for car repairs, improvements were added and several special machines were built by manufacturers to meet the specific class of work. Each machine is provided with individual electric drive. Work and materials can pass through the shop without delay, floor space can be used to the best advantage and any congestion at one machine does not interfere with independent operation of another.

The accompanying illustrations show some of the apparatus of this extensively equipped shop. At the top of this page one of the 10-ton cranes is shown serving the hydraulic wheel press. A general view of the truck overhauling bay with the machine shop at the rear is shown below.

The Wheel and Axle Department is a busy section. The helical geared ball bearing lathe, Fig. 3, is used almost entirely for turning armature shafts. It is large enough to take the broom shafts of sweeper equipment. The high-speed, 300-ton closed tank type wheel press, Fig. 4, is 54 in. between tee bars and has an 18-in. stroke. A hydraulic cylinder in the bed of the 48-in. wheel boring machine, Fig. 5, lifts wheels into position, and forces the jaws together. Axle straightening is done in the 125-ton hydraulic press, Fig. 6. Push button control for the motors is a feature of the 48-in. wheel lathe, Fig. 7.

The Electrical Repair Department is completely equipped for maintenance of all motor and control apparatus. This combination commutator slotting, turning and banding lathe, Fig. 8, is a special machine designed for electric railway shops. Conveniently arranged armature stands facilitate work of rewinding, Fig. 9. The baking and drying ovens, Fig. 10, have thermostatic heat regulation and clock control for turning off the heat. Steel car repairs require Modern Sheet Steel Machines. A hand bending brake shapes sheet steel for splash guards and sand boxes, Fig. 11. The power squaring shears, Fig. 12, cuts side sheets for steel cars and other sheet metal work.

The Machine Shop is Most Modern. Surfaces of motor shells, gear cases and truck frames are finished on the planer in the foreground, Fig. 13. A motor shell is being rebored in the horizontal boring mill in the rear. Bushings and pins are made economically on the universal turret lathe, Fig. 14, which feeds bar stock with draw-in collets without stopping the machine. Motor shells and truck frames can be clamped permanently when drilled in the radial drill, Fig. 15. Small surfaces are finished quickly in the 16-in. shaper, Fig. 16. The friction of a disk on the pulley of the grindstone, Fig. 17, rotates a pump to supply water for wet grinding.

To maintain and repair cars speedily and keep them up to the modern standards of excellence a completely equipped machine shop was installed. Axle caps are bored with a special jig in the universal milling machine, Fig. 18. The forcing and broaching press, Fig. 19, is convenient for broaching controller handles and pressing in bushings. Truck bolts, turn buckles and special nuts are threaded and tapped in the 2-1/2-in. bolt cutter, Fig. 20. Turning of car axles is done quickly on this lathe, Fig.21.

Modern Wood Working Machines eliminate much hand work. Stiles and rails for sash and doors are mortised on this automatic vertical hollow chisel mortiser, Fig. 22. It has a power stroke for the chisel ram. The 36-in. hand, scroll and rip sawing machine, Fig. 23, is a convenient accessory. This four-spindle boring machine, Fig. 24, has a vertical adjustable table. Material is cut quickly into slats and narrow widths on the automatic self-feeding rip saw. Fig. 25.

Forge Shop Equipment is suited to light and heavy work. The oil burning furnace, Fig. 26, is used for heating heavy pieces with a long surface. Small work can be done by one man aided by the blacksmith's helper, Fig. 27. Bending, shaping and welding heavy iron can be done quickly with the air hammer. Fig. 28. Rods, angles, and other small pieces are heated in the forge, Fig. 29. Bending and pressing are essential operations of the bulldozer, Fig. 30. It is used also for testing the compression of heavy springs.

Electric Trucks are a great convenience for material handling. A crane truck, Fig. 31, handles heavy parts in the material storage yard. Small material is moved quickly by trucks, Fig. 32, with stationary platforms. Controllers, compressors and other car equipment can be placed on work benches by one man with the elevating platform truck, Fig. 33. The Tool Room, one of the shop's show places. Cylindrical, internal and surface grinding are done on the universal cutter and grinder, Fig. 34. The twist drill grinder. Fig. 35, has a special wheel truing attachment. Many operations are done economically on the universal milling machine, Fig. 36.

Sources: Electric Railway Journal, McGraw Hill Company, Digitized by Microsoft, Americana Collection, archive.org.