PLAN No. 1210. ELECTRIC-RAILWAY SYSTEMS
The departmental organization of electric-railway systems varies. Large companies have more departments than small ones and probably no two companies are organized on precisely the same plan. However, there are certain functions which must be performed by every company and a typical arrangement for a comparatively large system is the following:
Power department.
Mechanical department.
Transportation department.
Maintenance of way department.
Line department.
Engineering department.
Building department.
Each of these departments has its executive head, its subordinate officers, and its workmen and mechanics.
Power Department
The power department is responsible for production of electrical energy required for operation. It is directed by an engineer of power. The duties of the department and of the men employed in it are practically identical with those of the power department of an electric-light and power company, which have been already discussed.
Mechanical Department
A master mechanic directs the mechanical department of a street-railway company. This department repairs and may build cars used on the system of which there may be a number of types, including passenger cars of several designs, mail cars, baggage cars, and work cars used by the maintenance department. For the repair and construction of this equipment there are required, in addition to the electricians, woodworkers, sheet metal men, machinists, pipe fitters, welders, pattern makers, blacksmiths, and painters.
A street railway electrical shop has duties rather different from those of the usual repair shop. Most of the repairs are on motors of a very few sizes. Furthermore, nearly all are series wound and are for operation on direct current of 600 volts. Much of the work comprises the rewinding of armatures. Burned out copper coils are stripped from the core, and the slots are prepared for new coils. These are placed in a proper sequence and the free ends are soldered to the commutator bars. Next, band wires which maintain the coils in position are wound on. Then the armature is mounted in a lathe where the commutator is turned down and finished ready for operation.