PLAN No. 1212. SHOP WIRING—MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT
The shop wiremen of an electric-railway company do the wiring around the plant, as well as that on the cars. A journeyman wire man should be able to interpret correctly wiring diagrams for ordinary jobs. These may include the installation of motors, heaters, lights, rheostats, and similar equipment. Also, he should be competent to route economically his circuits through inaccessible places and should be familiar with the National Electrical Code. He may have to install headlights, signal lights, pump-governor relays, and other devices now forming a part of car equipments. The wireman must have had considerable experience, but each wireman usually has a helper to assist him. A man with little or no experience can start in as a helper, and develop into a good wireman. The length of time required to do this will be determined almost wholly by the man’s knowledge of electricity and his efforts at self improvement. It may require six months or a year or two years. The work is done usually in a car shop which is inclosed and heated. An 8-hour day is common, but in some companies the men work 9 or 10 hours. The pay is about $75 to $125 for a wireman, and $50 to $90 for a helper.