Current collection on all elevated and subway lines is from an over-running third rail. The following sizes of third rail are in use:
| Early Elevated lines | 55 lb. | (to be replaced with 80 lb.) |
| Subway lines | 80 lb. | |
| New Subway | 150 lb. |
Rolling Stock
The New York Consolidated R. R. Company operates in subway and elevated service a total of 1550 cars each equipped with two motors and multiple unit control. These include the equipment operated over the New York Municipal lines through the new subways. 900 of the newest cars use GE-248 motors and weigh, fully equipped, about 45 tons with seats for 72 passengers. These new cars are operated in all motor car trains.
Trains up to seven cars are operated in rush hour service and the minimum headways approximate two minutes. The maximum length of ride possible for a single fare is from Corona through the Broadway subway to Coney Island, about 21 miles. The maximum grade on the system is 5 per cent on the New York Municipal line.
4000-Kw. Synchronous Converters Installed in South 6th Street Substation
CHICAGO ELEVATED RAILROADS
The present Chicago Elevated Railroads are an amalgamation of the four systems which up to 1911 were operated as independent lines. Under the unified system of operation a single fare takes the passenger from one end of the system to the other, except that north of Howard Street on the Evanston line an additional fare is collected. The longest continuous ride without change is from Wilmette to Jackson Park, a distance of 24 miles.