The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company controls all of the elevated and
surface lines in Brooklyn including those reaching Coney Island. It also
has entrance to Manhattan over the lines of the New York Municipal
Railway Corporation, which was organized by the B. R. T. to finance and
construct a part of the new city lines allotted to the B. R. T. The New
York Municipal line runs through the new Broadway subway as far north as
60th St. thence east through the 60th St. tunnel under the East River to
a connection with the Astoria and Corona lines in Queens. Other subway
and bridge routes have been completed during the past few years as part
of a definite plan, which contemplates the elimination of the present
stub end operation at the lower end of Manhattan.
[Illustration: STANDARD NEW YORK MUNICIPAL MOTOR CAR EQUIPPED WITH
GE-248 MOTORS]
The Brooklyn Bridge line built in 1883 and the Brooklyn Elevated R. R.
in 1888 formed the nucleus of the present Brooklyn Rapid Transit system.
Electrical equipment was tried out in 1898 and additional motor cars
were put in service in 1902. This improvement rapidly displaced the
“steam dummies” and facilitated the extension of lines and the handling
of a rapidly increasing traffic.
Of the present lines on the Brooklyn Rapid Transit system 89.20 miles of
route aggregating 258.35 miles on a single track basis can be classed as
rapid transit lines and operate multiple unit trains with third rail
current collection. This includes the several elevated branches in
Brooklyn and the newer subway lines of the dual system all of which are
operated by the New York Consolidated R. R. Co., which is the operating
organization.
The lines of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit system, which are operated by
the New York Consolidated R. R., according to figures for the year ended
June 30, 1921, handled 404,970,640 passengers over the rapid transit
lines.
_Power Supply_
The original power equipment consisted of engine-driven direct-current
generators, which have gradually been retired due to obsolescence.
[Illustration: RAPID TRANSIT LINES OPERATED BY NEW YORK CONSOLIDATED
R. R. CO.]
Power for operating the B. R. T. system is now generated in two
alternating-current plants with installed capacities as follows:
Central (Third Av. & 2nd. St.) 16,500 kw.
Williamsburg (Kent Av. & Rush St.) 182,500 kw.
Power is generated and transmitted at 6600 volts, 25 cycles,
three-phase. Owing to the diversified feeding system it is not possible
to estimate the portion used by the elevated and surface lines. Power
for the operation of the Manhattan lines is purchased from the
Interborough Rapid Transit Co.
_Substations_
For supplying 600 volts to the entire system the B. R. T. has in
operation 98 synchronous converter units aggregating 142,500 kw. These
units range in size from 500 to 4000 kw. each. Many of the stations feed
both elevated and surface lines so that it is difficult to approximate
the capacity available for the rapid transit service.
_Distribution_
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.
[Illustration: 4000-KW. SYNCHRONOUS CONVERTERS INSTALLED IN SOUTH 6TH
STREET SUBSTATION]
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