THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: APRIL 4, 1000.
SON
No. 11
Car Building and General Repair Shops
THE SHOPS
A feature of the street railway system of which the Com
pany feels proud is the new car-building and general repair
shops at Twenty-sixth and Lake Streets.
The shops of the Company are entitled to consideration
by themselves as an industrial and wage paying factor. Per
manent employment is made possible for about 100 men com
prising the highest and best paid kinds of artisans. As the work
done at the shops is constantly growing with the expansion
of the Company, the payroll will show a steady increase.
The shops and large storage yards are located on a tract of
ground two blocks square, giving ample room both for present
and future needs. The buildings were erected in 1905, are semi
fireproof, adequate and roomy from a practical standpoint and
present an ornamental exterior appearance.
Construction is of light pressed brick with buff stone trim
ming. The main building is 245 feet long by 120 feet wide.
The offices and drafting room are housed in a separate building
35 by 50 feet in size and fitted with a fireproof vault for the
storage of maps, plans and records.
The shops are separated by heavy brick fire walls into six
separate departments, as follows: Machine Shop; Forge Shop;
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One Corner of the Woodworking Slio.
Truck Room; Armature Room. Mill or woodworking Shop
and the Paint Shop.
All of the many expensive machines, apparatus and devices
used are thoroughly modern and capable of performing far more
work than is required of them at present. All mechanical
power is electric, and so far as practicable the various machines
have their individual motors, ready for the most economical
operation at all times. The natural lighting facilities are excel
lent and the entire building is fitted with incandescent lamps.
Compressed air is used for operating hoists and certain
tools. The hoists are portable and are employed when it is de
sired to lift anything which would tax a man's strength upwards
to the 20-ton cars.
No foundry has been installed up to the present time, it
having been found advisable to purchase most of the castings
required from local institutions which specialize in that class
of work.
A fire at the shops or in any of the car barns at night would
put many cars out of commission and interfere with the service.
To guard as far as possible against accidents of this kind the
shops and car houses are fitted throughout with automatic
sprinkling fire extinguishers operating on the usual thermosta
tic principle.
It does not lie within the scope of this article to attempt
a complete or technical description of the shops. A person in
terested in machine tools would find much to interest him and
excite his admiration, including a number of devices originated
by the Company's officers and employes. Noticeable among
these are the elevated inspection pits in the truck room, with
concrete piers and a specially designed electric lighting system.
Particular attention has been given to the welfare of the
men, who have individual lockers, commodious lavatories and
other conveniences.
THE CARS
The Omaha and Council Bluffs Street Railway Company
has built some of its own cars since 1906.
In deciding to build its own cars the Company was in
fluenced by a number of reasons, one being the wish to add to
the industrial growth and welfare of the city. The Company
found that it could build its own cars about as cheaply as it
could buy them from the manufacturers. By building the cars
stronger and better and carefully supervising each bit of con
struction, it was believed that superior service could be offered
and maintenance costs reduced at the same time. Repair parts
would be always obtainable and local needs could be studied
and specially met as they arose.
The results of the policy have proved gratifying and have
produced a larger, better riding, more convenient and hand
somer street car than it was possible to buy.
The cars which are turned out at the Company's shops
may be compared advantageously with any in regular urban
service in the United States. They are 42 feet long, built on
heavy double trucks and operated by two 40 horsepower mo
tors. They are heated by hotwater system, with the stove in the
motorman's compartment. The seats, affording room for 42
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Soi'llon of the Machine Shops.
passengers, are covered with cane, the larger proportion being
cross-seats with an aisle in the center. Electric push buttons
between the windows to signal the motorman.
The motorman is completely enclosed, insuring at all times
'warmth and freedom from distraction in order that he may give
full attention to his duties and the safety of the passengers and
public. There is no standing room for passengers on the front
platform.
All the large cars are equipped with air brakes and air con
trolled sanders. The rear platform is large and roomy, the steps
are wide and easy to mount and the passageway into the car is
protected by a railing. Careful attention is given to ventilation
and every effort is made to offer a passenger the safest and most
comfortable ride which money and invention can procure.
The Company not only attempts to give its patrons the
highest class of car equipment but makes special efforts to keep
the cars clean, hygenic and sightly. f
At least once a year every car on the system goes through
the general shops for a thorough overhauling and revarnishing.
Once a week each car remains in the house long enough for a
thorough daylight inspection and for any minor repairs which
may be needed. Every night all cars and trucks are inspected,
oiled and cleaned and if anything is found materially wrong the
car is taken out of service.
The cars arc cleaned thoroughly each day with soap and water and dis
infected twice a week with formaldehyde. Plans are now formulated for mak
ing the daily cleaning more efficient so far as it may affect disease apt to be
communicated by bacteria.
G. V. WATTLES, President,
Omaha and Council Bluffs Street Railway Co.
( The Jackson Street Power Station will be described in Next Sun
days Articled
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