COMMISSIONER BASSETT :— OPINION OF COMMISSION. By Order No. 21 the operating company was required to operate and equip its cars in service with improved circuit breakers, either such as are made by the General Electric Company or such as are equivalent thereto, on or before November 15, 1907. This order was loosely drawn in that it did not specify how many automatic circuit breakers should be placed on each car. The operating company claims to have understood that the placing of one automatic circuit breaker on each car was sufficient. Modern practice requires two automatic circuit breakers on each car, for reasons that are more fully stated in my opinion filed at the close of hearings in Order No. 166. As the time is already becoming short for this company to procure and equip its closed cars with two automatic eircuit breakers each before the warm weather shall arrive, and as the public will suffer no great injury for a few months by reason of the operating of the closed cars in some cases with only one automatic circuit breaker, I am of the opinion that the equipment of all closed cars in service with two automatic circuit breakers of modern type may be postponed until the closed cars go into service in the fall of 1908. Let an order be prepared accordingly. Thereupon the following final order was issued: FINAL ORDER No. 255, AFTER HEARING ORDER No. 203. This matter coming on upon the report of the hearing had herein on the 23d day of January, and, by adjournment, on the 29th day of January and the 5th day of February, 1908, and it appearing that the said hearing was held by and pursuant to an order for a hearing No. 203, made the 14th day of January, 1908, and returnable on the 23d day of January. 1908, and that the said Order No. 203 was duly served upon the Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad Company and that the said service was by it duly acknowledged, and that the said hearing was held by and before the Commission on the matters in said order specified. Mr. Commissioner Bassett presiding, and Mr. Backus appearing for the Commission; and John J. Kuhn, Esq., and Mr. Britten appearing for the company. Now, it being made to appear after the proceedings upon said hearing that it is just, reasonable and proper that the Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad Company should be directed to make the additions to its appliances and equipment below set forth. In order to promote the security and convenience of the public and employees of said company: Therefore, on motion of George S. Coleman, Esq. counsel to the Commission, It is ordered, That the said Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad Company shall, before the closed cars go into service in the fall for the winter season of 19081909, provide and equip all of the said closed cars in service with two automatic circuit breakers of modern type, and connect said circuit breakers in multiple on each car and at all times to mainta'n both of said circuit breakers on each car in good and perfect repair and keep the same properly adjusted for the capacity of the motors of the car on which they are placed, and that the circuit breaker ever the motorman's head shall at all times be the one operated. Ordered. That within five days after service upon it of this order the said Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad Company notify the Public Service Commission for Further it is the First District whether the terms of this order are accepted and will be obeyed. Upon application of the company the following extension order was issued: EXTENSION ORDER No. 268. February 18, 1908. An order of the Commission. No. 60, having been made herein on or about the 30th day of October. 1907. requiring the Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad Company to provide ten new car bodies for use on its Smith street line on or about the 1st day of February. 1908, and said Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad Company having, on or about the 17th day of February, 1908, applied in writing for an extension of such time. Now, on motion, it is Ordered. That the time of the Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad Company within which to procure and put in operation the car bodies above mentioned he, and the same hereby is, extended to and including the 15th day of March, 1908. Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad Company.- Inspection, overhauling, repair and equipment of cars. Hearing Order No. 271. In the Matter Hearing on the motion of the Commission on the question of additions, repairs and improvements required to the rolling stock, equipment, overhead trolley construction and feeder wire system of the CONEY ISLAND AND BROOKLYN RAILROAD COMPANY, in the particulars hereinafter set forth. ORDER FOR HEARING It is hereby ordered. That a hearing be held on the 6th day of March, 1908, at 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon, or at any time or times to which the same may be adjourned, at the rooms of the Commission. No. 154 Nassau street, borough of Manhattan, city and State of New York, to inquire whether the regulations, practices, equipment and appliances of the Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad Company in respect of transportation of persons in the First District are unsafe, improper and inadequate and whether additions, repairs and improvements to the rolling stock, equipment, overhead trolley construction and feeder wire system of said company ought reasonably to be made, in order to promote the security and convenience of the public or employees, and in order to secure adequate service and facilities in the transportation of passengers and property, and if such be found to be the fact, then to determine whether additions, repairs and improvements therein as hereinafter set forth are such as would be just. reasonable, safe, adequate and proper and ought reasonably to be made to promote such security and convenience of the public or employees and in order to secure adequate service and facilities for the transportation of passengers and property, that is to say: All open and closed cars of said company should receive a thorough inspection covering car body, motor and electric equipment, wiring and trucks. All defects should be carefully noted and the ears sent through the various shops for an overhauling which, when complete, will place the cars in a first-class operating and practically new condition, and when so completed, said cars should thereafter be overhauled at periods which will insure the future up-keep and proper operation of equipment so as properly to serve the public. The following should not be construed as detailed working specifications, but merely as illustrative of the intention of the Commission and the scope and meaning of this order. INSPECTION. By a thorough inspection and general overhauling of the car body and its entire equipment, it is intended that each car should be placed over a pit, seats and trap doors removed and covers taken off to facilitaté careful inspection of motors, which should be made by competent engineers and not by car house employees. CAR BODY. Where the car body must be completely repainted as well as revarnished, it should be sent first through the carnenter shop to have all the defects of the woodwork repaired. Special care should be given to the inspection of all car bodies, covering frame, floor. moulding stanchions, parels, roofs and hoods, and in every case where the woodwork and other material is not in sound condition, such part should be replaced, strengthened and made practically new. All metal work pertaining to car bodies should be renewed if in a defective state and the various parts of platforms, doors, windows, and roofs should be given the same careful renewal. HEAD-LIGHTS. All cars in service should be supplied with one incandescent head-light, located on each dash of the car. The head-light must be of a type which does not project in front of dash more than two (2) inches. All head-lights should be overhauled and maintained in a fit condition with new reflectors where necessary, broken glass replaced and new lamps substituted for those below normal candle power. WHEEL GUARDS. All cars in service should be provided with "pick up" wheel guards of modern type, placed in front of the wheels at each end of the car. WIRING. All means possible to improve and perfect wiring, hanging and placing of equipment appliances should be used and a universal system of wiring adopted. BRASSES. All brasses throughout the cars should be renewed. and other bearing parts should be normal. COMMUTATORS. Armature and axle shafts All commutators should be turned and put in first-class condition and when abnormally worn should be renewed. FIELD COILS AND ARMATURE WINDINGS. These should be tested for insulation and if found to be below normal, should be replaced with new ones. They should all be thoroughly cleaned and painted. CONTROLLERS. Controllers should have all contacts and other parts renewed that show any indication of abnormal wear. Connections should be tightened and the controller thoroughly cleaned and painted. AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT BREAKERS. These should be tested and maintained operative for the proper load, corresponding to the motor capacity of the car. RESISTANCES. Resistances should be carefully tested and any section not up to the standard renewed, and a form of insulating hanger used so that the resistance will not be bolted directly to the bottom of the car when in line with the splash of the wheel. There should be sufficient space between the resistance and the car floor to prevent danger to the woodwork of the car and also to increase insulation. TRUCKS. All trucks should be thoroughly cleaned and lined. twisted, worn or otherwise defective parts should be replaced with new ones and not merely repaired, except where defects are very slight, especially all springs All broken, weak, sagging, should be renewed where the normal effectiveness has been lost. MOTOR SUSPENSION. All motor suspensions should be completely reconstructed, missing parts supplied, springs that have lost their normal effectiveness should be replaced and all adjustments properly made. BRAKES. All cars in service should be supplied with double chain multiplying power brakes, and all brake mechanisms should be given careful inspection and improvements made in the mechanism and form at present employed and the entire brake equipment should be maintained always in first-class operative condition. LIGHTNING ARRESTERS AND CUT-OUTS. All open cars in service should be equipped with one modern lightning arrester outfit, properly connected and kept always in an operative condition, and all lightning arresters and cut-outs should be given most careful inspection and placed and maintained in first-class operative condition, and such sections of the line of the road which at the present time have insufficient protection should be supplied with lightning arresters. AXLE GEAR WHEELS, ARMATURE PINIONS AND CAR WHEELS. These should in every instance be renewed where any indication is found of abnormal wear. worn down to less than one-sixteenth (1/16) of an inch on top, and gear cases All gears and pinions should be replaced where the teeth are should be maintained tight, so as to prevent as much as possible the lubricating grease from being thrown out. TIME. The company should be able to create facilities and organize a reconstruction department so as to pass each of its open car bodies and equipment through the shops for the overhauling and renewal as specified above, on or before April 15, 1908, and all closed car bodies and equipment should receive the same overhauling and renewal process before going into service for the season of 1908-1909. NOTICE. When any car has been overhauled and prepared for service as above specified, notice of that fact in writing should be sent to the Commission in a form to be prescribed by it, stating the time and place where the car is to be tested, to the end that the engineers of the Commission may attend. "RUN-IN" BOOK. The company should provide a run-in book supplied with a carbon sheet and envelope, and this carbon sheet should be mailed to the Equipment and Inspection Bureau of the Commission daily. OVERHEAD TROLLEY CONSTRUCTION. The entire trolley wire system should be carefully inspected and every part showing excessive wear should be renewed. curves, cross-overs and switches, also to the entrance to frogs, switches, section This refers particularly to the wires on insulators, splicing cars, cross-overs and to points where the trolley joins any of the overhead appliances. proper tension, so All trolley wires should at all times be maintained at a maintained at a uniform height above the track, where possible. as to prevent excessive sag between supports and should be pull-offs and strain wires should be straightened and the slack taken up, and all wires must be immediately renewed which show corrosion, improper connections or All span wires. any other imperfections. OVERHEAD APPLIANCES. These should be carefully inspected and where found lacking normal insulation or strength or otherwise defective, should be replaced or repaired, double insulation between all live wires and poles should be made. FEEDER WIRES. The entire feeder wire system should be carefully inspected and all parts showing insufficient insulation or defective construction should be replaced or repaired. POLES. Attention should be given to the cleaning and repainting of substantially all the poles throughout the company's system and particularly to the replacing of deteriorated poles. NEW EQUIPMENT. The company should be required to purchase ten (10) complete car equipments, each including two (2) 50-H. P. motors; ten (10) new trucks of satisfactory design adapted to carry such motors; and ten (10) new trucks of like design and adapted to the future substitution of axles suitable for the motors above required, but to be now supplied with axles for mounting the present equipment. And if it be found that any such improvements, repairs and additions are such as ought to be made or furnished as aforesaid, then to determine what period would be a reasonable time within which the same should be directed to be executed and in what manner execution of the same should be directed to be made. All to the end that the Commission may make such order or orders in the premises as shall be just and reasonable, and it is further Ordered, That the Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad Company shall be given at least ten (10) days notice of such hearing by service upon it, either personally or by mail, of a certified copy of this order, and that at such hearing it be afforded all reasonable opportunity for presenting evidence and examining and cross-examining witnesses as to the matters aforesaid. Hearings were held March 6th, 17th and 31st. The following final order was issued: FINAL ORDER No. 433. April 24, 1908. This matter coming on upon the report of the hearing had herein on the 6th day of March, 1908, and the adjournments thereof, and it appearing that the said hearing was held by and pursuant to an order for hearing No. 271, made the 18th day of February, 1908, and returnable on the 6th day of March. 1908, and that the said order No. 271 was duly served upon the Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad Company, and that the said service was by it duly acknowledged and that the said hearing was held by and before the Commission on the matters in said order specified on the 6th day of March, 1908, and by adjournment duly had on the 17th day of March, 1908, and by adjournment duly had on the 31st day of March, 1908, Mr. Commissioner Bassett presiding at each of said sessions, and Grosvenor H. Backus, assistant counsel, appearing for the Commission, and John J. Kuhn, Esq, and E. D. Kelly, Esq., appearing for said Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad Company, and proof being taken, Now, it being made to appear, after the proceedings upon said hearing, that the regulations, practices, equipment and appliances of the Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad Company, in respect to the transportation of persons in the First District are unsafe, improner and inadequate, and that the additions, repairs and improvements to the rolling stock, equipment, overhead trolley construction and feeder wire system of said company, hereinafter specified, ought reasonably to be made in order to promote the security and convenience of the public, and in order to secure adequate service and facilities in the transportation of passengers, Therefore, on motion of George S. Coleman, Esq., counsel to the Commission, It is ordered: (1) That the said Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad Company, make a thorough inspection of all its open and closed cars, covering car bodies, motor and electric equipment, wiring and trucks; that all defects are to be carefully noted and the cars sent through the various shops for an overhauling which, when complete, will place the cars in a first-class operating and renovated condition : and that when so completed said cars shall thereafter be overhauled at periods which will insure the future up-keep and proper operation of equipment so as properly to serve the public. The following directions are given, not as detailed working specifications, but merely as illustrative of the intention of the Commission and of the scope and meaning of this order. INSPECTION. By a thorough inspection and general overhauling of the car bodies and its entire equipment, it is intended that each car should be placed over a pit, seats and trap doors removed and covers taken off to facilitate careful inspection of motors which should be made by a competent superintendent and not by car house employees. CAR BODY. Where the car body must be completely repainted as well as revarnished, it should be sent first through the carpenter shop to have all the defects of the woodwork repaired Special attention should be given to the inspection of all car bodies, covering frame, floor, moulding, stanchions, panels, roofs and hoods, and in every case where the woodwork and other material is not in sound condition, such part should be replaced. All metal work pertaining to car bodies should be renewed if in a defective state, and the various parts of platforms, doors, windows and roofs should be given the same careful renewal. HEAD-LIGHTS. All cars in service should be supplied with one incandescent head-light, located on each dash of the car. The head-light must be of a type which does not project in front of the dash more than three inches. All head-lights should be overhauled and maintained in a fit condition with new reflectors where necessary, broken glass replaced and new lamps substituted for those below normal candle power. WIRING. All means possible to improve and perfect wiring, hanging and placing of equipment appliances should be used and a universal system of wiring adopted. BRASSES. All brasses throughout the cars should be renewed where necessary. Armature and axle shafts and other bearing parts should be normal. COMMUTATORS. All commutators should be turned where the service is uneven and put in firstclass condition, and when abnormally worn should be renewed. FIELD COILS AND ARMATURE WINDINGS. These should be tested for insulation and if found to be below normal, should be replaced with new ones. They should all be thoroughly cleaned and painted. CONTROLLERS. Controllers should have all contacts and other parts renewed that show any indication of abnormal wear. Connections should be tightened and the controller thoroughly cleaned and painted. AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT BREAKERS. These should be tested and maintained operative for the proper load, corresponding to the motor capacity of the car. RESISTANCES. Resistances should be carefully tested and any section not up to the standard renewed, and a form of insulating hanger used so that the resistance will not be belted directly to the bottom of the car when in line with the splash of the wheel. There should be sufficient space between the resistance and the car floor to prevent danger to the woodwork of the car and also to increase insulation. TRUCKS. All trucks should be thoroughly cleaned and lined. All broken, weak, sagging, twisted, worn or otherwise defective parts should be replaced with new ones and not merely repaired, except where defects are very slight, especially all springs should be renewed where the normal effectiveness has been lost. MOTOR SUSPENSION. All motor suspensions should be completely overhauled, missing parts supplied, springs that have lost their normal effectiveness replaced and all adjustments properly made. BRAKES. All cars in service should be supplied with double chain brakes and all brake mechanisms should be given careful inspection and improvements made in the mechanism and form at present employed and the entire brake equipment should be maintained alwavs in first-class operative condition. LIGHTNING ARRESTERS AND CUT-OUTS. All open cars in service should be equipped with one modern lightning arrester outfit, properly connected and kept always in operative condition and all lightning arresters and cut-outs should be given most careful inspection and placed and maintained in first-class operative condition and such sections of the line of th road which at the present time have insufficient protection should be supplied with lightning arresters. AXLE GEAR WHEELS, ARMATURE PINIONS AND CAR WHEELS. These should in every instance be renewed where any indication is found of abnormal wear. All gears and pinions should be replaced where the teeth are worn down to less than one-sixteenth (1/16) of an inch on top, and gear cases should be maintained tight, so as to prevent as much as possible the lubricating grease from being thrown out. TIME. The company should create facilities and organize a reconstruction department so as to pass each of its open car bodies and equipment through the shons for the overhauling and renewing, as specified above, on or before the 31st day of May. 1908, and all closed car bodies and equipment should receive the same overhauling and renewal process before going into service for the season of 1908-1909. When any car has been overhauled and prepared for service, as above specified, notice of that fact in writing should be sent to the Commission, stating the time and place where the car is to be tested, to the end that the engineers of the Commission may attend. |