[Sidenote: _Switching_]
The multiple unit system adopted possesses material advantages over a
locomotive system in respect to switching at terminals. Some of the
express trains in rush hours will comprise eight cars, but at certain
times during the day and night when the number of people requiring
transportation is less than during the morning and evening, and were
locomotives used an enormous amount of switching, coupling and
uncoupling would be involved by the comparative frequent changes of
train lengths. In an eight-car multiple-unit express train, the first,
third, fifth, sixth, and eighth cars will be motor cars, while the
second, fourth, and seventh will be trail cars. An eight-car train can
be reduced, therefore, to a six-car train by uncoupling two cars from
either end, to a five-car train by uncoupling three cars from the rear
end, or to a three-car train by uncoupling five cars from either end.
In each case a motor car will remain at each end of the reduced train.
In like manner, a five-car local train may be reduced to three cars,
still leaving a motor car at each end by uncoupling two cars from
either end, since in the normal five-car local train the first, third,
and fifth cars will be motor cars.
[Illustration: 200 H. P. RAILWAY MOTOR]
[Sidenote: _Motors_]
The motors are of the direct current series type and are rated 200
horse power each. They have been especially designed for the subway
service in line with specifications prepared by engineers of the
Interborough Company, and will operate at an average effective
potential of 570 volts.
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