These doors are
closed by an overhead lever system. The sliding door on the front
platform of the first car may be partly opened and secured in this
position by a bar, and thus serve as an arm-rest for the motorman. The
doors close against an air-cushion stop, making it impossible to
clutch the clothing or limbs of passengers in closing.
[Illustration: INTERIOR VIEW--SKELETON FRAMING OF STEEL CAR]
Pantagraph safety gates for coupling between cars are provided. They
are constructed so as to adjust themselves to suit the various
positions of adjoining cars while passing in, around, and out of
curves of 90 feet radius.
On the door leading from the vestibule to the body of the car is a
curtain that can be automatically raised and lowered as the door is
opened or closed to shut the light away from the motorman. Another
attachment is the peculiar handle on the sliding door. This door is
made to latch so that it cannot slide open with the swaying of the
car, but the handle is so constructed that when pressure is applied
upon it to open the door, the same movement will unlatch it.
Entering the car, the observer is at once impressed by the amount of
room available for passengers. The seating arrangements are similar to
the elevated cars, but the subway coaches are longer and wider than
the Manhattan, and there are two additional seats on each end. The
seats are all finished in rattan. Stationary crosswise seats are
provided after the Manhattan pattern, at the center of the car.
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