Automatic Substations for Supplying 1500 Volts Direct Current to Suburban Railways

The engineer in applying automatic substations to an existing electrified traction property is often forced to make the most of a poorly designed or antiquated distribution system. By comparison, the problem of designing the distribution system for the electrification of a steam railroad is often very simple. The choice of proper converting equipment is perhaps not so easily made. The author brings attention to a number of important points which should be given careful consideration by those contemplating electrification.