ORGANIZATION. Maintenance-of-equipment company is composed of company headquarters, car-repair platoon, and locomotive-repair platoon (see T/O55-228).
FUNCTION. This company is responsible
for running repairs of rolling stock, tools, and mechanical appliances,
inspection and conditioning of rolling stock, and maintenance and operation
of fuel and lubrication facilities. Its duties are equivalent to those
of a roundhouse force on a civilian railway. Heavy repairs, general overhauling,
and major replacements are performed in back shops operated by a railway-shop
battalion or civilian personnel. The maintenance-of-equipment company-Makes
running repairs, tests, and inspections of rolling stock.Washes boilers.
c. Repairs all tools and mechanical equipment of companies of the battalion.
d. Does all sign painting for the battalion.
e. Establishes and maintains a fuel reserve for the battalion.
f. Establishes and maintains a gasoline, oil, kerosene, and grease reserve for the battalion.
g. Operates fueling and ash facilities.
COMPANY HEADQUARTERS. Supervises technical operations of the two platoons, administers the company, procures, stores, and issues tools and materials for which the company is responsible, and operates drafting room.
a. Captain, company commander and master mechanic, is responsible to the division superintendent or assistant division superintendent. He assigns personnel to jobs and maintains an adequate supply of materials. He is responsible that personnel under his direction cooperate with other departments in their effort to facilitate operation of trains. He prescribes -rules and regulations for protection of shops against fire and makes frequent inspections to see that they are complied with. He is responsible for protection of the shops and will make such provision therefor as the situation may demand.
b. First lieutenant, second in command and mechanical engineer, assists the master mechanic in performance of his duties and has direct charge of the drafting room and procurement, issue, and storage of tools, materials, and supplies. Personnel under his personal direction are supply sergeant, mechanical draftsman, and storekeepers.
c. Second lieutenant, assistant to master mechanic, normally handles administration and supply matters under direction of the master mechanic. He will see that all rules pertaining to equipment inspection, tests, boiler washouts, etc., are complied with. He will maintain record of condition of locomotives and cars and perform such other duties as assigned by the master mechanic.
d. First sergeant, chief clerk, is responsible for preparation and rendition of administrative reports of a military or technical nature. He keeps all records. He is assisted by the corporal clerk.
e. Staff sergeant, supply sergeant, is in charge of procurement, receipt, storage, and distribution of railway supplies, materials, tools, as well as rations, individual equipment, and organizational equipment. He reports to the company commander but is under technical supervision of the division storekeeper.
f. Corporal, company clerk, prepares
and cares for records of the company and reports to the first sergeantTechnicians
and privates. (I) Technician 5th grade, draftsman, is in charge of drafting
room. He performs all drafting, photographic, and reproduction work for
the company. He reports to the mechanical engineer on all technical matters.Stock
clerk (storekeeper), assists the supply sergeant in the procurement, receipt,
storage, and distribution of railway supplies, materials, and tools, including
organizational equipment. He is normally assisted by stock clerks, privates.
(3) Privates, truck drivers and stock clerks, will report to the supply sergeant, bugler to first sergeant. Basics are employed on various tasks.
28. CAR-REPAIR PLATOON. This platoon
is composed of headquarters, wrecking crew, and car-repair section. It
is charged with maintenance, repair, and inspection of cars, operation
of wrecking train, and execution of all sign painting.Platoon headquarters.
Supervises operation of the car-repair shop and inspects all cars passing
over the division.First lieutenant, platoon commander and general car foreman,
under supervision of the master mechanic, has direct charge of the car-repair
shop. He is responsible for discipline and training of his men and their
suitability for work to which assigned and for inspection and tests of
air brakes and air equipment, in addition to repair of cars. He has direct
supervision of car inspection and of supply of car-repair materials. He
is the equipment department representative at wrecks. It will be his responsibility
to see that damage to equipment is held to a minimum when picking it up
after wreck, with full consideration for clearing the wreckage as quickly
(2) Technical sergeant, platoon sergeant and second in command, is the foreman in charge of the car shop. He coordinates work of car repair and requisitions shop materials.
(3) Technicians 5th grade,
car inspectors, railway, have charge of car inspection and report to lieutenant
in command or to the platoon technical sergeant. Each technician 5th
grade, railway car inspector, has one private as assistant car inspector.Wrecking
Crew. Operates equipment assigned to wrecking train and supervises removal
of wrecks or other line obstructions. It works under direction of the battalion
commander or his assistant while engaged upon wrecking activities. When
wrecking crew is not employed upon removal of wrecks, personnel is attached
to car-repair section. The crane operator, fireman, and staff sergeant
wreckmaster care for wrecking equipment under direction of the master mechanic
in connection with their other duties. Any additional men required for
wrecking operations will be drawn from the car-repair platoon.
(1) Staff sergeant, wreckmaster, is responsible for equipment and materials of wrecking train and for employment of wrecking crew when engaged upon wrecking activities.
(2) Technicians and privates. (a) Technicians 4th grade, car mechanic (railway) (steel-car work), crane operator and welder, combination.
(b) Technicians 5th grade, car mechanic (railway), and railway mechanic (general).
(c) Privates, car mechanic (railway), stationary boiler fireman (fires wrecking crane). Designations indicate their duties. Basic is assigned as needed. When these men are not engaged in wrecking activities they are assigned to other duties as indicated above.
c. Car-repair section. Performs all car repairing and maintenance work, assisted by personnel from wrecking crew when assigned to it. It is responsible for all sign painting for the battalion.
(1) Staff sergeant, car shop foreman assistant, is in charge of car-repair shop. He is responsible for discipline and training of his men and supervises their work. He keeps the supply sergeant informed of material requirements of the shop.
(2) Technicians and privates. Air-brake mechanic (railway), blacksmith, car carpenter (performs truck and woodwork), car mechanic (railway) (performs all steel work), pipe fitter (railway), welder (electric arc). Designations indicate their duties and their employment depends upon the tasks assigned to them by the car-repair section. Basics are assigned as needed.
29. LOCOMOTIVE-REPAIR PLATOON. This platoon is composed of headquarters and locomotive-repair section, common, plus special sections as needed. The platoon is charged with maintenance of locomotives and mechanical appliances, operation of locomotive cranes used for fuel and ash handling, and washing out of boilers. It is organized to permit operation of running repair shop on a three-shift basis. It may be organized to operate on a one- or two-shift basis if directed by master mechanic.
a. Platoon headquarters. Supervises operation of running repair shop, inspects locomotives, and handles administrative matters in connection with activities of the platoon.
(1) First lieutenant, engine-house foreman, commands the platoon and has charge of the shop train or engine house and other terminal facilities for handling power. He supervises dispatch of engines and sees that all engines arriving at their terminals are properly inspected, equipped, and in condition when ordered for service. He prescribes safety rules and regulations, and by frequent inspections sees that they are complied with. He sees that there are no avoidable shop delays due to lack of material or tools.
(2) Technician 5th grade, power-plant engineer, is responsible for maintenance of the engine-house power plant.
b. Locomotive-repair section. common. This section contains sufficient personnel for the operation of the shop and terminal facilities, regardless of type of motive power, but must be complemented by at least one of the special sections (see C. d5 and/ore below).
(1) Staff sergeant, assistant engine-house foreman, is responsible for operation of the shop, for repairs to locomotives, and the operation of locomotive cranes. He reports to and receives instructions from either the platoon commander or technical sergeant, engine-house foreman, in charge of one of the special sections.
(2) Technicians and privates. The balance of the personnel in this section comprises all the labor common to the maintenance of motive power regardless of type. There are brake inspectors, blacksmiths, coppersmiths, crane operators, electricians, firemen, stationary boiler and locomotive hostlers, machinists, pipe fitters, railway mechanics, welders, and basics. Their designations indicate the type of work on which these men are normally employed. The basics are assigned as needed.
C. Steam section. The locomotive-repair section, common, must always be. supplemented by one or more of the special sections depending upon the type of motive power maintenance involved. It is assumed that the most common used will be steam. This section is, therefore, incorporated as part of the normal battalion for activation and training purposes. It contains-
(1) Technical sergeant, shop engineer (railway), who as assistant enginehouse foreman is the administrative assistant of the enginehouse foreman, first lieutenant, and is responsible for shop procedure and practices, dispatching records, and monthly, quarterly, and other periodic locomotive tests as required for reports on condition of motive power. He is assisted by-
(2) Staff sergeants, two assistant enginehouse foremen, who together with the one of equal grade in the locomotive-repair section, common, provide sufficient supervisory force to maintain a round-the-clock operation.
(3) Technicians and privates. The balance of the steam section contains sufficient additional personnel to make running repairs to locomotives normally assigned to the railway operating battalion where the principal motive power is steam. There are boilermakers and locomotive mechanics. Basics are assigned where needed.
d. Diesel section. Where Diesel motive-power maintenance is involved, this section will be activated and may or may not be substituted for the steam section depending upon whether or not both types of motive power are to be maintained. Where this section is in addition to the steam section, the top ranking noncommissioned officer in the steam section will be the one directly responsible to engine-house foreman, first lieutenant. Where this section is activated in substitution, the following should apply:
(1) Technical sergeant, Diesel foreman, is responsible for repairs to Diesel power. He reports to the enginehouse foreman, first lieutenant, and is assisted by staff sergeants, two assistant Diesel foremen. The total of three noncommissioned officers thus provides sufficient supervision for round-the-clock operation.
(2) Technicians and privates. The balance of the personnel in this section, together with the personnel of the locomotive-repair section, common, provides sufficient specialized Diesel maintenance trained personnel to make running repairs to Diesel motive power. There are electricians, electric motor repairmen, general machinists, Diesel mechanics, and sheet metal workers. Their designations indicate the type of work on which these men are normally employed.
e. Electric section. Activated where electric motive-power maintenance is involved. This section will be activated but may or may not be in substitution for the steam section, depending upon what types of motive-power maintenance are involved. If steam motive-power maintenance is involved in addition, the highest ranking noncommissioned officer in the steam section will be in technical charge of the enlisted personnel and directly responsible to the engine-house foreman, first lieutenant. He shall so combine the personnel of both special sections as to effect a proper command on both military and technical matters. Where electric motive-power maintenance only is involved, the following will apply:
(i) Technical sergeant, electric-locomotive foreman, is responsible for repairs to electric motive power and in addition thereto is charged with the supervision of electric repairs to rolling stock and to electrical installations, including power and shop trains or running repair shops. He reports direct to the enginehouse foreman, first lieutenant. He is assisted by staff sergeants, two assistant electric-locomotive foremen, who together with the technical sergeant, constitute sufficient supervisory personnel to conduct a 24-hour. operation.
(2) Technicians and privates. There
are sufficient electricians, electric-locomotive repairmen, electric-motor
repairmen, general machinists, and sheet-metal workers, together with the
personnel of the locomotive-repair section, common, to perform its mission.