The Drill Motors were originally equipped with large spring loaded high voltage cable reels, mounted on the deck at the end of the car. The wire had a special clamp on the end which connected with the 3rd rail. This maintained 600 volt power to the Drill Motor allowing it to move off the 3rd rail and into the shop to couple up to the dead cars. The cars were then pulled out on to the 3rd rail. As the Drill Motor moved out, the cable would automatically wind up on the reel.
In 1948 the reels were removed for safety reasons and the Drill Motors were assigned to yard switching. They would make up refuse trains that were used nightly to pick up refuse from each station on the line.
The two large boxes mounted on the platform over the motor truck are filled with sand and scrap metal and were so placed to add weight and give the Drill Motor more tractive effort.
#42 was damaged in a collision in 1948 and remained in storage at 207th St. until 1955 when it was scrapped.
#41 was purchased in 1978 by the Trolley Museum of New York and has been on loan for display at the The New York Transit Museum since July 1978.
