Person working on machinery.
Craig Smith prepares to change out a load wheel on the subway to the Dirksen and Hart Buildings in the Hart Maintenance Station. The subway staff performs monthly preventive maintenance checks to detect wear and replace the wheels, as needed.

The Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) Senate Subway Branch operates two subway systems to transport senators, staff and escorted visitors between the Capitol Building and the Senate office buildings. The systems operate from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and continue running until at least 30 minutes after the last floor vote when the Senate is in session.

The subway to and from the Capitol Building and Russell Senate Office Building consists of two 18-passenger cars built in 1958, which have been in continuous operation for nearly 60 years. The subway is powered by motor generators in a large silver panel at the center of the car, with an on-board operator to manually run the system.

The subway to and from the Capitol Building and Dirksen and Hart Senate Office Buildings consists of three 36-passenger cars on a looped track. The 21-year-old, fully automated system features linear induction motors which are located in the tracks themselves, with an operator controlling the system from a nearby mechanical room.

Two relay switches are used to open and close the doors on the Russell Building subway cars.
Two relay switches are used to open and close the doors on the Russell Building subway cars. In the subway to the Dirksen and Hart Buildings, the same task is performed by programmable logic controllers, rather than physical switches.
Eric Fitzpatrick looks over the frequency drives for the subway system to the Hart and Dirksen Buildings.
Eric Fitzpatrick looks over the frequency drives for the subway system to the Hart and Dirksen Buildings.
Erick Gage views the automated subway system to the Hart and Dirksen Buildings from a nearby control room. Staff continuously monitor the system so they can prevent many problems and respond quickly whenever they occur.
Erick Gage views the automated subway system to the Dirksen and Hart Buildings from a nearby control room. Staff continuously monitor the system so they can prevent many problems and respond quickly whenever they occur.
Brian Crupi works on a switch control cabinet which allows operators to move a subway car to the Hart and Dirksen Buildings from one track to the other for maintenance work.
Brian Crupi works on a switch control cabinet which allows operators to move a subway car to the Hart and Dirksen Buildings from one track to the other for maintenance work.

The Senate Subway Branch includes 14 full-time employees with 138 years of combined Architect of the Capitol service. According to Eric Fitzpatrick, Electromotive Equipment Supervisor, "Because of the staff's experience and workmanship, our system has a reliability rate of 99 percent or better. They also show true professionalism in everything they do."

This story is also published in the Winter 2016 issue of AOC's Tholos magazine.

Comments

Robert (not ve… (not verified)PermalinkMarch 7, 2016 - 3:49pm

This is awesome! Can you write an article on the chitty chitty bang bang subway on the House side?

Marty (not verified) (not verified)PermalinkMarch 14, 2016 - 7:44pm

I had e great pleasure and thrill to ride the Senator Subway Systems during my December visit two years ago. Thanks to the wonderful Senator Tammy Baldwin for the once in the life time opportunity.

Sally Rose (not verified)PermalinkDecember 11, 2020 - 9:07am

Very cool! I had all but forgot about this. I was born in D.C. so I need to keep up. Thank-you for the article.

Add new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
About text formats

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.

Our Stories

Recent Articles

Person standing next to shelves.
Behind the Scenes

Leading by Example

Charles "Doc" Wheatley, Assistant Supervisor of the Capitol Building Plumbing Shop's evening shift, has been a constant presence on the Capitol campus since 1987. That's when he accepted his first government position and began a decades-long career serving this treasured institution.
Two people looking at a control panel.
Behind the Scenes

Ducts in a Row

The experts at the House Mechanic Shop meticulously oversee campus HVAC systems, ensuring building temperatures are optimal for both daily operations and historic preservation.
Portrait of a person.
Behind the Scenes

Meet the Historic Preservation Officer

Donna Klee has worked for the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) for more than 10 years and was named the agency's Historic Preservation Officer in the fall of 2023. In this capacity, she works to implement the agency's preservation policy.

More Stories