Section 4. Such company may, subject to this chapter, construct, operate and maintain a railroad or railway, including poles, wires, or other appliances and equipment connected therewith, of the class operated by electricity or by any power other than steam, which the department approves, and constructed wholly upon private land purchased or taken by said company under this chapter; or constructed partly upon such private land and partly upon public ways and places, but at least one half of which is constructed upon such private land. Such company shall have all the powers and privileges, and be subject to all the duties, liabilities and restrictions, relative to railroad corporations, set forth in chapters one hundred and fifty-nine and one hundred and sixty, except as is otherwise specially provided in this chapter.