Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-09-29
A usNFr1 1NvENr1nN.


AT the present time, when Railroad acct
dents are of daily occurrence, any invention
| calculated TO lessen their number or give
greater security to the lives of passengers
is much desired, and should command the
earnest attention of Railroad Companies.-
Mr.. VIM. Wharton, Jr., well-known TO our
citizens as the builder of our City Passenger
Railway, a gentleman ofmuch experience in
kailroading and high scientific attainments
has recently patented an invention, which he
claims will prevent accidents from the me-.
glect OF the switch-tender 10 perform his
duties in proper manner Thisinvention is
in practical operation on the Harlem Rail.
road, New York City. We trust that the
managers of the Philadelphia, Wilmington
ana baltimore Railroad will give ii a trial
Ihls road is one of the best managed In the
country, a''i 10 dis'irq,,isha,I I,,- E IL. az
cidents and less loss of life than anv road in
the United States, yet if Mr. Wharton's in.
vention proves by fair test that it answers
the purposes for which ii is intended, would
ii not be well to bring it into general use on
the road, and afford still greater security
against accidents from turning switch
wrong? Mr.. Wharton is a gentleman of fine
mechanical abilities, has employed much of
his time and talents in projecting his inven-
tion, and we are satisfied that he would not
present to the public anything claiming their
attention unless he believed it adapted to
the purpose for which he offers IT, We take
the following description of Mr.. Wharton's
invention from the New York Tribune
The main advantage of Mr.. Wharton's
plan is that tue two rails of the main track
are continuous and unbroken, without any
movable rails or moving switches. A sec
ond point is that his switch answers every
purpose and makes itself right If the subor.
innate IS careless and neglects his business.
the switch will attend to itself We can
pest elaborate its advantages by giving SOME.
lhlng OF technical explanation The car
Wheels on steam railways are over two inches
wider upon their surface than the rail unon
wnlch they move, Consequently the wheels
extend over and beyond the outside of the
rail Tor that distance This extra width of
TWO inches or more is used by Mr.. Wharton
lor the purpose of switching the cars off the
man line in this way Another T rail is so
arranged with regard to the main rail that il
can he moved at will sideways against the
outside of the main rail, and il is at first of
the same hight, but gradually inclines up
Waru, so that when placed in position to act
as switch, as the cars advance the wheels
upon that side are gradually and gently ele.
ated above the main rail little more than
q hight of the tlange bearing only on the
switch rail, and being entirely free from the
control OF the main rail. A long stationary
guard rall having quietly drawn the wheels
10 that SIDE, they have of course the whole
Oh tnelr extra width of tread extending he
yonu the main rail and bearing upon the
switch rail outside Of it, At the same time
this stationary guard rail has drawn The
wheels upon the other side little away from
the main rail of that side, so that their fanees
arc insured TO run inside of the point of
another switch rail which lies close nm
against the inside of that main rail. and thnv
can not therefore ever touch or strike apainst
the point itself These two switch rails in.
gether with another acting as a movable
guard ran, are securely coupled together bv
clanp Dars IN the usual way, and are moved
parallel with each other and simultaneously
when the switchman operates the switcb
lever The effect of this mechanism il 10
take the train, liit it from its way, and place il
elsewhere, upon a switch or connecting
branch OF railing track. The switch nj
tliteth Street, it is claimed, will even remove
considerable distractions placed against il
IN addition to its own weight No frost or
snow can interfere with its safety 10, travel .
1t will never have time to freeze up, in the
short time it is being used to switch train
Off on to the siding, and the very instant the
switchman goes away, if he does not restore
,,;, W.; switch, it will go back of its own accord
WIN, WIN considerable power. No change of
~; Mhee,s ~ needed for all railroads to adopt
n Snis smltch 1t is made entirely Of the usual
noadad aSns' an9 No forging or welding of rails is
lock the switch lever when tbe n,a;r nsu trao 70
clear, but il cannot NE locked when in tbe 20
other position. So far as macbinerv bas @
power, Mr. Wharton's contriyance seams HnS to
convenience surety anu