IMPROVEMENTS IN RE-RAILING OR REPLACING CAR- RIAGES OR WAGGONS ON RAILS OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Stroudley, of Inverness, Scotland, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RE-RAILING OR REPLACING CAR-
RIAGES OR WAGGONS ON RAILS OF RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 30th June 1868, and dated the 1st January 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Stroudley
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st January 1868.
I, WILLIAM STROUDLEY, of Inverness, Scotland, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RE-RAILING OR
REPLACING CARRIAGES OR WAGGONS ON RAILS OF RAILWAYS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the means of
re-railing or replacing carriages or waggons on the rails of railways
after they have run off by accident, or when it is desired to remove or
replace carriages or waggons from or on the rails.
I propose to apply to the rails inclined guide plates of iron or other
suitable metal, one set consisting of two right-hand guide plates, and the

page_text: other of two left-hand plates, so that carriages or waggons may be
replaced from both sides of the rails. Each guide plate consists of one
piece of metal; no screws, or fastenings, or working parts being required.
The plate is in the form of a tapering channel or guide, the widest part
resting on the sleeper or ballast, and the upper end resting on the rail on
which the carriage or waggon is to be placed; the upper end being also
formed with a hook or under flange is thus secured to the rail without
any other fastening. One or two holes may be cut in the lower part of
the plate for driving pegs into the sleeper if required to fix the plate.
The tractive power of the locomotive is thus available for replacing the
carriage or waggon on the rail.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said William Stroudley in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 1st July 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
STROUDLEY, of Inverness, Scotland, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-first year
of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said William Stroudley, Her special licence that I, the said
William Stroudley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Stroudley, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend with n the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RE-RAILING OR REPLACING CARRIAGES OR
WAGGONS ON RAILS OF RAILWAYS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Stroudley, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Stroudley, do nereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
:
My Invention relates to certain improvements in the means of
re-railing or replacing carriages or waggons on the rails of railways after
they have run off by accident or otherwise.
I apply to the rails inclined guide plates of iron or other suitable
metal; one set consisting of two right-hand guide plates and two left-
hand plates, so that carriages or waggons may be replaced from both
sides of the rails. Each guide plate consists of one piece of metal; no
screws, or fastenings, or working parts being required. The plate is in
the form of a tapering channel or guide, the widest part resting on the
sleeper or ballast, and the upper end being formed with a hook or under
flange is thus secured to the rail without any other fastening. One or
two holes may be cut in the lower part of the plate for driving pegs
into the sleeper if required to fix the plate. The tractive power of the
locomotive is thus available for replacing the de-railed carriage or
waggon on the rail.
:
Amongst the advantages to be derived from the use of this Invention
may be mentioned the following:-The ability to use the power of the
locomotive to draw on de-railed vehicles; the despatch with which this
can be done; the few men required, as in cases of emergency one man
can apply the guide plates, and in no case are more than two men
necessary; no tools are required, a shovel excepted.
In order that my said Invention may be completely understood I
annex the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents an
elevation of a rail and guide plate; Fig. 2, a plan view shewing guide
plates to lift from right side; Fig. 3, a plan view shewing guide plates
to lift from left-hand side; Fig. 4 is a cross section through A, B,
(Fig. 2), and Fig. 5 is a cross section through C, D.
It will be noticed that the inclines or guide plates which are simply
single pieces of metal with nothing about them which can get out of
order, are furnished with flanges which guide the wheels laterally
correctly on to the rails, the most difficult matter to accomplish with
the rude inclines usually constructed. These guiding flanges on the
ramps form a very important feature in the Invention. A set of ramps
should be carried in the guard's van of at least all goods trains, and

page_text: should any waggons get off the road the guard will bring out his ramps,
hook them upon the rails in front of the de-railed waggons, attach as
many of them together as the engine can draw, and signal on the driver,
and when the waggons have ascended the guide plates or ramps he will
carry them back to the next waggons and proceed as before. In this
manner a whole train may be put on in a short time and proceed on its
journey, and this without any extra exertion on the part of the guards,
as the engine does all the work except putting the ramps on the rails.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be carried into effect, I would remark in
.conclusion that I do not limit or restrict myself to the precise details
and configuration of parts which I have expressed and shewn, as the
same may obviously be varied or modified without in any degree
.departing from the principle; but what I claim and desire to be secured
to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent are, the improved
means of re-railing or replacing de-railed carriages or waggons on rails of
railways by the use and application of inclined flanged guide plates or
ramps, substantially as herein specified and illustrated by the Drawings
annexed.
In witness whereof I, the said William Stroudley, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
GEO. MUNRO,
Inverness.
W. STROUDLEY. (L.S.)