IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF AND MODE OF WORKING ELEVATED RAILWAYS, AND IN ROLLING STOCK FOR THE SAME
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Henry Wildy, of Old Jewry, in the City of
London, Accountant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF AND MODE OF WORKING ELEVATED RAILWAYS, AND IN ROLLING
STOCK FOR THE SAME.”
Scaled the 6th April 1877, and dated the 18th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Henry Wildy at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th October 1876.
ALFRED HENRY WILDY, of Old Jewry, in the City of London, Accountant.
" IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AND MODE OF WORKING ELEVATED
RAILWAYS, AND IN ROLLING STOCK FOR THE SAME.”
My Invention consists in constructing trains of wagons and carriages, some or all
of which may run on either one rail or two, as may be required, and also in so
arranging a road suitable for them to run upon that when desired a two rail track
may be readily used either as a double line of feeble carrying capacity or as a single
linc capable of transporting bodies of a size and weight too great for transport on
the one rail or single track. Thus a two rail elevated road may in the first instance
be used as a double line accommodating a systém of lilliputian rolling stock, and
yet be available for ordinary railway stock when required.
The lilliputian rolling stock which is to run on one rail may when an elevated
rail is in question be of the form and type referred to in the printed Specification,
No. 1198, of John Lawton Haddan, and bearing date the 2nd day of April, 1875;
but when the rail is laid on the ground and steam traction is not intended, then
equilibrium is maintained in a different manner, viz., by means of a yoke projecting
laterally from the vehicle on one side or both, and to which the animal or animals
employed for traction are so harnessed as to prevent the overturn of the same.
The special rolling stock intended for the transport of unwieldy goods unlike the
one rail stock is provided with wheels in pairs, but the specific gravity of the load
is arranged below the axle, the stock is consequently supported on both lines of
rails, viz., on both the up and down lines of the one rail or pioneer system, but it is
so arranged that the special rolling stock in question may notwithstanding be drawn
by a one rail or pioneer locomotive, and form part of and make up with a pioneer
train.

page_text: The locomotive may if desired be a simple steam generator and possess little if
any extraneous tractive force, and the wagons or carriages or one of each series of
them may be fitted with independent and specially constructed cylinders or other
suitable driving machinery, but the generator of the motive power shall not form
part of the wagon or carriage.
The power, be it steam, air, or fluid, may be transmitted from the generator to
the cylinders by flexible tubes or otherwise.
Where elevated railways are constructed of metal the posts thereof may be
telescopic and adjustable to any required height by a screw, wedge, or other con-
venient means, and the points or feet may be specially designed to suit every
variety of soil. The rails thereof may consist of a wrought-iron corrugated web
with a head of metal cast thereon or otherwise affixed to the top or bottom or both
thereof.
It is also intended in clevated railways to use modified forms of traversers,
segmental and ordinary turntables, and cause portions of the road to swing, turn, or
hinge for the above purposes and for shunting. On very steep inclines I sometimes
introduce a rack and pinion into the structure of the road.
The several improvements are to be used in combination or separately according
to circumstances, and are or some of them are applicable to other systems of railways
and tramways than those more especially herein stated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Henry Wildy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
April 1877.
ALFRED HENRY WILDY, of Old Jewry, in the City of London Accountant.
"IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AND MODE OF WORKING ELEVATED RAILWAYS,
AND IN ROLLING STOCK FOR THE SAME.
"
My Invention consists in constructing trains of waggons and carriages, some or
all of which may run on either one rail or two, as may be required, and also in so
arranging a road suitable for them to run upon that when desired a two rail track
may be readily used either as a double line of feeble carrying capacity or as a single
line capable of transporting bodies of a size and weight too great for transport on
the one rail or single track. Thus a two rail elevated road may in the first instance
be used as a double line accommodating a system of lilliputian rolling stock, and
yet be available for ordinary railway stock when required.
The lilliputian rolling stock which is to run on one rail may when an elevated
rail is in question be of the form and type referred to in the printed Specification,
No. 1198, of John Lawton Haddan, and bearing date the 2nd day of April 1875;
but when the rail is laid on the ground and steam traction is not intended, then
equilibrium is maintained in a different manner, viz., by means of a yoke projecting
laterally from the vehicle on one side or both, and to which the animal or animals
employed for traction are so harnessed as to prevent the overturn of the same.
The special rolling stock intended for the transport of unwieldy goods unlike the
one rail stock is provided with wheels in pairs, but like them the specific gravity of
the load is arranged below the axle, the stock is consequently supported on both
lines of rails, viz., on both the up and down lines of the one rail or pioneer system,
but it is so arranged that the special rolling stock in question may notwithstanding
be drawn by a one rail or pioneer locomotive, and form part of and make up with a
pioneer train.
The locomotive may if desired be a simple steam generator and possess little if
any extraneous tractive force, and the waggons or carriages or one of each series of
them may be fitted with independent and specially constructed cylinders or other
suitable driving machinery; but the generator of the motive power shall not form
part of the waggon or carriage,

page_text: The power, be it steam, air, or fluid, may be transmitted from the generator to
the cylinders by flexible tubes or otherwise. I also intend to obtain grip in the
engine or in the carriages if motive power is attached to them by means of purposely
skewing their axi so as to obtain an increased hold or bite.
Where elevated railways are constructed of metal the posts thereof may be
telescopic and adjustable to any required height by a screw, wedge, or other con-
venient means, and the points or feet may be specially designed to suit every
variety or angle of soil. The rails thereof may consist of a wrought-iron corrugated
web with a head of metal cast thereon or otherwise affixed to the top or bottom or
both.
It is also intended in elevated railways to use modified forms of traversers,
segmental and ordinary turntables, and cause portions of the road to swing, turn,
or hinge for the above purpose and for shunting. On very steep inclines I some-
times introduce a rack and pinion into the structure of the road.
The several improvements are to be used in combination or separately, according
to circumstances, and are or some of them are applicable to other systems of railways
and tramways than those more especially herein stated.
The accompanying Drawing will serve to illustrate a mode of carrying out the
improvements, but I do not limit myself to the particular modes shown, as they can
be varied without departing froin the nature of the Invention.
Figure 1 shows view of a pioneer double line. The locomotive L is shown
supported only on one line A, and the gun or other ponderous body G is shown
suspended from the special carriage C which runs on both of the lines A and B.
Fig. 2 shows plan of a pioneer carriage in which c is the pipe which communicates
with the steam or other motive generator; c is the cylinder which in lieu of being
fixed reciprocates under the action of the special piston rod p which is also at the
same time a connecting rod; v, v, are guides which also contain the valves; W is
the pioneer structure.
Fig. 3 shows method of balancing a one-wheeled vehicle on a common or tram
road when steam is not required; B is a paving block or rail; W*, a single wheel;
Y, a yoke traversing the basket or other vehicle, and acting as an axle at X to the
wheel W.
•
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Henry Wildy, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of April, in the year of our Lord, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
A. H. WILDY. (L.S.)