IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ENABLING THE PASSENGERS IN A RAILWAY TRAIN TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE ENGINE DRIVER AND GUARD, AND THE GUARD AND DRIVER WITH EACH OTHER, WHILE THE TRAIN IS IN MOTION
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Archibald Turner, of Leicester, Elastic Web Manu-
facturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ENABLING
THE PASSENGERS IN A RAILWAY TRAIN TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE ENGINE
DRIVER AND GUARD, AND THE GUARD AND DRIVER WITH EACH OTHER, WHILE
THE TRAIN IS IN MOTION."
Sealed the 17th January 1865, and dated the 9th August 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Archibald Turner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
August 1864.
I, ARCHIBALD TURNER, of Leicester, Elastic Web Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA-
RATUS FOR ENABLING THE PASSENGERS IN A RAILWAY TRAIN TO COMMUNICATE
WITH THE ENGINE DRIVER AND GUARD, AND THE GUARD AND DRIVER WITH EACH
OTHER, WHILE THE TRAIN IS IN MOTION," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in apparatus for enabling the passengers
in a railway train to communicate with the engine driver and guard, and the
guard and driver with each other, while the train is in motion relates to
several distinct and separate mechanical contrivances or apparatus for effecting
the above objects, and which several distinct apparatus may be used either
alone or in combination.

page_text: My improvements relate, first, to a means of or apparatus for enabling the
guard and driver to commuicate or signal to each other; second, to an
arrangement of apparatus whereby the passengers in any compartment of a
railway train may attract the attention of the guard and driver in such a manner
that the guard will at once see where his presence is required.
The third improvement relates to a novel arrangement of apparatus
whereby the guard and driver may telegraph to each other, while the train is
in motion, any instructions or information that either of them may desire to
communicate to the other.
The first improvement consists in adapting to the roof or other convenient
part of each carriage throughout the train an elastic cord or rope provided at
each end with swivels, couplings, spring catches, hooks, or other equivalent
mechanical arrangements whereby the elastic cords of the several carriages
may be connected or disconnected with facility. Each of the break carriages,
which are usually placed at the front or rear ends of a passenger train, are
provided with these elastic cords and also with an alarum which is connected
with the elastic cord; this alarum may consist either of a bell, the striker of
which may be actuated by clockwork in the usual manner, or it may consist
of a whistle to be sounded either by means of a current of steam or com-
pressed air contained in a suitable receiver provided for the purpose. The
several parts are so arranged, that when all the elastic cords throughout the
train are connected together they will be kept at sufficient tension to hold
back certain levers, whereby the alarums are controlled at either end of the
train, but when this tension is relaxed, either by loosening the cord at either
end of the train, or by severing the cord at any point throughout its length,
then the levers will fly back and allow the alarums to sound.
In carrying out this part of my Invention, every carriage is provided with
a separate length of elastic cord having swivels or couplings at each end, so
that an additional carriage or carriages may at any time be attached to any
part of a train without interfering with the working of the apparatus. These
cords run through eyes or guides fixed on the roof or other suitable part of
the carriage, and for the convenience of attachment the ends of the cords of
each carriage, while the cord is not in use, are held in notches or hooks con-
veniently placed for the purpose. If desired, one of the alarums may be
placed on the engine or tender, in which case it will be found convenient that
the alarum should be made in the form of a steam whistle.
In order to enable the passengers of any compartment of a carriage
throughout the train to call the attention of the guard and driver should any-
thing be amiss, an arrangement of apparatus is adapted to each compartment

page_text: for the purpose of severing the elastic cord, and by that means causing the
alarums at each end of the train to sound; to this end the elastic cord which
extends from end to end of the train passes between the jaws of a kind of
shears or other equivalent cutting apparatus for severing the cord; one of
these apparatus is placed above every compartment throughout the train.
The cutting or severing apparatus may consist of a fixed blade provided with
a sharp cutting edge and a moveable, blade or lever, also provided with a
sharp cutting edge and mounted on a centre pin. To the outer end of this
lever a wire is connected for the purpose of working the same; this wire'
passes down through the roof of the carriage, and is provided at this end with
a handle whereby it may be pulled when required. If desired, two, three, or
more branch wires provided with handles may be adapted to each compart-
ment. It will be understood that by simply pulling down the handle and
wire the moveable cutting edge of the shears or other cutting apparatus will
be depressed and brought down on to the elastic cord which extends along
the top of the carriage, and as this cord is stretched, and is therefore at con-
siderable tension, it follows that immediately it is severed by the cutting
apparatus both ends will suddenly collapse and will release the levers of the
alarums at each end of the train, and cause the alarums to sound, and thus
attract the attention of the guard and driver. In order that the guard may
see at what compartment of the train his presence is required, the moveable
lever of the cutting apparatus which severs the elastic cord is connected with
and operates on a bell-crank lever, one end of which carries an arm provided
with a disc or plate on which the number of the carriage is printed.
the cutting edge of the moveable lever is brought down to sever the elastic
cord it will elevate the numbered disc, and as the lever will be held down by
a spring catch until it is released by the guard or other attendant from the
outside, it will be seen that no passenger can venture to set the apparatus in
motion without the certainty of being discovered. If it be considered desi-
rable to lock the doors of the carriage from which an alarm has been given,
this can be done by means of bolts suspended by cords which are held up by
the longitudinal elastic cord which passes through rings at the end of such
bolt cords. In the frame of the doors are made holes or sockets to to receive
the ends of the bolts, so that when the elastic cord is severed it will collapse
and run out of the rings of the bolt cords, and allow the bolts to drop into the
sockets in the doors, and prevent the same from being opened until the bolts
are withdrawn.
When
The next improvement relates to a novel arrangement of apparatus for
enabling the guard and driver to telegraph to each other while the train is in

page_text: motion. This apparatus consists of a box or case provided with a number of.
discs or plates in which letters, figures, signals, or devices are cut out, so that,
when the discs are exposed to view the perforated letter, figure, or device may
be distinctly seen. The discs are arranged in proper order in a vertical:
position, and work in grooves or guides attached to the box or case, so that.
they may be slidden in or out when required. In order to operate with this.
telegraphic apparatus, the guard (supposing he wishes to telegraph to the:
driver to stop) will first release the elastic cord at his end of the train, and
by so doing will sound the alarum at the other end of the train; the driver
will then signal that he is ready; the guard will then in succession pull out.
the perforated dises belonging to the letters. STOP, and the driver will
immediately cut off the steam, and endeavour to pull up the train. A case of.
these perforated discs will be adapted to the break of each train, so that
messages or signals may be transmitted from either end. In order that the
signalling apparatus may be used at night or in tunnels, it may be provided
with a lamp, which when placed behind the perforated discs will enable the
observer to read the letters or signals.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Archibald Turner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th February 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ARCHIBALD
TURNER, of Leicester, Elastic Web Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing .date the Ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year- of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Archibald Turner, Her special licence that I, the said Archibald
Turner, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Archibald Turner, 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, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ENABLING THE PASSENGERS IN A RAILWAY TRAIN
TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE ENGINE DRIVER AND GUARD, AND THE GUARD AND
DRIVER WITH EACH OTHER, WHILE THE TRAIN IS IN MOTION," (upon the con-

page_text: dition, amongst others) that I, the said Archibald Turner, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that: I, the said Archibald Turner, do hereby declare
the nature of my said: Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of "Improvements in Apparatus for Enabling the Pas-
sengers in a Railway Train to Communicate with the Engine Driver and
Guard, and the Guard and Driver with each other, while the Train is in
Motion," relates to several distinct and separate mechanical contrivances or
apparatus for effecting the above objects, and which several distinct apparatus
may be used either alone or in combination.
My improvements relate, first, to a means of or apparatus for enabling the
guard and driver to communicate or signal to each other; second, to an
arrangement of apparatus whereby the passengers in any compartment of a
railway train may attract the attention of the guard and driver in such a.
manner that the guard will at once see where his presence is requird.
The third improvement relates to a novel arrangement of apparatus whereby
the guard and driver may telegraph to each other, while the train is in motion,
any instructions or information that either of them may desire to communicate
to the other.
In the accompanying Drawings I have shewn the mechanical arrangements
whereby I effect the object of my Invention.
Fig. 1, Sheet: I., is a diagram illustrating the first improvement, which
consists in adapting to the roof or other convenient part of each carriage:
throughout the train an elastic cord or rope a, a, provided at each end with
swivels, couplings, spring catches, hooks, or other equivalent mechanical.
arrangements whereby the elastic cords of the several carriages may be
connected or disconnected with facility. These swivels or couplings are shewn
in detail and drawn upon an enlarged scale at Figs. I*, Sheet IV., and will.
be hereafter. more particularly described. Each of the break carriages; which
are usually placed at the front or rear ends of a passenger train, are provided.
with these elastic cords a, and also with an alarum apparatus which is con
nected with the elastic cord a. The alarum to be employed as an audible.

page_text: signal may consist either of a bell, the striker of which may be actuated by
clockwork in the usual manner, as shewn at Figs. 11 and 12, Sheet I., or it
may consist of a whistle to be sounded either by means of a current of steam
when attached to the engine or tender as at a, or by compressed air contained
in a suitable receiver provided for the purpose. The several parts are so
arranged that when all the elastic cords a, a, throughout the train are con
nected together by their swivels or couplings b, b, they will form a continuous
elastic line of communication, which will be kept at sufficient tension to hold
back the levers whereby the alarums at either end of the train are controlled,
as will be hereafter more particularly described; but when this tension is
relaxed, either by loosening the cord or line a, a, at either end of the train or
by severing such cord or line at any point throughout its length, then the
levers will fly back and allow the alarums c and d to sound, and thus attract
the attention of the guard or driver, or both. In carrying out this part of
my Invention every carriage is provided with a separate length of cord a,
having swivels or couplings at each end, as shewn at Fig. 2, Sheet II., which
is a side elevation of a first-class carriage with my improvements adapted
thereto. As every carriage is similarly provided, it will be seen that an
additional carriage or carriages may at any time be attached to any part of a
train between the break carriages without interfering with the working of the
apparatus, it being only necessary to connect the ends of the cords together
throughout the train. These cords a, a, run through eyes or guides e, e,
Fig. 2, fixed near the roof or other convenient part of the carriage, and for
the convenience of attachment the ends of the cords a of each carriage while
the cord is not in use are held in notches or hooks f, conveniently placed for
the purpose. If desired, one of the alarums may be placed on the engine or
tender, as at din Fig. 1, in which case it will be found convenient that the
alarum should be made in the form of a steam whistle, but for the guard's van
the alarum may be constructed like a clock alarum, as shewn at c in Figs. 11
and 12, Sheet I.
In order to enable the passengers of any compartment of a carriage
throughout the train to call the attention of the guard and driver should
anything be amiss, an arrangement of apparatus is adapted to each compart-
ment for the purpose of severing the elastic cord, and by that means releasing
the detaining levers of the alarum c and d, and causing the alarums at each
end of the train to sound. To this end the elastic cord à, which extends from
end to end of the train, passes between the jaws of a kind of shears g or other
equivalent cutting apparatus for severing the cord; one of these cutting
apparatus 9 may be placed above or at the side of every compartment

page_text: throughout the train, or by a suitable arrangement one severing apparatus g
may be made to suffice for all the compartments of one carriage. The cutting
or severing apparatus 9, which is shewn on an enlarged scale in Figs. 3, 3ª,
and 3b, consists of a fixed blade g', provided with a sharp cutting edge and a
movable blade or lever g³, also provided with a sharp cutting edge and
mounted on a centre pin g. This movable blade or lever is worked by
any, convenient mechanical arrangement, one of which is shewn at Fig. 3:
(Sheet 1.), and others at Figures 6 and 7 (Sheet III.).
Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of a portion of a first-class carriage on
a larger scale, shewing the severing apparatus g; Fig. 3" is a longitudinal
section of the same on a line x, x, of Fig. 3, the inner end of the movable
blade or lever g is connected by means of a link g³ to another lever or levers h,
mounted on a rod i, which passes through the tubular hat rail j; levers k, k,
are also mounted on the rod i, and are provided with cords or wires k¹,
whereby the levers may be worked as shewn in Figures 4 and 5, which
respectively represent a horizontal section and a vertical section of a portion
of a first-class carriage.
In order to prevent the levers from being moved accidentally, they are
placed between the brackets, which assist in supporting the hat rail j. It
will now be seen that upon pulling down the cord k¹, and thereby depressing
the levers k, the rod i will be rocked and will bring the levers h, h, into the
position shewn by the dotted lines in Fig. 3*, and by thus depressing the
movable blade g of the cutting apparatus, as indicated by dotted lines in
Fig. 3, the cord a will be severed (the movable blade is locked in that position
by the spring catch g' until released by the guard), and the alarums c and d
at both ends of the train will be put into operation.
Fig. 6 is a transverse section of a first-class railway carriage representing
a modification of the cutting apparatus; Fig. 6° is a detached sectional view
of the apparatus drawn upon an enlarged scale. To the outer end of the
lever g² which carries the movable cutting edge a wire g³ is connected, for the
purpose of working the same. This wire g passes into the carriage, and is
connected at the inner end with a lever mounted on the long rod i, which
runs from end to end of the carriage. Other wires o connect the lever.h and
rod i to bell-crank levers k, provided with a cord and handle, whereby the
cutting blade g may be pulled when required. If desired, two, three, or
more branch wires provided with handles may be adapted to each com
partment, as shewn in Fig. 6. It will be understood that by simply pulling
down the cord or wire ¹ the movable cutting edge of the shears or other
cutting apparatus will be depressed and brought against the elastic cord a

page_text: which extends along the carriage, and as this cord is stretched, and is
therefore at considerable tension, it follows that immediately it is severed by
the cutting apparatus both ends will suddenly collapse and will release the
levers, of the alarums c and d at each end of the train, and cause the alarums
to sound, and thus attract the attention of the guard and driver.
Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section of a second-class carriage shewing
another modification of the cutting apparatus; Fig. 7* represents the cutting
apparatus detached, and drawn upon an enlarged scale. In this instance tho
movable cutting blade is made to move in guides instead of being mounted
on a centre pin, as in the other instances. The longitudinal rod i runs along
under the roof of the carriage and extends from end to end, thereby being
made to pass through all the compartments; 9³ is the movable blade, which
is capable of moving in the guides 9 when drawn forward by the wire or
cord g³, which is connected by its opposite end to the lever h on the rod i. A
second lever k on the same rod i is provided with a cord k¹, whereby it may
be pulled, and by causing the rod i to rock will draw forward the cutting
blades g, and thereby sever the cord a, as in the other instances. In order
that the guard may see at what compartment of the train his presence is
required when the alarum is set in operation, the rod i, which is connected as
above mentioned with the. movable lever of the cutting apparatus, carries a
lever . which is connected with a lever or arm m, provided at its outer end
with a disc or plate m', on which the number of the carriage is printed, as
seen in Fig. 8, which represents an external end elevation of the carriage
shewn at Fig. 7. When the cutting edge of the moveable lever or piece g² is
brought down to sever the elastic cord a, it will elevate the numbered disc m',
as shewn by dots in Fig. 8, and as the lever m will be held up by a spring
catch until it is released by the guard or other attendant from the outside, it
will be seen that no passenger can venture to set the apparatus in motion
without the certainty of being discovered.
The spring
In Figures 9 and 9* I have shewn an arrangement in which the arm of the
indicating disc instead of being: mounted on a.centre, as in Fig. 8, is made to
move in and out in guides,.along which it is forced by the pressure of springs
when released. from a spring catch which holds it back at n.
catch at the end of the disc arm is held back by a hooked arm o on the long.
rod i, so that by turning the. rod i the hook will be depressed, and will
escape from under the spring catch.at the end of the disc arm, and the latter
will then be thrust out by the force of the springs, as indicated by dots in
Fig. 9.
Another arrangement of indicator and mode of working the same is shewn

page_text: at Fig. 2.
In this instance the indicating disc is mounted on spring hinges,
and is kept closed or held back by means of a button p, which is mounted on
one end of the rod i, so that when the latter is rocked by pulling the springs k³,
Figures 4 and 5, Sheet I., in order to set the alarums in operation, the button p
will be moved away from the disc, which will then be made by the force of
the spring binges to fly open. If it be considered desirable to lock the doors
of a carriage from which an alarm has been given, this can be done by means
of the arrangement shewn in Fig. 10, Sheet IV., in which bolts q are suspended
by cords q', which are held up by the longitudinal elastic cord a, which passes
through rings at the end of such bolt cords q'. In the frame of the doors r are
made holes or sockets to receive the ends of the bolts q, so that when the
elastic cord a is severed it will collapse and run out of the rings of the bolt
cords q, and allow the bolts q to drop into the sockets in the doors, and
prevent the same from being opened until the bolts are withdrawn.
The next improvement relates to a novel arrangement of apparatus for
enabling the guard and driver to telegraph to each other while the train is in
motion. This apparatus is shewn at Fig. 11, Sheet I., which is a cross section
of a guard's van. It consists of a box or case 8 provided with. a number of
dises or plates, in which letters, figures, signals, or devices are cut out, so that
when the discs are exposed to view the perforated letter, figure, or device may
be distinctly seen projecting from the side of the van, as shewn in the Figure.
The discs are arranged in proper order in a vertical position, and work in
grooves or guides attached to the box or case, so that they may be slidden in
or out when required, as shewn in the detail sectional views, Figures 13 and
14, Sheet IV. In order to operate with this telegraphic apparatus the guard.
(supposing he wishes to telegraph. to the driver to stop) will first release the
elastic cord a at his end of the train from his bell alarum c, and will attach
it to the hook on the end of a length of cord, which is wound upon a spring
roller mounted in bearings on the side frame of the carriage (see Fig: 12,..
Sheet I.) The tension of the cord a will be superior to the strength of the
spring roller c, so that the cord a will collapse and release the lever of the
steam whistle, and will thus sound the alarum at the other end of the train,
the driver having a similar spring collar apparatus attached to the tender or
other convenient place will then signal that he is ready and "at attention."
The guard will then in succession pull out the perforated discs belonging to
the letters STOP, and the driver will immediately cut off the steam and:
endeavour to pull up the train. A case of these perforated discs will be
adapted to the brake at each end of the train, so that messages or signals may.
bo transmitted from either end. In order that the signalling apparatus may

page_text: be used at night or in tunnels it may be provided with a lamp, which when
placed behind the perforated discs will enable the observer to read the letters
or signals. When the guard has finished signalling to the driver he will.rotate
the cylinder by means of a winch handle, and wind up the cord until he
can reach the end of the cord a, which he will then attach again to the bell
alarum c as before.
:
In conclusion I would observe that the elastic cords used for the purposes
of my Invention may consist of a cord or line composed of india-rubber
strands plaited, braided, or covered over, and protected by non-elastic threads,
and will therefore be elastic throughout its whole length, or the line may be
composed of certain parts which are non-elastic, such as common rope or
cord, in combination with other parts which are elastic, my object being to
form an elastic line of communication from end to end of the train between
the passengers, guard, or driver and the signalling apparatus, so that such
line, by reason of its elasticity at some part of its length, may be capable of
being stretched or extended, and thus made to keep the signalling apparatus
at the ends of the train out of action while the line is in its stretched or
extended state.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in Apparatus for
Enabling the Passengers in a Railway Train to Communicate with the Engine
Driver and Guard, and the Driver and Guard with each other, while the Train
is in Motion," and having explained the manner of carrying the same, I would
observe, that although I have described and shewn certain mechanical con-
trivances or apparatus whereby audible signals may be produced, I do not
mean to claim such apparatus, except in combination with the improved
means herein set forth for putting them into operation, nor do I mean to limit
myself to the use of such signalling apparatus, nor to the particular mechanical
arrangements above shewn and described for severing the elastic cord or line;
but that which I consider to be new in the above improvements and desire
to secure by Letters Patent as aforesaid is,-
First, the means or apparatus herein set forth for enabling the guard and
driver to communicate with each other.
Second, the means or apparatus herein set forth whereby the passengers in
any compartment of a railway train may attract the attention of the guard
and driver when required. I claim particularly the use of an elastic cord or a
line composed of elastic or non-elastic parts as a means of communication, as
above described, so that the cord or line, if severed or broken by any means
while in a state of tension, will suddenly collapse and set in motion the
signalling apparatus, as berein set forth.

page_text: Lastly, I claim the apparatus herein set forth whereby the guard and
driver may telegraph to each other, while the train is in motion, any instruc-
tions or information that either of them may desire to communicate to the
other.
In witness whereof, I, the said Archibald Turner, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
A. TURNER. (LB.)