IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Archibald Fairlie, of Number 404, King William Street,
"
in the City of London, Civil and Mechanical Engineer, for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF
RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Archibald Fairlie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th November 1880.
ARCHIBALD FAIRLIE, of Number 404, King William Street, in the City of
London, Civil and Mechanical Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS."
My Invention relates, first, to certain improvements in the form and construction
of longitudinal metallic sleepers, and, second, to certain improved forms of rails to
be used in combination therewith.
For this purpose, according to the first part of my improvements, I employ
longitudinal sleepers made either of iron, steel, or other suitable metallic substance,
and of improved sectional forms suitable for resting upon the ballast of railways
and tramways.
These improved sleepers are advantageously constructed of semi-circular or arch
like form (but they may be of other inverted trough shaped forms) with a back-
bone or rib projecting along the apex or crown of the arch. I connect the one
sleeper and rail with the other by tie rods at certain intervals apart.
My improved form of rail is in appearance not unlike an ordinary bridge rail
with flanges resting on the crown or apex of the sleepers on each side of the said rib
or back-bone to which the rail is fixed by bolts and nuts or rivets, so that when the
rails are laid in position and properly ballasted the whole combination forms one
strong girder, which resting on and in the ballast from its shape and configuration
produces a most substantial and lasting permanent way.
The peculiar form of the sleeper gives great vertical strength to the permanent
way, not however being too rigid, as a slight amount of elasticity is obtained which
conduces greatly to the life time of the rolling stock passing over it.
This improved permanent way is more economical in first cost than that of
other first class railways, having fewer parts, it is also stronger and more durable,
with less cost in laying and maintenance.

page_text: A modification of this part of my improvements consists in supporting my
improved rail resting on a tee iron chair fixed upon an ordinary wooden cross
sleeper.
This improved construction of the permanent way of railways and tramways
obviates the necessity of taking up the ordinary wooden sleepers until they are
worn out.
No fish plates are required in either case, whereby great economy is effected in
construction.
Another modification of my improved sectional forms of longitudinal metallic
sleepers consists in rolling or forming them in halves or parts securely fixed
together with bolts and nuts or rivets to the rail, and connected together
transversely by tie rods.
In this arrangement a rib is formed on each half of the crown of the sleeper, so
that the stem of the rail is supported and securely fixed and held between them
like continuous fish plates.
My improved longitudinal metallic sleeper and rail combined therewith as
applied in the construction of the permanent way of tramways consists of a
longitudinal metallic sleeper of arched shape, and formed with a longitudinal rib or
web on the apex or crown of the arch as first herein before described. The improved
form of tram rail of steel or iron rests on the rib, being secured thereto by bolts
and nuts or rivets, which also serve to tie the guard rail to the rib and rail
combined, the foot of the guard rail resting on the arch of the metallic sleeper
which is formed with a step to keep it in position..
Tie bars are placed transversely at suitable distances apart to keep the rails in
gauge.
This improved permanent way when laid in the ground rests firmly on a
concrete bed.
Another form of my improved longitudinal metallic sleeper consists in rolling or
forming the continuous rib on a flattened surface, with flanges on the under
surface resting firmly in the concrete. The tram rail is supported on the top of the
rib with its foot resting upon the sleeper.
The guard rail also rests on a step formed in the sleeper, the whole being secured
together by bolts and nuts or rivets, with transverse tie bars placed at intervals to
keep the rails in gauge, although from the peculiar form of the continuous sleeper
bedded in the concrete such tie bars may not be required.
27

page_text: of the ordinary double headed section, and are securely fixed to the rail by suitable
bolts and nuts, and connected together transversely by tie rods, as shewn by
Figure 6, Sheet 2, of the Drawings annexed.
In this arrangement a rib a, a, is formed on each half of the crown of the arched
sleeper a, so that the stem b¹ of the rail b is supported and securely fixed by bolts
and nuts c, c, or rivets, and held between them like continuous fish plates; tie bars
are employed to keep the line in gauge.
Another modification of my improved sectional forms of longitudinal metallic
sleepers consists in rolling them somewhat in the form of channel iron, with two
small ribs or projections a¹, a', standing above the floor of the sleepers, on which
are laid longitudinal pieces of timber or other elastic substance a* to act as a
cushion; aud on which is laid an ordinary vignole rail b, held securely in position by
bolts and nuts, and connected together transversely by suitable tie bars, as shewn
by Figure 7, Sheet 2, of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Another modification of this part of my improvements consists in combining and
supporting my improved form of rail; so as to rest on and be secured to a tee iron
chair fixed upon an ordinary wooden cross sleeper.
Figure 8 (Sheet 1) shows a transverse section and part of an elevation of a bridge
rail b, formed with flanges b¹, combined with a tee iron chair a in accordance with
this part of my improvements.
The same letters are employed to indicate corresponding parts on all the Figures.
This improved construction of the permanent way of railways and tramways
obviates the necessity of taking up the ordinary wooden sleepers until they are
worn out.
No fish plates are required, whereby great economy is effected in construction.
My improved permanent way is more economical in first cost than that of other
first-class railways having fewer parts; it is also stronger and more durable with
less cost in laying and maintenance.
My improved longitudinal metallic sleeper and rail combined therewith as
applied in the construction of the permanent way of tramways consists of a
longitudinal metallic sleeper a of arched shape, and formed with a longitudinal rib
or web a' on the apex or crown of the arch. Figure 9, Sheet 2, shows a transverse
section and part of an elevation of a tram, rail and sleeper combined, constructed in
accordance with this part of my improvements. This improved form of tram rail b
(of steel or iron) rests on the rib a¹, being secured thereto by bolts and nuts c or rivets,
which also serve to tie the guard rail d to the rib and rail combined, the foot d' of
the guard rail resting on the arch of the metallic sleeper a, which is formed with
a step to keep it in position.
Tie bars are placed transversely at suitable distances apart to keep the rails in
gauge.
This improved permanent way when laid in the ground rests firmly on a
concrete bed.
Another form of my improved longitudinal metallic sleeper consists in rolling or
forming the continuous' rib a', on a flattened surface with flanges on the under
surface, resting firmly in the concrete.
Figure 10 shows a transverse section and part of an elevation of a tramway
sleeper and rail combined, and constructed in accordance with this part of my
improvements; Figure 11 shows a plan and Figure 12 a transverse section of the
permanent way on a smaller scale.
The tram rail-b is supported on the top of the rib a¹ with its foot resting upon
the sleeper a.
The guard rail d also rests on a step formed on the sleeper, the whole being
secured together by bolts and nuts c or rivets, with transverse tie bars c¹ placed at
"intervals to keep the rails in gauge, although from the peculiar form of the
continuous sleeper a bedded in the concrete such tie bars c' may not he required.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of carrying
the same into practice, I would remark that I do not claim any of the mechanical

page_text: or other parts separately, which are well known and in common use, but what I
claim is,
First. The improved arrangement and combination of longitudinal metallic
sleepers, such as a, formed with a rib a¹, employed in combination with my
improved rail b formed with flanges b¹, in the construction of the permanent way
of railways, substantially in the manner herein before described and represented
with reference to Figure 1, Sheet 1, of the Drawings annexed.
Second. I claim the improved rail, such as b, formed with fanges b¹, employed
in combination with my improved chair, such as a, formed with a rib a', in the
construction of the permanent way of railways, substantially as hereinbefore
described and represented with reference to Figure 8, Sheet 1, of the Drawings
annexed.
Third. I claim the improved arrangement and combination of sleepers, such as a,
formed either in one or two parts, with a double rib a¹ for receiving and supporting
a rail, such as b, substantially in the manner hereinbefore described with reference
to Figures 2, 3, and 4, Sheet 1, of the Drawings annexed.
Fourth. I claim the improved arrangement and combination of rails and sleepers,
such as a and b, with continuous fish plate a², substantially as described with
reference to Figure 5 of the Drawings annexed.
Fifth. I claim the improved construction of longitudinal metallic sleepers a
formed in parts with a rib a' on each part, in combination with the double headed
rail in the construction of the permanent way of railways, substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 6, Sheet 2, of the Drawings
annexed.
Sixth. I claim the improved construction of longitudinal metallic sleeper a,
formed with the ribs or projections a¹, a¹, and longitudinal support a*, in
combination with the rail b, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
to Figure 7, Sheet 2, of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Seventh. I claim the improved construction of longitudinal metallic sleepers,
such as a, formed with a rib a', to be employed in combination with my improved
construction and arrangement of tram rail b and guard rail d in the formation of
the permanent way of tramways, substantially as and for the purpose herein before
described with reference to Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the Drawings hereto
annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Archibald Fairlie, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
ARC. FAIRLIE. (L.S.)