NEW OR. IMPROVED CARRIAGES OR VEHICLES FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF GOODS AND PASSENGERS ON RAILWAYS, AND FOR THE EASY AND SAFE TRANSIT OF SUCH CARRIAGES FROM ANY ONE GAUGE OF RAILWAY TO ANOTHER AND DIFFERENT. PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Walker, of James Street, Saint Luke's, in'
:
.
the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "NEW OR.
IMPROVED CARRIAGES OR VEHICLES FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF GOODS AND
PASSENGERS ON RAILWAYS, AND FOR THE EASY AND SAFE TRANSIT OF SUCH
CARRIAGES FROM ANY ONE GAUGE OF RAILWAY TO ANOTHER AND DIFFERENT.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Walker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th April 1874.
I, JOHN WALKER, of James Street, Saint Luke's, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "NEW OR IMPROVED CARRIAGES OR VEHICLES FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF GOODS
AND PASSENGERS ON RAILWAYS, AND FOR THE EASY AND SAFE TRANSIT OF SUCH
CARRIAGES FROM ANY ONE GAUGE OF RAILWAY TO ANOTHER AND DIFFERENT GAUGE,
WITHOUT POINTS OR STOPPING SUCH CARRIAGES," to be as follows:-:
The object of this Invention is the construction of a novel description
of vehicle for the easy and economical conveyance of goods and produce

page_text: apon railways and tramways, and for the transit of such vehicles from
one gauge of railway to another and different gauge without points and
without stopping the trains.
My said improved vehicle is in the form of a hollow cylinder, and is
constructed as follows:-The body of the cylinder or vehicle is formed
of "boiler plate" iron, properly rivetted together, with a covered opening
in the middle of its length for loading and unloading. The ends of the
cylinder are also of boiler plate iron, by preference a little thicker than
the plates of the body of the cylinder, and are rivetted flush or nearly so
with the ends of the body. The ends of the cylinder are stiffened by
suitable cross irons, and strengthened at their centres by circular plates.
Through the centre of each end a hole is drilled about two inches in
diameter to receive one end of a short axle which carries a light frame.
Around the outside of these cylinders at the required gauge or gauges
I tightly fit two or more métal rings similar in section to the tire of a
locomotive engine wheel, which are herein-after called "tire rings."
These tire rings perform the duty of ordinary wheels, and run upon the
rails. Two of these tire rings are fixed to one gauge of railway, and
other two to another gauge or more, if desired, so that my improved
rolling carriages can pass from one gauge, of railway to another. and
different gauge without the aid of points or other such appliance, and
even without stopping the train if desired.
I propose to work these rolling cylinders in pairs, and therefore mount
two of them in a light metal or timber frame, which frame is formed of
two longitudinal bearers with three stretching bars or cross ties, one at
cach end and the other in the centre of the said bearers, and consequently
between the two cylinders. Midway between these bars suitable bearings
are fixed to the said frame for the short axles of the cylinders to revolve
in. These axles need only be about two inches in diameter, as they
have only. the frame to carry, the weight of the cylinder and its load
being upon the tire rings.
:
An important advantage of my improved rolling vehicle is that the
general produce of large and thinly populated countries can be cheaply.
conveyed from all parts thereof to the port or ports of shipment over
railways of different gauges without breaking. bulk.
Further goods and produce will be thus conveyed for any distanco
without risk of damage from rain or fire,

page_text: -
The load and carriage being practically one rolling body upon tho
rails a comparatively small engine will be sufficient to convey the trains
to the coast.
*SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 26th September 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WALKER, of James Street, Saint Luke's, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand ciglt hundred and seventy-four; in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Ferself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Walker, Her special
license that I, the said John Walker, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Walker, 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 NEW OR IMPROVED
CARRIAGES OR VEHICLES FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF GOODS AND PASSENGERS ON
RAILWAYS, AND FOR THE EASY AND SAFE TRANSIT OF SUCH CARRIAGES FROM ANY
CONE GAUGE OF RAILWAY. TO ANOTHER AND DIFFERENT GAUGE WITHOUT POINTS OR
STOPPING SUCH CARRIAGES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said John Walker, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, 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

page_text: if desired. The ends c of the cylinder are also of boiler plate iron, by
preference a little thicker than the plates of the body a of the cylinder.
The said ends c and the body a are united or joined together by being
rivetted to angle iron d, so that such ends c are flush or nearly so with
the exterior of the body a. These ends c are strengthened at their
centres by circular plates f, and may be further stiffened by T iron as
required. The said cylinders may be divided into two parts by means of
a horizontal partition or diaphragm fixed therein.
Around the outside of these cylinders at the required gauge or gauges
I tightly fit two or more metal rings j, similar in section to the tire of a
locomotive engine wheel, which are herein-after called "tire rings."
These tire rings when fixed in place perform the duty of ordinary wheels
and run upon the rails. Two of these tire rings are placed to a gauge
of a railway of three fect six inches, and the other two tire rings to a
gauge of five feet six inches, as shewn in Figure 2. Additional tire
rings may be fixed to other gauges if desired, so that my improved
rolling carriages can pass from one gauge of railway to another and
different gauge
without the aid of points or crossings or any similar
appliance or arrangement, and even without stopping the trains, if
desired, sec Figure 3. Through the centre of each end c a circular hole
is drilled about two inches in diameter to receive one end of a short
axle g, which carries or supports a light framing, which framing is
formed of two longitudinal bearers & and three stretching bars or cross
tics at i, one at each end and the other in the centre of the bearers h, the
5 latter being therefore between the two cylinders. Midway between
these cross ties suitable bearings are fixed to to or in the bearers h for the
axles to revolve in. These axles need only be about two inches in
diameter, as they have only the said framing to carry, the weight of the
cylinder and its load being upon the tire rings j. The axles may, if.
O desired, be carried or continued through the cylinders.
An important advantage of my improved rolling vehicle is that the
general produce of large and thinly populated countries can be cheaply
conveyed from all parts thereof to the port or ports of shipment over
railways of different gauges without breaking bulk.
Further, goods and produce will be thus conveyed for any distance
demean from main or fire

page_text: By making these cylindrical vehicles water-tight they may be bene-
ficially employed for the conveyance of water in seasons of drought.
When required I propose to mount light trucks and carriages without
wheels upon the said framing between the pairs of cylinders for the
purpose of conveying fragile goods and passengers therein..
The cylindrical vehicle and its load being practically one rolling body
upon the rails a comparatively small engine will be sufficient to convey
trains thereof to the coast.
I also propose to fit a break or breaks to the cross bars of the frame
for general break purposes..
9.
1
Having thus fully described the nature and object of my said Inven-
tion, and the method of performing the same, without confining myself
to the precise details and dimensions: now illustrated, I claim as my
· Invention and desire to secure by the before-mentioned in part recited
Letters Patent, the cylindrical or rolling carriages fitted with tire rings, 1
· substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn in the
Drawing..
In witness whercof, I, the said John Walker, have hereunto sèt
my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
JOHN WALKER (L.S.)
2