IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAYS AND LIGHT PER- MANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Emerson Dowson and Alfred Dowson, of
3, Great Queen Street, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineers,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAYS AND LIGHT PER-
MANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 15th August 1871, and dated the 5th June 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Emerson
Dowson and Alfred Dowson at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 5th June 1871.
We, JOSEPH EMERSON DOWSON and ALFRED DOWSON, of 3, Great
Queen Street, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAYS
AND LIGHT PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," to be as follows :—
The Invention consists, firstly, in constructing the tramways and
permanent way with rails actually or approximately of the various
sections or transverse forms shewn in the Drawings (at the Figures
1 to 11 and 15 to 17), having deep vertical rib m, and in some cases
bulb or enlargement or flange n at bottom, affording stiffness to support

page_text: by itself the passing load without necessity for the usual longitudinal
sleepers. The rails present for flange of wheel in some cases a half or
unfinished groove (to be completed by paving or as herein-after set
forth), in others a complete groove. The half groove or groove to be
at middle, or out of centre, or at the side. Wrought iron, steel, or cast
iron in some cases to be used, or a combination of two or more of
these. Lip or guard to groove to be made in one piece with rail,
or made separately and joined on, as exemplified at z in the Figures
by itself the passing load without necessity for the usual longitudinal
sleepers. The rails present for flange of wheel in some cases a half or
unfinished groove (to be completed by paving or as herein-after set
forth), in others a complete groove. The half groove or groove to be
at middle, or out of centre, or at the side. Wrought iron, steel, or cast
iron in some cases to be used, or a combination of two or more of
these. Lip or guard to groove to be made in one piece with rail,
or made separately and joined on, as exemplified at z in the Figures
3, 8, and 10.
And, secondly. Of the section or transverse form shewn at the
Figure 12, when employed in combination with wooden sleepers specially
seated, shaped, or prepared for the said rails.
And, thirdly. When of cast iron of the section or transverse form
shewn at Figure 13, with arched or spreading base o to allow of
being bedded continuously on earth or other similar substance and
truly in position without the employment of sleeper, or chair, or
concrete.
And, fourthly. As a modification of the above of the girder-like
section or transverse form of the cast iron or lower portion a shewn at
Figure 14, the said portion having in its upper member a groove to
receive a separate head of wrought iron, or steel, or cast iron, as shewn
at b, or of any convenient form. Elastic packing p to be used, if desired,
between a and b at bottom of b. Transverse ties to be used, if pre-
ferred, with this rail, and also with rail comprised under the third
improvement.
And, fifthly. The constructing the tramways and permanent way with
chairs actually or approximately of the forms shewn at a, in Figures
1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, and further the supporting and fixing therein the
improved or other rails by holding or suspending the rails by timber or
iron blocks or wedges (as at & in Figures 1, 2, and 3) driven vertically
or horizontally. This will avoid the necessity of pulling up or disturbing
the contiguous paving stones or roadway.
And, sixthly. With rail and chairs as follows, see Figures 6 and 7, the
rail formed of two parts, one part m being the rail proper on which the
wheel is to run, the other part & being a guard rail to assist in holding
in the former and to complete the groove for guiding the flange of
carriage wheels. The two parts of rails are placed in a cast-iron chair a
specially made to receive them and are kept apart and in their proper

page_text: position in the chair by an iron wedge piece u placed between the two
rails. When necessary to remove either rail the wedge u is drawn by
a claw from above, and the rail can at once be lifted out of chair without
in any way disturbing the roadway. If necessary, between the bottom
of rails and the chair a packing of wood, felt, india-rubber, or other
elastic material should be placed to prevent injurious vibration. Theso
rails can be so arranged that the groove for carriage wheels can
be either on one side or in the centre of the line. The guard rail to
be made of the same or of differing depth and dimensions as the rail
proper.
And, seventhly. With cast-iron box-shaped chairs bedded in a concrete
block (see Figure 15) two wrought-iron plates inclined outwards, being
held on edge by the chair o*, and the rail being supported by timber
wedge-shaped blocks & placed between the rail and the plates. The
plates being slightly elastic will prevent jarring.
And, eighthly. With two iron knee plates, as at W in Figure 16,
secured to a timber transverse sleeper forming a chair between which the
rail is placed, the whole being bolted together transversely.
And, ninthly. With chairs or sleepers formed of a thin wrought-iron
plate or plates bent into the form of an irregular shaped triangle, as
at x, Figure 17, with arched base, and sometimes stiffened by a wrought-
iron tie rod * passing through and connecting it transversely where
required with the opposite chair. The rail is suspended on two
shoulders a³ formed by the bent ends of plate and secured by bolts, the
box or chair being filled with earth or other material to prevent its
bending or collapsing.
And, tenthly. With an L, or flat, or shouldered kerb of iron to form
one side of groove for flange of carriage wheel, and to protect the edges
of paving stones or roadway either in combination with the rails shewn
in Figures 4, 5, 16, or other rails. In the said Figures the kerb referred
to is marked y.
And, eleventhly. With longitudinal sleepers of timber cut from a
rectangular balk diagonally across the section, so that two strips of
timber are produced as at M, M, in Figure 5. The timbers are laid on
their broadest sides parallel to one another, and between their vertical
sides and resting on their upper face is placed tho rail bolts, being.
passed transversely through the timbers and rail, so as to securely fasten
them together. The object being with a minimum amount of timber to,

page_text: provide a maximum bearing surface for the sleepers. If desired wrought-
iron transverse ties can be used.
And, twelfthly. With longitudinal sleepers of rectangular or any
convenient form applied in the mode and in substitution for the sleepers
eleventhly above set forth and described.
And, thirteenthly. With the rails laid in beds of concrete or other
similar material, as at N in Figure 4, formed by a series of blocks or
by a continuous mass, and by placing between the rail and concrete a
thin packing of wood, felt, tan, or other elastic material to prevent
injurious vibration, the form and fitting of the rail being such that it
may be removed or adjusted without disturbing the concrete bed or the
paving stones or roadway contiguous thereto.
And, fourteenthly. With strips of asphalte, as at Q in Figure 4, applied
for filling-in the space between the rail and the row of paving stones
nearest to such rail, and where there is not sufficient depth between the
surface of road and the lower projection of the chairs or rails to admit of
paving being used.
.
And, fifteenthly. With Staffordshire blue bricks or any modified shape
of such material for forming a roadway for horses between the rails and
on either side thereof.
It is to be understood that the Invention embraces any convenient
combinations of the above several improvements or of parts of them.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Emerson Dowson and Alfred Dowson in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th December 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOSEPH
EMERSON DOWSON and ALFRED DowSON, of 3, Great Queen Street, in
the City of Westminster, Civil Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-fifth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said Joseph Emerson Dowson and Alfred Dowson,

page_text: Her special licence that we, the said Joseph Emerson Dowson and
Alfred Dowson our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said Joseph Emerson Dowson and Alfred Dowson, our
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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRAMWAYS AND LIGHT PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Joseph Emerson Dowson and Alfred
Dowson, our exccutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under our, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Joseph Emerson Dowson and
Alfred Dowson, do hereby declare the nature of our 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 accompanying Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon for the purpose of such reference, that is to say, noting that the
Figures of the said Drawings represent in all cases the sectional form of
the particular rail which they severally illustrato, and that the chairs
and sleepers severally illustrated are represented some in elevation and
others in section.
.
For Figures 1 to 7 see Sheet 1. For Figures 8 to 17 see Sheet 2.
The Invention consists, firstly, in constructing the tramways and
permanent way with rails actually or approximately of the various
sections or transverse forms, shewn in the Drawings at the Figures 1
to 11 and 15 to 17, having deep vertical rib m, and in some cases a bulb
or enlargement or flange n at bottom affording stiffness to support
by itself the passing load without necessity for the usual longitudinal
sleepers. The rails present (for flange of wheel) in some cases a half or
unfinished groove (to be completed by paving or as herein-after set forth),
in others a complete groove. The half groove or groove may be at the
middle, or out of centre, or at the side. Wrought iron, steel, or in some
'cases cast iron is to be used, or a combination of two or more of these.

page_text: A lip or guard to groove may be made in one piece with rail, or made
separately and joined on, as exemplified at %, in the Figures 3, 8, and 10.
In Figure 3 the lip is somewhat like a piece of angle iron and is
seated on and rivetted to a horizontal flange or seating therefor pro-
jecting from the side of the rail at a short distance down from the top.
In Figure 8 the lip is notched on to the top of the rail and rivetted to
its web m. This is shewn without a bulb at the bottom, but a bulb may
be added if desired. And in Figure 10 the upper part is shewn as
seated on to a notched seating therefor upon the lower part m, partly
at top of the web and partly on the horizontal flange projecting from its
side and at the top thereof, and further is shewn as rivetted through
the tread of the upper part to the said horizontal flange upon the lower
part.
Secondly. The Invention consists in constructing the tramways and
permanent way with rails actually or approximately of the section
or transverse form shewn at the Figure 12, when employed “in com-
bination with wooden sleepers specially seated, shaped, or prepared for
the said rails with vertical groove in the sleeper into which the vertical
web on the under side of the rail fits, bolted or otherwise fastened
together.
Thirdly. The Invention consists in constructing the tramways and
permanent way with rails when of cast iron of the section or transverse
form shewn at Figure 13, with arched or spreading base o to allow of
being bedded continuously on earth, concrete, or other similar substance,
and truly in position without the employment of sleeper or chair.
And, fourthly. As a modification of the above of the girder-like
section or transverse form of the cast iron or lower portion a, shewn at
Figure 14, the said portion having in its upper member a groove to
receive a separate head of wrought iron or steel or cast iron, as
shewn at b, or of any convenient form. Elastic packing p to be used 3
if desired between a and b at the bottom of b. Transverse ties to be
used, if preferred, with this rail and also with rail comprised under the
third improvement.
Fifthly. The Invention consists in constructing the tramways and
permanent way with chairs actually or approximately of the forms 3
shewn at a, in Figures 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, and further the supporting and
fixing therein the improved or other rails by holding or suspending the
rails by timber or iron blocks, or wedges, as at s* and s; in Figures 1, 2,

page_text: and 3, driven vertically or horizontally. This will avoid the necessity
of pulling up or disturbing the contiguous paving stones or roadway.
Sixthly. The Invention consists in constructing the tramways and
permanent way with rail and chairs as follows (see Figures 6 and 7) :-
The rail formed of two parts, one part m being the rail proper on which
the wheel is to run, the other part t being a guard rail to assist in
holding in the former and to complete the groove for guiding the
flange of carriage wheels. The two parts of rails are placed in a cast-
iron chair a, specially made to receive them and are kept apart and in
their proper position in the chair by an iron wedge piece u placed
between the two rails. When necessary to remove either rail the
wedge u is drawn by a claw from above and the rail can at once be
lifted out of chair without in any way disturbing the roadway. If
necessary between the bottom of rails and the chair a packing p of wood,
felt, india-rubber, or other elastic material should be placed to prevent
injurious vibration. By varying the proportions of parts theso rails can
be so arranged that the groove for carriage wheels can be either on one
side or in the centre of the rail. Also the guard rail may be made of
the same or of differing depth and dimensions as the rail proper.
Seventhly. The Invention consists in constructing the tramways and
permanent way with cast-iron box shaped chairs bedded in a concrete
block (see Figure 15), and in combination with two wrought-iron
plates inclined outwards held on edge by the chair o*, and the rail
being supported by timber wedge-shaped blocks 8 placed between the
rail and the plates. The plates being slightly elastic will prevent jarring;
,, are adjusting metal wedges.
And, eighthly. With two iron knee plates, as at w in Figure 16,
secured to a timber transverse sleeper forming a chair between which
the rail is placed, the whole being bolted together transversely.
And, ninthly. With chairs or sleepers formed of a thin wrought-iron
plate or plates, bent into an irregular form as at x, Figure 17, with
arched base, and sometimes stiffened by a wrought-iron tie rod **
passing through and connecting it transversely where required with the
opposite chair. The rail is suspended in the chair by means of two
wedge-shaped blocks ³, ³, the box or chair being filled with earth,
ballast, or other material to prevent its bending or collapsing.
And, tenthly. With an angle, or flat, or shouldered kerb of iron to
form one side of groove for flange of carriage wheel, and to protect the

page_text: edges of paving stones or roadway either in combination with the rails
shewn in Figures 4, 5, 16, or other rails. In the said Figures the kerb
referred to is marked y.
And, eleventhly. With longitudinal sleepers of timber cut from a
rectangular balk diagonally across the section so that two strips of
timber are produced as at M, M, in Figure 5. The timbers are laid on
their broadest sides parallel to one another, and between their vertical
sides and resting on their upper (narrow) faces is placed the rail, bolts
being passed transversely through the timber and rail so as to securely
fasten them together, the object being with a minimum amount of
timber to provide a maximum bearing surface for the sleepers. If
desired wrought-iron transverse ties can be used.
And, twelfthly. With longitudinal sleepers of rectangular or any con-
venient form applied in the mode and in substitution for the sleepers
eleventhly above set forth and described.
And, thirteenthly. With the rails laid in beds of concrete or other
similar material, as at N in Figure 4, formed by a series of blocks or
by a continuous mass specially shaped to receive the rails, and by
placing between the rail and concrete a thin packing of wood, felt, tan,
or other elastic material to prevent injurious vibration, the form and :
fitting of the rail being such that it may be removed or adjusted without
disturbing the concrete bed or the paving stones or roadway contiguous
thereto.
And, fourteenthly. With strips of asphalte as at Q in Figure 4
applied for filling in the space between the rail and the row of paving ?
stones nearest to such rail, and where there is not sufficient depth
between the surface of road and the lower projection of the chairs or
rails to admit of paving being used.
And, fifteenthly. With Staffordshire blue bricks or any modified shape
of such material for forming a roadway for horses between the rails and a
on either side thereof laid in cement, concrete, or other material
Having now described the nature of our said Invention and the
manner in which the same may and is to be performed, we declare that
we claim as of our said Invention the several improvements herein-above
stated, substantially as set forth and described and represented in the 3
Drawings (not limiting our claim to precise or minor details), and the
combination or combinations of any of the said several improvements,
J

page_text: or of parts of them, and which combination or combinations we further
declare to constitute and be a part or parts of our said Invention.
In witness whereof, we, the said Joseph Emerson Dowson and
Alfred Dowson, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-one.
JOSEPH EMERSON DOWSON. (L.S.)
ALFRED
DOWSON.
(L.S.)