AN IMPROVED MEANS OR METHOD OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE GUARDS, PASSENGERS, AND ENGINE DRIVERS OF RAILWAY TRAINS OR OTHER PUBLIC CONVEYANCES TO WHICH THE SAME MAY BE APPLICABLE
Year: 1864

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Booth, at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st July
1864.
I, WILLIAM BOOTH, Auctioneer, Surveyor, and Estate Agent, of No. 22,
Abbey Road, St. John's Wood, Parish of Marylebone, and County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED MEANS OR METHOD OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE GUARDS, PASSENGERS,
AND ENGINE DRIVERS OF RAILWAY TRAINS OR OTHER PUBLIC CONVEYANCES TO WHICH
THE SAME MAY BE APPLICABLE," to be as follows:-
That a barrier, rail, rod, or rope of wire or other material shall be carried
along each side of the carriage or conveyance at about fifteen inches from the
side, and about three feet six inches high, with such joints or joinings or mode
of connexion as be most convenient under the circumstances, and may be used
either singly or in two lines, as required, the said barrier, rods, rails, or ropes
being supported by arms or upright supports of metal or wood attached to the
under portion of the carriage (where necessary on pivots, thereby preventing
any damage by collision with any slight obstacles). The rod, rail, or ropes
running through or attached to such uprights or arms acting as the barrier or
safeguard for the protection of the guards, who may occasionally traverse
from end to end of the train, or for any other person wishing to communicate
with the guard, engine driver, or any other carriage. It is proposed, in order
to render the communication continuous to any number of carriages, that a

page_text: step or landing of wood or iron (perforated, ornamental, or plain) about nine
inches wide shall be carried along each side of the carriage, the same
extending beyond the carriage to the extent of the buffer, generally about
eighteen inches, such extending or projecting portion being so hinged or attached
by spring or otherwise that it may stand slightly elevated or at an angle at
the extreme ends, thus F
✓ that by the concussion the
shortening or the extension of the distance of the carriages caused by the
working of the buffer the hinged or elevated portions of the step or landing
may on meeting of the two ends suffer no damage, the one or both ends
becoming more elevated or giving to the other, but any person walking or
traversing over the elevated or hinged portion it becomes for the time to the
level step, and immediately elevating itself on removal of the pressure; that
portion of the barrier, rods, rails, or ropes opposite each entrance to the
carriage to afford ingress and egress will be attached and detached at pleasure,
as also the connexion from carriage to carriage; the mode of attachment by
lock, hook, or loop, may be as under the circumstances shall be most con-
venient, it will be necessary at all times to leave the carriage door simply on
the latch, but unlocked; the security against passengers falling out or other
accident may be prevented by the guard at all times keeping (during
travelling) the portion of barrier, rod, rail, or rope opposite the door properly
fastened.