IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY POINTS OR SWITCHES, AND CROSSINGS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Duncan, of Oak Foundry, in the Parish of
Crofton, in the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
RAILWAY POINTS OR SWITCHES, AND CROSSINGS."
Sealed the 22nd September 1854, and dated the 1st June 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Duncan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
June 1854.
I, DAVID DUNCAN, of Oak Foundry, in the Parish of Crofton, in the County
of York, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN RAILWAY POINTS OR SWITCHES, AND CROSSINGS" to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in a new section of rail, rolled exclusively for the
purpose. This rail differs from all others in use by having one side fluted and
the pressure side rolled solid, by which plan a greater strength is given to the
rail, which is less liable to be crushed by weight, and consequently will afford
greater security to traffic, as many of the accidents at present occurring are
occasioned by the trains running off the lines at the points and crossings,
owing to the present or fluke rail being crushed and imperfect. It is also
proposed to give strength to the crossing by welding a solid picce to rest on
the chair, as shewn on the plan, about 17 inches in length, or from the
point of the angle to the end of the V part of the crossing. My new point or
switch and crossing will afford greater security to permanent ways, and be
found to be cheaper, by resisting pressure, and serving in the wear and tear
considerably longer than those at present in use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Duncan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th November 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
DUNCAN, of Oak Foundry, in the Parish of Crofton, in the County of York,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said David
Duncan, Her special licence that I, the said David Duncan my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said David Duncan, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY POINTS, SWITCHES,
AND CROSSINGE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said David
Dunean, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should parti-
cularly 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 David Duncan, do hereby declare the
naturo 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 Drawings hereunto annexed.
My Invention consists in a new section of rail, rolled exclusively for the
purpose, as shewn by the section on the accompanying plan, marked Figure a,
No. 1. This rail differs from all others in use by having one side fluted and
the pressure side rolled solid throughout, with a base flange on either side of
the rail, to hold on to the bed of the respective chairs used in the fitting, as
will be described hereafter, to secure the key by forming a lip with the
clasping chair, thus giving a great security to the rail, and preventing any
oscillation; by this section of rail there is produced all the necessary strength
desirable for the pressure side, and which is a defect to those sections heretofore
used, and is thereby less liable to be crushed and broken down, and will
consequently afford greater security to traffic generally, and especially if this

page_text: said section be used, as it can, may, and is intended to be used for permanent
ways generally, by which use there will be less liability to accidents, at present
so prevalent, by the breaking down of the running side of the B and T sections
of rails at present in use, and especially as regards points or switches and
crossings. It is further intended to give strength to the crossing by welding a
solid piece of hammered iron, of the section as shewn on the plan, Fig. 6.
No. 2, to the long point rail, Fig. f, No. 3, and to plane the rail, Fig. e, No. 5
to the required angle, which is screwed on at Fig. a and Fig. e, forming the
V part of the crossing. Fig. 9, No. 6, and Fig. h, No. 7, are wing rails of
obtuse angles resting on chairs A, B, and C, Fig. i, No. 8,
Fig. k, No. 10. The V part of the crossing rests with its solid front on
chair B, Fig. No. 9, and chair C, Fig. k, No. 10, and thus completing my
Fig. 1, No. 9,
crossing. The switches or points are made in the ordinary way used, but are
composed of my new section of rail, Fig. a, No. 1. My new section of rail
will be of various weights, as circumstances may require them, for any
permanent way or coal or traffic roads; and this section, by preventing the
often relaying, together with a saving in a 15 feet length of rail of 2 sleepers,
4 chairs, 8 spikes, and 4 keys, and their accompanying time in fitting up, will
be found of great advantage to all concerned in constructing and keeping up
permanent railways.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Duncan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
DAVID DUNCAN. (L.S.)