AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR READJUSTING RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES, CARRIAGES, AND ROLLING STOCK THROWN OFF THE METALS OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Bedell at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th June
1869. A communication from abroad by Robert Bustin, of St. John,
New Brunswick, Railroad Conductor..
I; GEORGE BEDELL, of St. John, New Brunswick, but at present
residing at Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Doctor of Medicine,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR READJUSTING RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES, CARRIAGES, AND
ROLLING STOCK THROWN OFF THE METALS OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS," to be
as follows:-
This Invention consists in a moveable apparatus that can be carried
with any train for the purpose of readjusting or replacing on the metals
or rails (in the event of collision or otherwise) the carriages, locomotives,
trucks, waggons, or other rolling stock which may have been thrown or
run off the line or track.
The apparatus is of the following description:-A short piece of rail
so formed that it will fit into the grooved part of an ordinary rail, that

page_text: is, it fits between the upper and lower flanges and the middle web of the
rail. The top edge of this rail is flush with the top edge of the ordinary
rail when in position. The top edge is tapered, so as to form a point.
The part or projection which fits between the upper and lower flanges
of the ordinary rail is also tapered, and by this means when in its place
the short piece of rail is kept with its upper edge with the point close to
the ordinary rail, gradually widening out towards its end. The upper
edge of the short rail is at its end the full width of an ordinary rail,
from thence tapering, as before described; at this end there is a
horizontal joint, which allows of a second length of rail being jointed
to the before-mentioned short rail. This second rail may be of any
convenient length to allow of a carriage being run upon it. The shorter
rail is fixed to the inside of the metals, that is, between the lines of rail.
It may be held in its place by means of a screw or other clamp, or it
may be held by merely having a spike driven in the sleeper, and keeping
it bearing against the main rail. On the outside of the line, fixed
similarly to and parallel with the before-mentioned short rail, is another
short piece of rail, which has its upper flange slightly overlapping the
main rail, and at the end where it overlaps the rail being widened out,
thence tapering slightly to the other end to the width of an ordinary
rail. It has a horizontal joint similar to the first mentioned short piece
of rail, which likewise allows of an additional convenient length being
jointed thereto. These two lengths of rail which are jointed to the
short pieces are thus able to be moved into a parallel position with
each other. They are bevelled at their ends furthest from the joints to
allow of carriages or trucks being run upon them, and when found
necessary they may be held in their parallel position by spikes driven
into the sleepers, or by means of ordinary "chairs" fixed temporally,
The short pieces being fitted and fixed to the main rails, that is, one
inside of one rail and the other outside of the other rail, the jointed
pieces being in position, that is, one between the main rails and one
outside the main rails, and in a parallel position with each other, it will
be seen that carriages, trucks, and other rolling stock which may have
run or been thrown off the line may be rolled up these parallel rails
until they regain their original position on the main rail. These lengths
of rail are then unfixed and stowed again in the train. Their adaptation
saves much labour in the use of lifting jacks, levers, and other means
of forcibly readjusting carriages which may have left the metals; the
twisting and straining of carriages during readjustment is much lessened

page_text: by the use of these rails. Also the labour of. replacing is much reduced,
as by the use of these rails the engine may by means of a rope or line
draw the carriages (thrown off) on to the main line. The apparatus is
quite portable, and may be carried on the engine or guard's van of
any train.