IMPROVED SYSTEM OF BAILWAY OR TRAMWAY TO BE USED WITH HORSES OR OTHER POWER, AND PASSENGER CARRIAGES FOR THE SAME
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Francis Train, of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVED SYSTEM OF
BAILWAY OR TRAMWAY TO BE USED WITH HORSES OR OTHER POWER, AND
PASSENGER CARRIAGES FOR THE SAME."
Sealed the 23rd October 1860, and dated the 26th April 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Francis Train
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 26th April 1860.
I, GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED
SYSTEM OF RAILWAY OR TRAMWAY TO BE USED WITH HORSES OR OTHER POWER, AND
PASSENGER CARRIAGES FOR THE SAME," to be as follows (that is to say):-
This Invention consists in a peculiar form of tramway or railway adapted
for laying down in streets or common roads for the wheels of carriages to roll
upon, and a novel construction of vehicle for the conveyance of passengers
over the said roadway.
The improved form of rail intended to be used in the construction of the
tramway it is preferred to form of rolled iron bars of any convenient length,.
and
say,
from five to six inches broad, the upper surface of which is formed

page_text: on the outer side with a ridge of about th of an inch elevation, with a flat or
slightly rounded crown of about one inch and a half broad, and which is vertical
on the outside, and worked off into a round and hollow in the inner side, leaving
a lower flat or nearly flat surface of about two inches and a half to two inches
and three-quarters wide. The under surface of the rail is formed with a feather
or flanch on each side, to assist in keeping it in position on the longitudinal
stringers of timber upon which they are to be laid. The rails are secured to
the longitudinal stringers, upon which they are laid, by spikes or bolts, the.
heads of which are countersunk in the upper surface of the thin flat part of
the rail. The stringers are kept parallel to each other by the use of transverse
wood sleepers, as is well understood. The road is made good for the feet of
the horses by any of the means now used in the construction of ordinary
streets or roads. The object of this form of rail is, that being placed parallel
to each other, at a distance equal to the separation of the wheels of vehicles
generally used in the locality in which they are laid, they can be made
available as a tramway for ordinary wheeled carriages, the sole of the wheels
rolling upon the lower portion of the face of the rail. But in the improved
carriage constructed expressly for running upon these rails a flanched wheel is
used, the tread of which travels upon the upper surface of the side ridge; the
flanch of the wheel extending down towards the lower surface, and in some
cases in contact therewith. In some cases it may be advisable to place the
rails so that the thick or ridge portion of the rail would be on the inside in
place of on the outside, as herein-before described.
"
The improved cars constructed expressly for the system of railway berein-
before described, are formed with an oblong body, the whole of the upper part
of the sides of which have a series of glazed sashes or windows, the lower
portion of which can be opened by sliding the sashes upwards, and are fitted
with framed Venetian blinds, which, when not in use, slide into recesses below
the window frames. Each end of the body of the carriage is provided with a
sliding door for admission into the interior of the vehicle from a platform,
which is on a level with the floor of the car, and is reached by steps on the
sides of the platforms, so that the vehicle can be entered from each side at both
ends. The roof is extended over the platforms at each end, and is fitted with
seats, which are gained by a small staircase formed in the corner or corners
(when more than one are used) of the body of the machine, and approached
from the platform. The roof is provided with an awning for the protection of
the passengers from the action of the sun and from rain. And it is proposed
to attach the awning to a revolving roller extended longitudinally above the
centre of the top of the car. By this arrangement the awning can be readily

page_text: taken in or let out to any required extent by being rolled off or on to the
revolving roller, which takes in or lets. out both sides of the awning at the.
same time. A bell is fitted to each-end of the roof of the car which extends
over the platforms, with a communication extending along the interior of the-
roof, so that they may be rung from any portion of the length of the car. The
body of the car is mounted upon two pairs of flanched wheels staked to their
axles, which revolve in suitable axle box bearings, and are provided with any.
suitable springs, but it is preferred to use springs formed of india-rubber balls.
filled with air placed within cylinders, and are surrounded with molasses or-
other, suitable liquid, the body of the carriage being supported on pistons,
resting upon the balls.
The breaks used on this improved car are formed by a system of rods and
levers, which can be worked from either or both platforms by the driver or
conductor, or both, and act on all the wheels of the car at one time.
The car is intended to travel either end first, the horses or other draught.
power being attached thereto in such a way that they can be immediately
disconnected with their harness, poll, and so forth from either end, and re-
attached at the other. When two or more horses are used abreast of each
other the poll is provided with cross arms for carrying the swingle-trees. The
poll is connected to the car by a movable bolt or pin, which can be withdrawn
or inserted from the platforms of the car.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the. Letters Patent; filed
by the said George Francis Train in the Great Seal Patent Office on..
the 25th October 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS- SHALL COME, I, GEORGE:
FRANCIS TRAIN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,. Merchant,. send.
greeting.
WHEREAS Her, most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters-
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord.
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto-me,.
the said, George Francis Train, Her special licence that I, the said George
Francis Train, my executors, administrators, and, assigns, or such others.
as I, the said George Francis Train, 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

page_text: 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 "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF RAILWAY OR TRAMWAY TO
BE USED WITH HORSES OR OTHER POWER, AND PASSENGER CARRIAGES FOR THE
SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George
Francis Train, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Francis Train, do hereby
declare the nature 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 (that is to say) :-
This Invention consists of a system of tramway and railway combined. The
rails used in the construction of the road being so shaped as to form both a
tramway and railway, upon which the ordinary wheels of comnion vehicles or the
flanched wheels of railway carriages can travel, and is peculiarly well adapted
for laying down in streets and common highways. And in a novel con-
struction of vehicle for the conveyance of passengers over the said roadway.
The improved form of rail intended to be used in the construction of the
combined tramway and railway I prefer to form of rolled iron bars of any con-
venient length, and, say, from three to six inches broad; the upper surface of
which I form on the outer side with. a ridge of, say, from about half an
inch to one inch elevation, with a flat or slightly rounded crown of about one
and a half inches broad, and which is vertical on the outside, and worked off
into a round and hollow in the inner side leaving a lower flat or nearly flat
surface of from one and a half to two and three quarters inches wide. The
under surface of the rail I form with a feather or flanch on each side to assist
in keeping it in position on the longitudinal stringers of timber upon which
they are to be laid. The rails are secured to the longitudinal stringers upon
which they are laid by spikes or bolts, the heads of which are countersunk in
the upper surface of the thin flat part of the rail. The stringers are kept
parallel to each other by the use of transverse wood sleepers or iron tie rods,
as is well understood. I make good the joints between the ends of the rails
by means of plates of iron (similar, to those used in the construction of steam
boilers) of, say, about seven inches long, which I place in recesses formed in
the longitudinal stringers underneath the rails at their junction with each

page_text: other, and secure the whole together by spikes driven through suitable holes
formed in the flat surface of the rails, and the plates of iron into the stringers
of timber upon which the rails rest. I make good the road between the rails
for the feet of the horses, or other draught animals used, by any of the means
now used in the construction of ordinary streets or roads. The object of the
form of rail described is, that two lines of such rails being placed parallel to
each other at a distance equal to the separation of the wheels of vehicles
intended to run thereon, they can be made available as a tramway for ordinary
wheeled carriages, the soles of the wheels rolling upon the lower portion of the
face of the rails. But in the improved carriage, constructed expressly for
running upon these rails, flanched wheels are used, the tread of which travels
upon the upper surface of the side ridges; the flanch of the wheel extending
down towards the lower surface, and in some cases in contact therewith. In
some cases it may be advisable to place the rails so that the ridge or thick
portion of the rail would be on the inside in place of on the outside, as herein-
before described..
The improved cars, constructed expressly for the system of railway herein-
before described, are formed with an oblong body, the whole of the upper part
of the sides of which have a series of glazed sashes or windows, the lower
portion of which can be opened by sliding the sashes upwards, and are fitted
with framed venetian blinds, which, when not in use, slide into recesses below
the window. frames. Each end of the body of the carriage is provided with a
sliding door for admission into the interior of the vehicle from a platform,
which is on a level with the floor of the car; and is reached by steps on the
sides of the platforms, so that the vehicle can be entered from each side at both
ends. The roof is extended over the platforms at each end and is fitted with
seats, which are gained by a small staircase formed in the corner or corners
(when more than one are used) of the body of the machine, and approached
from the platform or platforms at the ends of the car. The roof is provided
with an awning for the protection of the passengers from the action of the sun
and from rain. And it is proposed to attach the awning to a revolving roller
extended longitudinally above the centre of the top of the car. By this arrange-
ment the awning can be readily taken in, or let out to any required extent, by
being rolled off or on to the revolving roller, which takes in or lets out both
sides of the awning at the same time. A bell is fitted to each end of the roof
of the car, which extends over the platforms and has a communication extend-
ing along the interior of the roof, so that they may be rung from any portion
of the length of the car. The body of the car is mounted upon two pairs of
flanched wheels staked to their axles, which revolve in suitable axle box bear-

page_text: ings, and are provided with any suitable springs, but it is preferred to use.
springs formed of india-rubber balls, filled with air, placed within cylinders
and surrounded with molasses, or other suitable liquid; the body of the
carriage being supported on pistons resting upon the balls containing air. In
some cases where the carriage is intended to travel upon a road having sharp
curves, in place of making the wheels fast to their axletrees. I mount one or
both wheels of one or both of the pairs of wheels in such a way that they will.
be free to revolve on their axletrees without the necessity of the axletrees
revolving with them.
The breaks used on this my improved car Í form by a system of rods and
levers, which can be worked from either or both platforms by the driver or
conductor, or both, and are so arranged as to act on all the four wheels of the
car at one time. .
These, my improved cars, are intended to travel either end first; the horses
or other draught power being attached thereto in such a way that they can be
immediately disconnected with their harness, poll, and so forth, from either
end and re-attached at the other. When two or more horses are used abreast
of each other, the poll is provided with cross arms for carrying- the swingle
trees. The poll is connected to the car by a moveable bolt or pin, which can
be withdrawn or inserted from the platforms of the car.
Hereunto 1 have annexed Drawings in partial illustration of the practical
application of my Invention.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1,) is a general perspective view, showing one of my im-
proved street railway cars; and,
Figure 2 (Sheet 1,) is another modification of the same, constructed to
carry passengers on the roof of the body of the carriage.. I have found that a
car, constructed of the following dimensions, suitable for use with two horses :-
Length outside, about 16 feet 6 inches; breadth outside, about 6 feet 6 inches;
height inside 7 feet; separation of wheels 6 feet; diameter of wheels 2 feet.
6 inches; doors at each end, about 2 feet 6 inches wide; platform steps, about
2 feet wide and 1 foot deep.
Figure 8 (Sheet 2,) shows a full-sized section of one modification of my
improved rails adapted to form a tramway for ordinary carriage wheels to roll
upon; and also a railway for ordinary railroad wheels to travel upon..
Figure 4 (Sheet 2,). is a cross section of my improved street tram and
railway. A, A, the rails; B, B, the longitudinal sleepers, upon which the rails
are laid, and to which they are secured by C spikes or bolts, the beads of
which are countersunk in the upper face of the rails; D, transverse sleepers,
upon which rests the longitudinal sleepers upon which the rails are laid; E

page_text: small iron knees, which, with the spikes e, e, are used to secure the longitu-
dinal and transverse sleepers together.
Figure 5 (Sheet 2,) shows a plan of the carriage brakes, seen from the
under side; F, the under side of the carriage body; G, under side of the
steps for gaining the platforms; H, fixed stay pieces; I, an inverted arch-
shaped piece of metal, through which passes K, a vertical bolt, which forms
the axis of L, a transverse working beam, to which is coupled M and M², con-
necting rods, which are connected to N and N¹ the transverse brake beanis,
which carry on their outer ends n, n³, n³, and n³, the friction blocks P and P¹
connecting rods jointed to the ends of the transverse beam L, and having
attached to the other ends short chains connected to Q, vertical rotating
spindles, upon which the connecting chains P are wound when, it is desirable
to bring the friction blocks against the tyres of the wheels; R, crank handles,
on the heads of the vertical rods Q for actuating the same; S, springs used
for causing the brake bars to leave the wheels when not acted upon by the
system of rods and levers described.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my Invention, and
how I believe the same may be best carried into effect, I wish it to be under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the precise details, dimensions, or relative.
proportions herein-before set forth, as it will be readily seen that the same
may be considerably varied without departing from the Invention; but what
I do claim is,―
First, the peculiar form and use of the rails or "metals," herein-before
described, or any mere modification of the same for the purpose of forming the
roads, upon which may travel vehicles having wheels of the ordinary descrip-
tion, or flanched wheels, such as are now used on railways.
Secondly, the use of the peculiarly constructed carriage springs, berein-
before described.
Thirdly, the peculiar arrangement of brake gear herein-before described.
Fourthly, the construction of omnibusses and other like carriages having an
entrance or doorway for admission into the interior from a platform at each
end of the body of the vehicle, and fitting the said entrances with sliding doors,
as herein-before described, or any mere modification of the same.
Fifthly, constructing within the body of omnibusses, or other like vehicles,
one or more staircases communicating with the roof of the body of the vehicle,
as herein-before described, or any mere modification of the same.
Sixthly, the peculiar means, herein-before described, for attaching and
detaching the horses or other draught animals with their harness and poll, to
or from omnibuses or other like vehicles.

page_text: Seventhly, the use of the double-action roller, described, when applied to roof
awnings of omnibusses, or other like passenger vehicles.
And, lastly, the general arrangements and combination of the various parts
herein-before described, forming an improved system of railway or tramway to
be used with horses or other power, and passenger carriages for the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Francis Train, have hereunto set
•
my hand and affixed my seal, this Twenty-fourth day of October, in
'the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street,
Liverpool.
GEORGE FRANCIS (L.B.) TRAIN.