IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS, AND OF THE CARRIAGES TO BE USED THEREWITH OR THEREON
Year: 1857

page_text: preser
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Coope Haddan at the Office.
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th August
1857.
I, JOHN COOPE HADDAN, of Cannon Row, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS, AND OF THE CARRIAGES TO BE
USED THEREWITH OR THEREON," to be as follows:-
My said Invention has reference more especially to localities and cir-.
cumstances in which it becomes desirable as far as possible to economize
the lateral space or width to be occupied by the intended railways, and is par-
ticularly applicable to and intended for the extension or increase of traffic
along the general line or course of existing streets, roads, or ways.
The improvement or improvements comprehended in my said Invention.
consists in constructing and disposing such descriptions of ways in two or more
lines lying in general course, direction, or plan, longitudinally one over
the other, and also in constructing, disposing, or arranging such combined
ways with lifts or inclines for shifting the carriages from one line to the other,
or forming a communication between the different levels or altitudes of the
higher and lower separate ways of which the combination consists.
And the improvements in carriages to be used with or upon such improved

page_text: railways, consists in adapting them to the special requirements of the said rail-
ways, by forming them with the floor or bottom lying below or at the level of
or nearly at the level of the rails.
The manner in which I purpose carrying my Invention into effect is as
follows: As respects the improved railways, I propose to occupy the middle
portion or thereabouts of existing or intended wide streets, roads, or ways, and
over such portion to erect a simple wooden platform, carrying trams or rails at
two or more levels above the surface of the ground, the bottom or ground level
being intended for ordinary slow street or road traffic, and the two or more
upper levels for the improved railway.
In order not to interfere with the ordinary traffic crossing the course or
direction of the proposed railway, I purpose leaving a clear headway over the
ground level of about 14 or 15 feet, or more if required, but between the two
or more rail levels I propose leaving a distance or space of only about 7 feet,
in order to reduce the total height of the structure as far as convenient. The
traction upon the said railways may be effected either by horse or locomotive
power or by ropes. When horse power is to be used it will be necessary to
lay ways or roads for the animals to run upon, but when locomotive power or
ropes are employed a mere skeleton platform or framing will be sufficient.
The lifts for raising the carriages or lowering them may be effected either by
hydraulic or mechanical arrangements.
The inclines may be so disposed at the positions of intended communica-
tion between the different levels, either so as to diverge laterally, and then to
unite at or upon the same level; or otherwise the rails, and in certain cases
the framing of the superior railway may be constructed so as to be temporarily
removeable, to allow the carriages upon the inferior level to pass, and so as
conveniently to be replaced after they have passed, and this operation may also
be rendered self-acting from the mere passage of the carriages upon the
inferior level. As respects the improved carriages, I purpose constructing
them with the wheels external to the body, and with what are technically
termed inside bearings by carriage builders; and in consequence of the limited
available contemplated height, I further purpose passing the axles through the
bodies of the carriages, and for this object to dispose or arrange them between
the compartments into which the carriages may be divided, so as to interfere
as little as possible with the space to be occupied by. the passengers.