AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CONNECTING VARIOUS METROPOLITAN RAILWAYS BY MEANS OF A CENTRAL STATION WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE WATER TRAFFIC ON NAVIGABLE RIVERS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Henry Leveaux, of Brook Green, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of ' AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF CONNECTING VARIOUS METROPOLITAN RAILWAYS BY
MEANS OF A CENTRAL STATION WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE WATER
TRAFFIC ON NAVIGABLE RIVERS."
Sealed the 24th February 1874, and dated the 28th August 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Henry Leveaux
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 28th August 1878.
I, EDWARD HENRY LEVEAUX, of Brook Green, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CONNECTING VARIOUS METROPOLITAN RAILWAYS
BY MEANS OF A CENTRAL STATION WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE WATER TRAFFIC
ON NAVIGABLE RIVERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention applics more particularly to railway traffic in which
several lines have their stations and termini on different sides of a

page_text: navigable river, and where it is found desirable to connect the several
lines of railway with each other and with the traffic on the river.
Taking London as a familiar example of cases in which an interchange
of traffic would be mutually advantageous to all the railways having
termini there, I would propose to erect in the middle of the river
Thames, at some convenient spot to be determined upon, a central
railway station with which all the lines of railway should communicate
by means of suitable branches. To effect this object in a practical
manner without interfering with the navigation of the river necessitates
the construction of the central station in a peculiar manner, which con-
stitutes one of the essential features of the Invention.
The whole of the platform or floor line of the station must be raised
to such an altitude above the water level of the river as will allow steam-
boats and other vessels to pass under, to which end the floor and super-
structure of the station must be constructed on arches or girders -
supported by three or more rows of cylindrical cast-iron columns which
rest on the bed of the river.
The several lines of railway on the north and south banks of the
river communicate with the central station and with each other by
means of four or more open or closed tubular bridges which are con-
structed to carry two or more lines of rails, and also a tramway or
carriageway for ordinary traffic.
The several lines of railway which pass into the central station are
made either to cross or run into each other, so that the traffic can be
interchanged or the trains may run through the station by means of
suitable curves. Below the platform or floor of the station are con-
structed piers to accommodate the water traffic, and access to or from
these piers and to or from the platforms of the station may be obtained
by means of suitable staircases.
The superstructure of the station is constructed principally of iron
and glass, and a central dome may be erected to receive a signal station,
from which approaches from all sides to the station may be clearly seen
and the points worked therefrom by means of gearing of the ordinary
kind.
Central booking and other offices may be constructed either below the

page_text: roof of the station. A range of iron and glass warehouses will be built
along each side of the station to receive light goods that may come from
the Continent or may require to be sent there.
In connection with the hotel, galleries, and promenades, commanding
views of London may be constructed. By constructing a central station
in this manner a maximum of convenience is obtained for the passenger
and other traffic without interfering with the navigation of the river or
involving a very considerable outlay. .
Office on the 28th February 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
HENRY LEVEAUX, of Brook Green, in the County of Middlesex, Gentle-
man, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Edward Henry Leveaux, Her special licence
that I, the said Edward Henry Leveaux, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Henry Leveaux, 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 "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF CONNECTING VARIOUS METROPOLITAN RAILWAYS BY MEANS OF A CENTRAL
STATION WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE WATER TRAFFIC ON NAVIGABLE Rivers,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Henry
Leveaux, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
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

page_text: •
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 Edward Henry Leveaux, 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, reference being had to the Drawing here-
unto annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say) :—
This Invention applies more particularly to railway traffic in which
several lines have their stations and termini on different sides of a
navigable river, and where it is found desirable to connect the soveral
lines of railway with each other and with the traffic on the river. This
plan of connecting various railways at one central terminus is applicable
to such cities as London, Liverpool, Glasgow, and other places, but taking
London as a familiar example of cases in which an interchange of traffic
would be mutually advantageous to all the railways having termini there,
it is proposed to erect in the middle of the river Thames, at some con-
venient spot to be determined upon, a central railway station with which
all the lines of railway should communicate by means of suitable
branches. To effect this desired object in a practical manner in any
situation without interfering with the navigation of the river necessitates
the construction of the central station in a peculiar manner, which
constitutes one of the essential features of the Invention, and will be
best understood by referring to the accompanying Drawing, in which
Fig. 1 represents a diagram plan view shewing a number of different
railways a, b, c, d, on both sides of the navigable river R, and having
stations or termini A, B, C, on both sides of the river.
These several lines of railway are made to communicate with or run
into the large central station S (which is placed in or near the middle of
the river) by means of short branch lines a¹, b¹, c¹, d¹.
Upon referring to the end elevation, Fig. 2, which is drawn upon an
enlarged scale, it will be seen that the whole of the platform or floor
line of the station S must be raised to such an altitude above the water
level W, W, of the river as will allow steamboats and other vessels to
pass under, as seen in Fig. 2, to which end the floor and superstructure
of the station S must be constructed on arches or girders supported by

page_text: three or more rows of cylindrical cast-iron columns D, D, D, which rest
on or are driven into the bed of the river.
The several lines of railway a, b, c, d, on the north and south banks of
the river communicate, as before mentioned, with the central station S,
and therefore with each other by means of four or more open or closed
tubular bridges B'; B³, Fig. 2, which are constructed to carry two or
more lines of rails, and also a tramway or carriage way for ordinary
traffic.
The several lines of railway which pass into the central station are
made either to cross or run into each other, so that the traffic can be
interchanged or the trains may run into, through, and out of the station
by means of suitable curves, as shewn in Fig. 1.. Below the platform or
floor of the station are constructed floating piers or landing places E to
accommodate the water traffic, and access to or from these piers and to or
from the platforms of the station may be obtained by means of suitable
staircases as at F, Fig. 2.
The superstructure of the station is constructed principally of iron and
glass, and a central dome G may be erected to receive a signal station,
from which approaches from all sides to the station may be clearly scen
and the points worked therefrom by means of gearing of the ordinary
kind.
Central booking and other offices may be constructed either below the
dome or at the sides or ends of the station, and refreshment, waiting, and
other rooms and hotel accommodation may be provided under the roof
of the station, and access to the station from the banks of the river may
be obtained by means of a roadway H, Figures 1 and 2. A range of
iron and glass warehouses will be built along each side of the station to
receive light goods that may come from the Continent or may require to
be sent there.
-
In connection with the hotel galleries and promenades, commanding
views of London may be constructed. By constructing a central station
in this manner a maximum of convenience is obtained for the passenger
and other traffic without interfering with the navigation of the river or
involving a very considerable outlay in comparison with the cost. of con-
structing a large and important station in a locality crowded with
expensive buildings.

page_text: Having now described my improved method of connecting various
railways with each other and with the water traffic on navigable rivers,"
and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I
claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid,
connecting the various railways (situated near the two banks of a
navigable river) with each other and with the water traffic of the said "
river by means of branch railways running into a central station placed
in the middle or nearly so of the said river and raised upon piles or
columns as hercin set forth, so that the water traffic may not be
impeded.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Henry Leveaux, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-seventh day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.