IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Farmerley Dickson, of Number 6. Russell
Street, Litchurch, near Derby, in the County of Derby, Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."
Scaled the 20th August 1858, and dated the 4th June 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Farmerley Dickson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on tho
4th June 1858.
I, JOHN FARMERLEY DICKSON, of Number 6, Russell Street, Litchurch, near
Derby, in the County of Derby, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," to be
as follows':
I prevent any stress on the screw bolts which hold the rails together by
making both wings out of one piece of plate iron, about one-third of an inch
in thickness, so that when the pressure of the load is bearing on the rail, the
weight on the supporting wings causes them to clasp the rail as in a vice, and
consequently the greater the weight there is on the rail, the greater will be
the firmness given to it up to the point where the wings would break, the
point of breakage being far above any pressure likely to be brought to bear
upon them, as the greatest pressure on a railway never exceeds twenty tons
distributed over eighteen feet. I also use a less number of fastenings than
has hitherto been used, as they are only required to attach the angle irons

page_text: which keep the rails in guage, whilst at the same time they maintain the rail
firm in the groove.
In the accompanying outline Drawing W, W, represents the wings; R, the
rail; T, T, the angle irons; and B, the bolts.
The advantages of this Invention are simplicity and economy in the con-
struction, durability, increased safety, additional strength in proportion to the
material used, with facility of repairs and easy renewal of the rails.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Farmerley Dickson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 3rd December 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
FARMERLEY DICKSON, of No. 6, Russell Street, Litchurch, near Derby, in the
County of Derby, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Farmerley Dickson, Her special licence that I, the said John
Farmerley Dickson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said John Farmerley Dickson, my exccutors, 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
inight 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 THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Farmerley Dickson, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and scals, 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 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 1, the said John Farmerley Dickson, 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):-

page_text: My said Invention consists of certain improvements relating to that
description of the permanent way of railroads in which wrought iron is
principally or exclusively used, and in which the sleepers, wings, or other
bearing surfaces are laid longitudinally and continuously in the direction of
the road. Various plans of this description are now in use, all of which have
been found in practice to be seriously defective, and instead of them I propose
to form the wings or sleepers out of one piece of plate iron, about one-third of
an inch in thickness, in which is formed a groove running its entire length, into
which I place the vertical limb of a single-headed rail of a new and improved
form, which arrangement prevents any stress on the screw bolts attaching the
wings to the rails, and at the same time requires a less number of fastenings.
I use a new and improved form of cast or wrought-iron sleeper, either detached
or continuous, to be used in connection with the rails in ordinary use. I
also form notches or teeth in the ends of bolts or screws employed in the
permanent way of railways, and place catches either on the nuts or other parts,
to which the screws are fitted, so that the catch may fit in the notch and
prevent the bolt or screw becoming loose.
These improvements will be clearly understood by reference to the acconi-
panying Sheet of Drawings, with the figures and letters of reference thereon.
Figs. 1, 2, and 3, are transverse sections of my improved form of rail,
connected to my improved forms of sleepers. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and
11, are transverse sections of my improved sleepers, used in connection with
the ordinary rails; and Figs. 12 and 13 represent a bolt with its end notched,
and a nut with a catch upon it.
In Fig. 1, I represent my improved rail at a, having a single and solid
head, the vertical limb of which is parallel and continuous with its inside
edge. My improved sleeper or supporting surface is shewn at b, having a
groove c, into which is fitted the lower part of the limb of the rail. The
sleeper is also furnished with a rib d, fitting a recess or rebate e at the under
side of the head of the rail, the said rib being fastened to the limb by the
screw bolts f; the tie bar is shewn at g, rivetted to the sleeper.
In Fig. 2, I represent at h another form of sleeper or supporting surface for
my improved rail a, the latter being made without a recess or rebate, the head
of the rail simply resting on the wing, and the limb fitting the groove. The
tic bar is shewn at i, fixed to the wing and rail by the bolt k. In Fig. 3, I
shew another modification of sleeper adapted to my improved rail a, the
difference consisting simply in the form of the wings or supporting surfaces.
In Fig. 4, the ordinary rail m is placed in one of my improved sleepers n,
both kept firmly together by the bolt o. In Fig. 5, which represents another

page_text: form of sleeper, the wooden keys p may be placed. at intervals, either with or
without screw bolts. Fig. 6 represents another improved form of sleeper,
arranged so that the rail can be held firmly by wooden keys, wood being
placed under the rail, when desired. Fig. 7 represents another form of sleeper
to which the rail is bolted. Fig. 8 is a sleeper, having a tie bar 9 placed at cach
end, made of angle iron when preferred. Fig. 9. represents a cast or wrought-
iron sleeper in two parts, one furnished with a rib or projection fitting a groove
in the other, the sleeper and rail being held together by bolts. In Fig. 10
I shew a sleeper with one side, the rail being held firm by bolting at intervals
the brackets r; wood packing, as shewn at s, may be employed between the
under surface of the sleeper and the ballast. Fig. 11 represents a sleeper
with two brackets t, a tie bar u, and wood packing u, as in Fig. 10.
In Figs. 12 & 13, representing my improvements in bolts and screws
employed in the permanent way of railways, it will be seen that I cause the
end of the bolt w to project a short distance beyond the nut .r, which end has
any suitable number of notches or teeth in contact with a catch y, so that
when the bolt is tightened as much as required, the catch prevents any return
movement, and consequent loosening, thus maintaining a constant tightness,
and avoiding the necessity of frequent supervision; when screws are used
instead of bolts, their ends project through the screwed metal as much as
through the nuts, but the catch is placed upon the plate, rail, or frame, instead
of the nut, thereby producing the effect of preventing the screw from returning
or loosening. In both cases the catch may keep in its place either by its weight
or position, or by the assistance of a spring, or it may be supported by a notch,
pin, or stud. It will be evident to all persons of practical experience that my
improved rail and sleepers are of great strength and simplicity, the fastenings
and connecting ties being easily accessible, and also that there is no stress on
the screw bolts, the action of the load pressing all the parts closely together.
And in my improved cast or wrought-iron sleepers, adapted to the ordinary
rails, it will be found that there is much simplicity and convenience combined
with strength and economy not hitherto attained.
Having thus fully described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be distinctly
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein set forth,
as such may be varied or modified without departing from the principle
thereof; but I claim as my Invention, and which to the best of my knowledge
and belief has not been hitherto used within the realm,-
The improved form and arrangement of rails and sleepers for giving a con-
tinuous bearing surface to the rails, and the improved. construction of..bolts

page_text: and screws to be used on the permanent way of railways, as such improve-
ments are herein described and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Farmerley Dickson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
JOHN FARMERLEY DICKSON. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named John Farmerley Dickson, in the
presence of
GEO. HEMINGWAY,
Clerk to Jos. Shaw, Sol,
Derby.