IMPROVEMENTS IN ARRANGING AND COMBINING APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE GUARD, ENGINE DRIVER, AND PASSENGERS IN A RAILWAY TRAIN."
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Ernesto Spagnoletti, of the Telegraph Depart-
ment Great Western Railway, Paddington, in the County of Middlesex,
Telegraphic Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARRANGING
AND COMBINING APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE GUARD, ENGINE
DRIVER, AND PASSENGERS IN A RAILWAY TRAIN."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Ernesto Spagnoletti
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th November 1866.
I, CHARLES ERNESTO SPAGNOLETTI, of the Telegraph Department Great
Western Railway, Paddington, in the County of Middlesex, Telegraphic,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ARRANGING AND COMBINING APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING BETWEEN,
THE GUARD, ENGINE DRIVER, AND PASSENGERS IN A RAILWAY TRAIN," to be as.
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in arranging and combining
apparatus for communicating between the guard, engine driver, and passengers.
in a railway train. I make a communication with a metal rod running.
through the carriage, and so arranged as to slide or shift; this rod is either
slotted or has studs fixed to it in or on which the handle works as described
hereafter in the carriage apparatus, or with a wire or piece of chain to pull a,
bolt out of the disc or arm herein-after described, and with a locking apparatus

page_text: attached, or with one or two insulated wires attached to each carriage forming
part of a train; these wires are joined between each carriage by means of iron
bar-pieces of metal cable or connecting rods sufficiently strong to supply the
I place of the present coupling chains, so that the act of coupling up the
carriages makes the electrical connections, such bars being bushed, brazed,
galvanized, or plated at the points of contact. For additional means of
contact if necessary, I use side springs at each joint; I can also make my
connections by means of a half ball of brass so fitted to the end of each buffer
with springs that upon pressure they push in to avoid damage, and upon being
released from pressure project and form a constant connection between the
buffers. The connecting insulated wire runs through the buffer rod, which
rod I propose should be hollow. Sometimes I employ a telegraph cable and
slip hook or eye at each end, so as to allow of turning and slipping the
carriage. The apparatus to be fixed in each compartment of the carriage
over the side windows or elsewhere consists of a handle in connection with a
metal rod or wire, at the end of which, outside the carriage, is fixed a thin
metal plate painted red, this metal plate is placed when in its normal position
edgeways to the line of sight. On the handle before mentioned being turned
electrical connection is formed by springs ringing the bell herein-after
described and turning the metal plate so as to face the guard, so. that he from
his break can see which compartment rang; the metal plate may be also
thrown into sight by means of a spring released by turning the handle afore-
mentioned. A lock apparatus is attached to the handles before mentioned in
such manner that after any handle has been turned or pulled it cannot be
replaced by the person turning it, but this must be done by the guard. In
using the shifting rod or wire, which I prefer, the disc is fixed at the end of
the carriage, and so arranged that when the handle in the carriage is moved
or pulled & bolt is withdrawn from holding or supporting the disc, and it
immediately falls into sight, and in. so falling one end makes contact with two
springs electrically connected, and the bells are thus. made to ring. In this
arrangement one disc or arm.. and one eléctrical connection is sufficient for
each carriage. For night purposes I employ a blue light rocket. fixed or
thrown into sight and ignited by percussion by the falling of the metal disc or
arm, thus showing the carriage which gave the signal, and affording sufficient
light to illuminate the whole train and surrounding objects; I can also fire the
blue light electrically from the batteries which ring. the bells. On the engine
is placed a bell disc instrument and battery attached to the insulated wires or
other instruments (before mentioned) of electrical connection. Each van is
provided with a bell, battery, key, and switch, the latter instrument being for

page_text: adapting the vans for any position in the train (intermediate, terminal, or
reversed). The disc instrument shews two signals "stop" on a red ground,
"stop at next station" on a green ground. By having the iron coupling bars
before mentioned all fine and delicate means of electrical connection are dis-
pensed with. All extra duty, risks, and responsibility of any additional
connections are removed, and time is thus saved. Should a train be imper-
fectly coupled and a bar left hanging it falls against a support in connection
with the earth, and the guard's bell will ring and thus inform him of the
incomplete coupling up of the train. The chances of the frail-insulated wire
now used being cut, pulled off, broken, or otherwise damaged is also removed,
and the connection being made the proper length to suit each carriage in the
event of a shackle breaking or the draw bars giving way the jerk would be
comparatively little. By this system passengers can ring to all the guards
and the driver of the train, and the guards can ring to each. other and the'
driver. Flags or lamps may be used in place of the disc instrument on the
engine. For guards' breaks in composition carriages the apparatus is.fixed in
a moveable box or case, and when screwed up by thumbscrews the screws
make the necessary connection.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Ernesto Spagnoletti in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th May 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
ERNESTO SPAGNOLETTI, of the Telegraph Department Great Western Railway,
Paddington, in the County of Middlesex, Telegraphic. Engineer, send
greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letter's
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight-hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Charles Ernesto Spagnoletti, Her special licence that. I, the said Charles
Ernesto Spagnoletti, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Charles Ernesto Spagnoletti, 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

page_text: "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARRANGING AND COMBINING APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING
BETWEEN THE GUARD, ENGINE DRIVER, AND PASSENGERS IN A RAILWAY TRAIN,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Ernesto
Spagnoletti, 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 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 Charles Ernesto Spagnoletti, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:―
This Invention has for its object improvements in arranging and combining
apparatus for communicating between the guard, engine driver, and passengers
in a railway train. I make a communication with one or two insulated wires
attached to each carriage forming part of a train; these wires or wire are
joined between each carriage by means of iron bars, pieces of metal cable, or
connecting rods sufficiently strong to supply the place of the present coupling
chains, so that the act of coupling up the carriages makes the electrical con-
nections, such bars being bossed, brazed, galvanized, or plated at the points of
contact. For additional means of contact, if necessary, I use side springs at
each joint; I also make my connections by an electric cable with a hook and
eye, the hook being so constructed as to form either the hook or eye, or by
means of a half ball of brass so fitted to the end of each buffer with springs
that upon pressure they push in to avoid damage, and upon being released
from pressure project and form a constant connection between the buffers; the
connecting insulated wire runs through the buffer rod, which rod I propose
should be hollow. The apparatus to be fixed in each compartment of the
carriages over the side windows consists of a handle in connection with an
iron rod, at the end of which outside the carriage is fixed a thin metal plate
painted red, and perforated with the number and letter of the carriage com-
partment; this metal plate is placed, when in its normal position, edgeways
to the line of sight; on the handle before mentioned being turned electrical
connection is formed by springs connected to the earth ringing the bells
herein-after described, and turning the metal plate so as to face the guard, so
that he from his break or van can see which compartment rang; the metal
plate may be also thrown into sight by means of a spring released by turning
the handle before mentioned; a lock apparatus is attached to the handle in

page_text: such manner that after the handle has been turned it cannot be replaced by
the person turning it, but must be done by the guard or by a metal rod or a
wire contained in the curtain rod, or it may be put between the lining and the
roof; this releases an iron shield or arm at the end of the carriage by with-
drawing a bolt; on the falling of this shield or arm into sight all the electrical
bells are rung. The handle when turned is secured in that position, and can
only be replaced by the guard, who is provided with a key for that purpose;
I can also have a ring and chain or wire like an ordinary bell pull coming
into the carriage or compartment, and so attached to the iron rod as to turn
it and the disc attached thereto when it is pulled to give the signal, the
turning of which makes electrical contact, ringing the bells. On the engine
is placed a bell-disc instrument and battery attached to the insulated wires;
each van is provided with a bell, battery, key, and switch, the latter instru-
ment being for adapting the vans for any position in the train (intermediate,
or terminal, or reversed). For guards' compartments in carriages used some-
times for passenger accommodation a portable box is provided containing the
necessary apparatus, and is placed into position and electrically connected by
being screwed up to the side of the carriage by two thumbscrews; this plan
removes the expense of fitting up every guard's compartment permanently.
The disc instrument shows to signal "stop" on a red ground, "stop" at next
station on a green ground. By having the iron coupling bars before-men-
tioned all fine and delicate means of electrical connection are dispensed with,
all extra duty, risks, and responsibility of any additional connections are
removed, and time is thus saved. Should a train be imperfectly coupled and
a bar left hanging it falls against a support in connection with the earth, and
the guard's bell will ring and thus inform him of the incomplete coupling of
the train; the chances of the frail insulated wire now used being cut, pulled
off, broken, or otherwise damaged is also removed, and being. made the proper
lengths to suit each carriage, in the event of a shackle breaking or the draw
bars giving way the jerk would be less than the present system. By this
system passengers ring to all the guards, and the driver of the train and the
guards can ring to each other and the driver. Flags may be used in place of
the disc instrument on the engine; red, stop immediately; green and red
striped, stop at next station, and lamps at night. At night the falling of the
arm ignites a red light, and thus shows the carriage from which the alarm is
given, and illuminates the train for ten minutes brilliantly, so that the train
can be examined; these can be used in fog also; or if the disc is used the
fuse or blue light is ignited by friction or otherwise, so that the turning of the
handle lights the red light. When the train is formed and has started any

page_text: number of carriages, horse boxes, or carriage trucks can be added in any
part of the train during its journey, and be in electrical connection with it.
Any number of slip coaches can be put on and electrically connected and
taken or slipped off without affecting the remaining portion of the train.
When the signal is given to enable the guard to proceed while the train is in
motion in safety to the compartment from which the alarm 'proceeds I fasten
round him a broad belt or stays fixed to an oblong, round, or other shaped
piece of wood, metal, or other material on rollers top and bottom, which piece
of wood, &c. is in a tube or groove made of wood, iron, or other material, so
that as the guard walks on the footboard he is securely held up in case he
slips or loses his hold; this tube or groove is arranged so as to join at each
carriage. By hinges at the joints the play for the various movements of the
train is allowed for.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Ernesto Spagnoletti, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
C. E. SPAGNOLETTI. (LS.)