CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY RAILS AND CHAIRS
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, STEPHEN
REED, of the Town and Borough of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Sixteenth day of October, in the ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Stephen Reed, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial license, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Stephen Reed, my
exors, admors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said Stephen Reed, my
exors, adññors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times hereafter during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all Her
said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, and in the Islands of Guernsey,
Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
RAILWAY RAILS AND CHAIRS;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained
a proviso that I, the said Stephen Reed, shall cause a particular descrip-
tion of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be
inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more
fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Stephen Reed, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, to be as the same are described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being
had to the illustrated Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and
letters of reference marked thereon respectively (that is to say):
:-
My Invention of improvements in railway rails and chairs, consist,―
Firstly, in a new and peculiar construction of parts known and distinguished
as rails and chairs employed in the formation of that part of a railway upon
which the wheels of the carriages and engines revolve, and by which they are
supported and guided in their proper course; and,
Secondly, in a new construction of railway chair, whereby the gauge of the
rails is capable of being readily adjusted to the greatest nicety and securely
retained in that position by the arrangements hereafter fully described, set
forth, and represented by the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Now whereas the mechanical constructions, arrangements, and combina-
tions of parts hitherto employed for the purpose of supporting and securing
together at their ends the several lengths of rails composing one or more
continuous line or lines of railway have been found in practice inefficient and
objectionable, and that great difficulty has been experienced in adjusting and
retaining the gauge of the rails throughout the entire length of a line or lines
of railway, I propose to obviate such said objections by constructing, arrang-
ing, and combining such said parts in the manner herein-after particularly
described, set forth, and represented by the Drawings hereunto annexed.
And in order that these my improvements may be perfectly understood and
readily ascertained I will proceed to describe the construction, arrangement,
and combination of parts which I find in practice best calculated for carrying
out my said Invention, and which will be found to answer extremely well.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
At the Drawing No. I., the Figure 1 represents a top plan view of three
railway chairs with rail placed therein and thereon. Figure 2 is a vertical
section of the chair taken through the line A, B, at Figure 1. Figure 3 is an
elevation of the chair with rail placed therein and thereon. Figure 4 is a longi-
tudinal and vertical section thereof taken through the line C, D, at Figure 1.
Figure 5 exhibits an elevation of another construction of railway chair with
the rail placed therein and thereon. Figure 6 is a top plan view thereof
without the rail. Figure 7 is a transverse section taken through the line A, B,
Figure 8 is a top plan view of the ends of two rails, shewing
the mode of connecting them together. Figure 8* is a side elevation thereof.
at the Figure 6.

page_text: Figure 8 exhibits the ends of the two rails lastly mentioned, discon-
nected from each other. Figure 9 exhibits a top plan view of another
arrangement of parts constituting a railway chair, shewing also the mode of
adjusting and maintaining the distance between the rails to the required
gauge by connecting two such chairs together. Figure 9 is a side eleva-
tion thereof, representing two chairs and rails connected together. The red
lines at the last-mentioned Figure, [in conjunction with the parts at each
extremity thereof, exhibit two railway chairs formed out of one and the same
entire piece of metal.
At Drawing No. 2, the Figure 9 ✗** exhibits a top plan view of
another construction of rail and chair. Figure 10 is an elevation thereof.
Figure 11 is a longitudinal and vertical section thereof taken through the
line A, B, at Figure 9 * * *. Figure 12 is a transverse and vertical
section taken through the line C, D, at Figure 9 ***. Figure 13 exhibits
a top plan view of three chairs, with rail placed therein and thereon. Figure
14 is a transverse and vertical section thereof taken through the line A, B,
at Figure 13. Figure 15 is an elevation thereof. Figure 16 is a longitudinal
and vertical section taken through the line C, D, at Figure 13. The Figure 17
exhibits a top plan view of another construction of chair. Figure 18 is an
elevation thereof. Figure 19 is a transverse and vertical section taken
through the line A, B, at Figure 17. Figure 20 is a longitudinal and vertical
section taken through the line C, D, at Figure 17. At the Figure 1, of the
Drawing No. 1, A, A, marks a cast-iron chair, the base or footing of which
is of a lozenge shape, or it may be of a rhomboidal form, the said base or
footing being about eighteen inches by eighteen inches across its surface, more or
less, and about one and a half inch thick (more or less). Upon this casting
the ends of each length of rail are laid diagonally and are secured to the
part B of the chair by a wedge or key C; the upper surface of the base or
footing of the chair is bevilled down from and on each side of the part B of
the said chair to the edges of the said base or footing to within half an inch
or three quarters of an inch in thickness (more or less), as shewn by the section
at Figure 2. The under surface of the base or footing of the said chair is
hollowed out or formed concave, and has a projection or stay D, shewn at
Figure 4, formed across and underneath it, which extends from side to side
thereof, to strengthen the said chair; and at or near each corner or angle of
the base or footing of the said chair, and at the under surface thereof, is a
spike E, of about four inches in length (more or less), which secures the said
chair more firmly in the ground as circumstances may deem necessary, as in
some instances they may be dispensed with. At each end of the raised part

page_text: of the base or footing of the said chair, and at the top and centre thereof,
there is formed a square or oblong aperture or opening F, shewn at Figure 4,
to receive a pin or projection G, which may be fixed to the under surface of
the rail, and near the end thereof, the intention and use of which is to prevent
lateral movement of the rails when fixed and wedged into the raised part B
of the chair, and also to prevent vertical movement of the ends of the rails,
which is so frequently the case in the mode hitherto employed for securing the
ends of the rails.
Another mode of connecting the rails together at their ends, so as to
prevent them from separating or being drawn asunder at their points of
junction, is shewn at Figures 8, 8, 8**, where it will be seen that the ends
of each rail are so formed as to lock or take into each other, due allowance
being made for the expansion and contraction of the metal of which they are
composed. At right angles to the holes F, shewn at Figure 4, and through
the base or footing of the said chair, there are circular holes I, K, shewn at
Figures 1, 2, 3; that one marked I, next to the raised part B of the chair, has
a treenail of any required length driven through it into the ground, when it is
required to give the basc or footing greater firmness on the embankment.
'The outside circular hole (marked K), near the angle of the said base or
footing, is intended to receive one end of an iron rod, bar, or stay Z, shewn at
Fig. 2, which is turned up at each extremity, and has a hole at each end for a
bolt or cotter to secure it when fixed, and which rod, bar, or stay Z, passing
through the said hole and along the under surface of the base or footing A, is
joined at its other end to the base or footing of a corresponding chair situate
on the opposite line of rails and placed parallel thereto; and this rod, bar, or
stay is for the purpose of counteracting the effect of outward pressure on each
of the lines of rails, and the said rod, bar, or stay Z may be made curved or
circular as well as straight to suit either the common or atmospheric railways,
and this arrangement I recommend to be more particularly used at the curves
of the railway. The rails when placed in the raised part B of the chair, and
securely wedged therein, possess the advantage of an equal uniform bearing
and support throughout and along the entire surface of the said base or footing
of the said chairs, which affords greater firmness to the rail than heretofore
and prevents the bending and springing up of the rails consequent upon the
weight of the carriages passing over and along the same, whereby rails of
lighter weight than heretofore used may be employed. Now, assuming these
chairs to be placed on the earthwork or other foundation of the railway, and
the distance between the centre of the raised part B of one chair and the next
where the rails are fixed at their ends or points of junction to be thirty-six

page_text: inches asunder, the rails would have a bearing or support along the base or
footing of each chair of about twenty-five inches, leaving only a vacancy of
unsupported rail of about eleven inches. It will appear evident that by thus
arranging and combining the rails and chairs a greater bearing surface is
afforded to support the rail, whereby such points of support may be placed at
greater distances asunder, thereby effecting economy in expense; since, accord-
ing as the chairs now used on stone blocks and sleepers are laid, they are
about thirty-six inches apart from each other, and therefore afford no greater
bearing surface or support to the rail than the breadth of the chair itself,
which, in most cases, does not exceed four inches, there will, therefore, be a
vacancy of thirty-two inches between one chair and the next which affords no
bearing or support to the rail, thus rendering the rail liable to bend or break
and spring up at the ends or points of junction, which can only be remedied.
by the rails being made of such weight and strength as will prevent them
bending under the weight of the carriages.
At Figures 5, 6, 7, of the Drawing No. 1, M marks a chair of about thirty-
six inches in length (more or less), having arms or pieces N formed about
midway between the ends and at right angles thereto, of about twenty-four
inches in length, more or less, from point to point. The raised part B of the
chair in which the rails are fixed and wedged) is situated at the top of and in-
the centre of the base or footing of the said chair, and at each side of the
raised part B of the said chair, and through the said base or footing, there is a
square or oblong hole or aperture (marked O) to receive a pin or projection G
fixed on the under part of the rail and near the end thereof (as shewn at
Figure 7), to prevent the rails from being drawn asunder and opening at their
points of junction, as herein-before particularly described; and on each of the
arms or pieces N, which form the base or footing of the said chair, and near
the ends thereof, there are two circular holes (marked P and Q), that marked
P at the outer side of the rail being intended for treenails, and that marked Q
on the other side of the rail for an iron stay, to be used if necessary, as before
described in the first-mentioned arrangement. At each end of the base or
footing of the said chair, and over and along which part the rail is laid, the
base or footing of the series of chairs are connected together so as to form a
continuous chair extending throughout the entire length of the rails, and there
is a recess R formed at one end of the base or footing of each of these chairs
to receive a corresponding projection formed on the base or footing of the
adjoining connecting chair, which, when thus fixed and dovetailed together
cannot open or be drawn asunder, thus forming a continuous metal bearing
and support to the rail of any required length. These chairs may or may not

page_text: be connected together, and if laid apart from each other the rail will have the
support along each length of the base or footing of the said chair, and the
vacancy between one chair and the next, where the rail is not supported, will
depend on the distance which the chairs are laid from each other. On the
upper surface of the base or footings of the said chairs, and near to the ends
thereof or points of junction, and at those parts where they are dovetailed and
secured together, projections or staples (T) are formed upon or placed, through
which wooden or metal bolts or pieces U, U, are driven, which prevent the
ends of the base or footings of the said chairs from rising up, as also deflection
of the rails; and at the under surface of the base or footing of the said chairs,
and near the ends thereof, there are spikes E (shewn at Figure 7), of about
four inches in length more or less, for securing the said chairs firmly in the
ground, as in the before-mentioned arrangements. These chairs may either
be connected together or laid separate and apart from each other, as before
described, and at such distances asunder as the rail will admit of without
deflection, and the under part of the base or footing of these chairs being
hollowed out decreases the weight of them without diminishing the strength
thereof, or they may be cast solid if necessary. The chairs of the last-
mentioned construction may be laid on the surface of the embankments of the
railway, whereby the use of blocks and sleepers hitherto employed may be
dispensed with; or by reducing the length of the arms N, as shewn by red lines
at Figure 6, they may be used on sleepers. And I would here remark, that
this applies to the arms marked (N), as shewn at Figures 9***, 10, 11, 12, of
Drawing No. 2.
At the Figures 9 and 9* of Drawing No. 1, A, A, mark two railway chairs,
the base or footings of which are formed in the shape of a cross, and of a
length suitable to the gauge of the rails; and I form the base or footings of
these chairs about three inches in thickness by about six inches in breadth,
more or less; and about six inches from one end of the base or footings of the
said chairs, and at right angles to each side of that part marked B, I form
arms C, C, of about twelve inches in length, more or less; and along these
arms and in the part D of the chair I place the rail E, and secure it therein by
a wooden wedge F, as described in the foregoing Figures. By this arrange-
ment and construction of the parts the rail will have the advantage of an
uniform bearing and support of about thirty inches, more or less, over and
along the entire surface of the arms C, C, or the amount of bearing surface
may be increased by lengthening the said arms, which is calculated to afford
greater strength to the rail, which may, therefore, be formed lighter where
such support is given. G, G, mark holes formed in the base or footing

page_text: and near the ends thereof, through which treenails may be driven to
secure the chair more firmly to the ground. If necessary, there is also
a spike Hof about four inches in length formed upon or placed near
the ends of the base or footing to give it greater firmness in the
ground. These chairs so formed may be cast hollow on the under sur-
face of the base or footing thereof to decrease their weight without
diminishing their strength, or they may be cast solid and in such lengths as
may best suit the gauge of the rails. And in order to ensure perfect accuracy
of such guage, and to enable the rails to be readily and accurately adjusted to
any required gauge, I propose to connect two of such chairs together by bolts
and nuts L, L, such bolts being passed through slots M, formed through one
end of the base or footing of the said chair, as shewn at Figure 9; and upon
the upper surface of each such base or footing I form or affix a projecting
piece or lug N, through which there is formed a hole, and through each of
such holes and lugs I pass the ends of a wrought-iron rod O, which rod has a
thread cut thereon, upon which are passed screw nuts P, Q, one of such nuts
being placed on each side of the projecting pieces or lugs N, N; and having
placed the ends of the base or footings upon each other, and passed the bolts
L, L, through the slots formed therein, as shewn at Figure 9*, the gauge of
the rails may be readily adjusted to the greatest nicety by turning round one
or other of the nuts P or Q, so as to cause the chairs and rails to approach or
recede from each other; and having adjusted them to the required distance
asunder and screwed the nuts P and Q close against each side of the lugs N, N,
and tightened the nuts upon the bolts L, L, it will appear evident that
the rails will be firmly and securely held, and may be readily altered when
required.
Another mode of constructing railway chairs is by forming two chairs out of
one and the same piece of metal, the base or footings of such chairs extending
across the entire width of that part of the roadway upon which the rails are to
be laid, as represented by the red lines in connection with the parts at each
extremity thereof at Figure 9* of Drawing No. 1. The chair shewn at
Figures 13, 14, 15, 16, of Drawing No. 2 is in all other respects similar to
the chair before described and represented at Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, of Drawing
No. 1, with the exception of the shape of the base or footing thereof, which
does not afford quite so extended a bearing surface as that shewn at Figure 1
of Drawing No. 1, and is more particularly calculated for supporting the rails
at or near stations where rails intersect or cross each other. At the Figure 17,
A, A, mark chairs of cast iron intended to be used and affixed to wooden
sleepers, where the same are used, instead of the stone blocks hitherto employed

page_text: on railways. This chair I form about ten inches long, more or less, by about
twelve inches in width, more or less, thereby affording and giving to the rail
ten inches of bearing surface and support when the said rails are fixed and
wedged in the said chair. There are two square or oblong apertures or holes
marked I, K, through the base or footing of the said chair to receive a pin or
projection G affixed to the under side of each length of rail, and near each end
thereof (as shewn at Figure 20), to prevent the rails from separating or being
drawn asunder at their points of junction, as before described. a, b, are
circular holes formed through the base or footing of the said chair, as shewn,
and through which bolts or screws are passed to secure the chair to the
sleeper. The corners or angles of this chair are cut off, and the chair is formed
hollow underneath, and has a stay piece D formed upon or placed across it, by
which the strength of the chair may be increased without adding to the weight
thereof, as shown in section at Figure 20.
The above-described chair possesses the advantage of affording a bearing
surface and support to the rail of ten inches, which is six inches more than the
bearing surface of the chairs now in use, they having a bearing surface or
support of only four inches or thereabouts upon the sleeper; and the improved
construction of such said chair is calculated to prevent the opening and
drawing asunder and springing up of the rails at their points of junction. These
chairs, except when they are used for securing within them the ends of the
rails at their points of junction, may, as regards that part within which the
rails are wedged, be made of smaller dimensions; and this applies to all such
chairs as are used at any part of the rail intermediate between the ends
thereof. The rail and chair next herein-after described and shewn at
Figure 9 *** of Drawing No. 2 is cast in one and the same entire piece of
metal in lengths of about from three to nine feet, more or less, as required, and
each length is connected and fastened together in a similar manner to that
before described and represented at Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, of Drawing No. 1.
This rail and chair I form about four inches in breadth, more or less, except
at the arms (N and N¹), which are about twenty-four inches, more or less,
from point to point, and about two inches in thickness, more or less. On cach
alternate arm (marked N), and through the same, and at or near the ends
thereof are circular holes (marked a, b,) to secure the base or footing thereof
to the ground by treenails, if necessary, and also to connect it to the correspond-
ing rail and chair on the opposite line of rails by a connecting rod similar to
that shewn and described in reference to Figure 2 of Drawing No. 1, and on
the other alternate arms N' where the base or footings are joined and secured
together; and at the under surface of the said arms are spikes E, to give the

page_text: chair greater firmness in the ground (which may be used or not, as required.
The use and advantage of these circular holes are before more fully described
in the construction of the chair shewn at Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawing
No. 1. This chair and rail is formed hollow underneath to reduce the weight
thereof, and has stay pieces D, D, formed upon or placed across it and under-
neath the same, as represented at Figures 11 and 12, whereby it is increased
in strength; or the same may be cast solid if necessary. The advantage of this
construction of chair and rail is, that the same may be cast together in one
entire piece of metal, and be expeditiously laid on the embankment of a rail-
way, and require less labour and time than has hitherto been necessary for
laying rails upon stone blocks and wooden sleepers, and thereby dispensing
with them altogether. If this last-mentioned rail and chair is used and
secured on sleepers the arms may be reduced by shortening them, as denoted
by the red lines at Figure 9 ***; in which case, the arms where the rails
and chairs join each other being also shortened, the staples T and bolts U
must consequently be placed nearer to the rail.
Another part of my said Invention of improvements as regards the con-
struction of rails consists in affixing a pin or projection G underneath the rail,
and near the end thereof, as shewn in section at Drawings 1 and 2, or by
locking together the rails within each other at their ends or points of junction,
namely, by notching the rails at their ends vertically from their
upper surface
to the bottom thereof, each rail so notched fitting into the adjoining rail by a
corresponding notch being formed at the end thereof, as represented at
Figures 8, 8, 8**, of Drawing No. 1; and such rails when secured in the
chair with the pin or projection G before mentioned, or when notched and
joined together, as lastly above described, and wedged in the chair, can neither
open, draw asunder, or start up at their points of junction. These chairs and
rails if laid down on a bed of concrete (where the soil of the embankment is of
gravel or loose earth), which sets both expeditiously and hard, will form a
railway indistructable and immoveable, becoming one solid mass, which
neither rain or weather will affect. The chairs and rails being cast entirely of
one and the same entire piece of metal, are less liable to break or bend than
when separately formed and connected together, and will carry a heavier
weight, will be more expeditiously and correctly laid, and will be easier and
more readily repaired or replaced when necessary than the chairs and rails as
hitherto constructed and laid. I would here remark, that in laying rails and
chairs of the above-mentioned constructions, space must be left for expansion
and contraction of the metal of which the rails are composed alike in the

page_text: mortices and between the points of junction or ends of each length of rail and
chair.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed and carried into practical effect, I desire it to be
distinctly understood that I do not claim the exclusive use of any of the
separate parts above described and referred to, except in so far as the same
may be employed in combination and for the purposes of my said Invention;
nor do I confine myself to any particular size, form, or shape set forth of the
rails or chairs, wherein the rails are to be placed and secured, all of which may
be varied to suit circumstances; nor do I confine myself to the exact measure-
ment or dimension of any portion or part thereof, so long as the principle of
construction, arrangement, and combinations of parts constituting these my
improvements and Invention be retained, such arrangements and combinations
being only given as examples of the mode of carrying out my said Invention,
without limiting or confining myself to the peculiar forms or dimensions set
forth, described, and represented in and by the Drawings hereunto annexed.
But I do claim as of my Invention of certain improvements in railway rails
and chairs,-
Firstly, the mode set forth of constructing railway chairs, and railway chairs
and rails, as above described and referred to in respect of Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, 8, of Drawing No. 1, by casting the said chair and rail together, and of one
and the same entire piece of metal, or by casting the chair separately, whereby
such chair affords a more extended bearing surface and support to the rail
than the chairs as hitherto constructed; and the rails thus laid are less liable
to bend, break, or spring up at the ends thereof, or to open or be drawn
asunder at their ends or points of junction, according to this arrangement and
principle of construction, than the modes hitherto practised of laying rails.
Secondly, I claim as of my Invention of improvements in the construction
of railway rails, the application of a projecting piece or pin affixed to and
underneath the said rails and near the ends thereof, such said projecting piece
or pin being inserted or let into square or oblong holes formed in the base
or footings of the said chairs, as shewn at Figures 4, 7, 8, of Drawing
No. 1, and Figures 16 and 20 of Drawing No 2.
And I further claim as of my Invention of improvements in railway rails
and chairs the mode set forth and described in respect of Figures 8, 8, 8**, o
Drawing No. 1, of connecting together the several lengths of rails by notching
the rails at their ends vertically from the upper surface thereof to the bottom
which mode of securing the rails at their ends or points of junction is intended

page_text: to prevent their separating or springing up, as also lateral movement of the rails,
more than is necessary for the due expansion and contraction of the metal of
which they are composed, as herein-before particularly described and set forth
in this my said Specification, and for the purposes there mentioned.
Thirdly, I claim the new combinations and arrangements of parts above
described and referred to in respect of Figures 9 and 9*, for effecting the
necessary adjustment of two lines of rails to the required gauge or distance
which such lines of rails are to be asunder, and by which they are securely
retained in that position, as constituting improvements in the construction of
railway chairs.
Fourthly, I claim the supporting and connecting together of rails in single
or double lines, as above described and referred to in respect of Figure 9*, by
constructing two chairs of one and the same entire piece of metal, and by
placing the rails therein in the manner described and represented as con-
stituting improvements in railway chairs.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Reed, have hereunto set my
day of April, in the year of our Lord
hand and seal, this
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Ninth day of April, in the
year of our Lord 1846, the aforesaid Stephen Reed came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Sixteenth day of April in the
T