IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND INTERNAL ARRANGEMENT OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex. and of 166. Buchanan Street, in the City of
Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND INTERNAL ARRANGEMENT OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES."
A communication from abroad by Edward Burke and Thomas A.
Dansulvania Linited States of America
سنیلسلما
Sealed the 18th June 1861, and dated the 30th January 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 30th January 1861.
1. JOHN HENRY JOHNSON. of 47, Lincoln's Ina Fields, in the County of
Middlesex. and of 166. Buchanan Street, in the City of Glasgow, North
Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND INTERNAL ARRANGEMENT OF RAILWAY
CARRIAGES," a communication from abroad by Edward Burke and Thomas A.
Andrews, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, to
be as follows:
This Invention relates to a peculiar arrangement and construction of the
interior of a railway carriage, whereby it is rendered specially applicable as a
sleeping car for night journeys; also to a peculiar mode of arranging the seats
and adapting sleeping berths to the ordinary railway carriages at present in

page_text: use, whereby each compartment is rendered capable of accommodating six
passengers either in a sitting posture or in a recumbent position.
According to the first part of this Invention it is proposed to provide the
interior of a carriage specially constructed as a sleeping carriage for long night
journeys with sliding and hinged seats, so arranged as to open out and form
convenient couches. It is also proposed to employ platforms provided with
cushions suspended from the roof of the carriage at the sides thereof by means
of jointed rods, which rods admit of the platforms being drawn down when
required as sleeping berths, or of being pushed up out of the way of the rest
of the passengers when out of use. A board hinged to the roof conceals each
set or pair of berths when pushed up, and serves also to support them when
elevated. The carriage, which is made in one large compartment for the
passengers, is provided with a retiring compartment or closet fitted with a
lavatory and water-closet. Suitable curtains are used for enclosing the different
sets of berths and seats affording accommodation for four persons; ventilators
are also provided in the roof and sides of the carriage, and in summer these
ventilators as well as the windows may be covered by wire gauze dust and
spark arresters.
According to the second part of this Invention, which relates to the ordi-
nary railway carriages, it is proposed to hinge the ordinary padded arms
dividing the seals to the back, so that they may be folded back and leave the
entire length of the seat unobstructed, which will then form a couch. Imme-
diately above each of such couches are suspended, as before described, two
other berths, which may be drawn down or pushed up out of the way accord-
ing as they are required or not. Each compartment of an ordinary first-class
carriage will thus afford sleeping accommodation for the whole of its six
passengers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Hemy Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 30th July 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN HENRY
JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and of
166, Buchanan Street, in the City of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of January, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors. give and grant unto
me. the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said
John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators,
or 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND INTERNAL ARRANGEMENT OF
RAILWAY CARBIAGES." a communication from abroad by Edward Burke and
Thomas A. Andrews. both of Philadelphia. Pennsylvania. United States of
America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I. the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors or administrators. by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them, should par-
ticularly 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 John Henry Johnson, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
The said Invention relates to a peculiar arrangement and construction of the
interior of railway carriages, whereby they are rendered specially applicable as
sleeping cars for night journies; also to a peculiar mode of arranging the
seats, and adapting sleeping berths to the ordinary railway carriages at present
in use, wherchy each compartment is rendered capable of accomodating six
passengers either in a sitting position or in a recumbent position.
According to the first part of this Invention is is proposed to provide the
interior of a carriage, specially constructed as a sleeping carriage for long
night journeys, with sliding and hinged seats, so arranged as to open out and
form convenient couches. It is also proposed to employ platforms provided
with cushions suspended from the roof of the carriage at the sides thereof by
means of jointed rods, which rods admit of the platforms being drawn down
when required as sleeping berths, or of being pushed up out of the way of the
rest of the passengers when out of use. A board hinged to the roof conceals
each set or pair of berths when pushed up, and serves also to support them when

page_text: elevated. The carriage, which is made in one large compartment for the pas-
sengers, is provided with a retiring compartment or closet fitted with a lavatory
and water-closet. Suitable curtains are used for enclosing the different sets
of berths, and seats affording accommodation for four persons. Ventilators
are also provided in the roof and sides of the carriage, and in summer these
ventilators as well as the windows may be covered by wire gauze dust and
spark arresters.
According to the second part of this Invention, which relates to the ordi-
nary railway carriages, it is proposed to hinge the ordinary padded arms
dividing the seats to the back, so that they may be folded back and leave the
entire length of the seat unobstructed, which will then form a couch. Imme-
diately above each of such couches are suspended, as before described, two
other berths, which may be drawn down or pushed up out of the way accord-
ing as they are required or not. Each compartment of an ordinary first-class
carriage will thus afford sleeping accommodation for the whole of its (six)
passengers.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now.
proceed more particularly to describe the same. and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the body of the improved sleeping
car, with its seats and couches, and other appliances; Figure 2 is a sectional plan
of the same; Figure 3 is a transverse section of Figure 1: Figure 4 is a detached
view of one of the seats, shewing the manner in which it is converted into a
couch; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the seats and couches as arranged
for night use, and illustrating the arrangement of curtain rods and curtains;
Figure 6 is a side view, partly in section, of the hody of a railway car, with a
modified arrangement of seats and couches; and Figure 7 is a transverse
section of the same.
.
Figures 1, 2, 3. 4. 5. relate to a car especially constructed for sleeping
purposes; and Figures 6 and 7, to an ordinary car with the usual compart-
ments, each of which contains seats and couches, the latter in both cases
being so constructed that the cars can be used either as ordinary day or as
sleeping cars.
In the several Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, A represents the floor line; B, the
roof; C and C', the opposite sides; and D and D', the opposite ends of the
car, the latter being furnished with sliding doors g, g. Each seat consists of
a platform E (Figure 4), secured to the two frames F and F', the position

page_text: and arrangement of which within the car are shewn in Figures 3 and 4, the
reversible back J being hinged to the upper ends of the frames of each seat.
Beneath the platform of each seat are two sliding boards G and G' (see
Figure 3), each board being furnished with and supported by two legs a, a,
and the boards being of such a length that when those of two adjacent seats
are slid out, they meet or nearly meet each other.
To the front edge of the platform E of each seat are hinged two boards
I and I. of the same width as, and coinciding with the sliding boards G and G',
and to the back edge of the platform E of each seat are hinged two boards b, b,
(Figure 4.) When the seats are arranged for day use, the boards G and G'
of each seat are slid inwards beneath the platform B, and the boards I and I,
as well as the boards b, b, are folded down on to the platform, so that the
whole assumes the form represented at X. X, Figure 1, and when properly
cushioned affords a convenient and comfortable scat.
When the seats are to be converted into couches for night use, the
boards G and G' of two adjacent seats are slid out, so as to touch or nearly
touch each other; the inclined backs J and J' are raised to a vertical position,
and the boards I and 1', as well as the boards b, b, are then folded down so as
to present a continuous level surface for the reception of suitable cushions or
mattrasses. In this condition the seats will assume the form represented at
Y, Y, Figure 1, and afford a double berth sufficiently large for two reclining
passengers.
It will be observed that one of the boards G of one seat, and the opposite
board of the adjacent seat, may be slid out, and the boards I above the sliding
boards folded down over the latter, as seen at X, whilst the remaining boards
Gand retain their relative positions shewn at X; in this case the two
adjacent seats will afford accommodation for one reclining passenger and two
who desire to retain a sitting position. This arrangement affords great
conveniences for passengers travelling in company, some of whom may
desire to assume a reclining and others a sitting position, and also affords
accommodation for invalids without incommoding other passengers.
K and K are two platforms, cach consisting of a frame with sacking or
other suitable material stretched across it for the reception of a mattrass.
The lower platform has two staples d (Figure 3), arranged to slide on the
vertical guide rods L, L, each rod being permanently secured at the lower end
to the side of the car, and at the upper end to the roof of the same.
upper platform K has also two staples e arranged to slide on guide rods M, M,
secured to the car in the same manner as the guide rods L, L. The opposite
ends of the upper platform K are connected to the roof by the jointed rods N,
The

page_text: and the opposite ends of the lower platform K' are connected to the upper
platform by the jointed rods P, the rods in both instances being so situated as
to support the outer edges of the platforms when the latter are lowered for
night use. The inner edge of the upper platform is supported by its staples c,
resting on the bent lower ends of the guide rods M, M, and the inner edge of
the lower platform is supported by its staples d, resting on the bent lower ends
of the guide rods L, L; Q. Q, are straps buttoned to the outer edges of both
platforms, and connected to the roof of the car so as to prevent the recum-
bent passengers from accidentally falling from the berths. When the plat-
forms have to be elevated out of the way, they are simply pushed upwards
from underneath, when the jointed rods N and P will be bent inwards, and
the staples d and c of the respective platforms slid upwards on their respective
guide rods until the platform and jointed rods assume the position shewn
at W. Figure 3. where they are held on the inside by a turn buckle or other
suitable device f, and on the outside by a board R, hinged to the roof of the
car, and having a projection h, which underlaps the outer edge of the lower
platform. When the platforms have to be lowered and arranged for night
use, the board. R is retained in the elevated position shewn at V, Figure 3. by
the hook i, or other suitable appliance. Prior to raising the platform as
above described, the head boards k, k, Figure 1, (one of which is hinged to
cach platform, and the upper edges of which rest against the jointed rods,) are
folded down under the mattrass, and the pillows of the four berths are strapped
to the roof, so that when the platforms are elevated, the pillows are packed
out of the way between the upper platform and the roof. The front edges of
the platform are concealed by the hinged board R, which may be suitably
ornamented on the outside; nothing appears therefore to indicate the presence
of the two platforms and their appurtenances, but a longitudinal box-formed
projection at the corner of the roof. After simply moving the twin-buckle f,
and raising the hinged board R, the platforms will at once fall and assume
the proper position for night use. To each. end of the upper platform K is
hinged a hook m (Figure 3). arranged to catch into a pin, one of which is
secured to each end of the lower platform K', thus maintaining the two plat-
forms in close contact with each other, so that the upper platform only may be
used as a sleeping, couch, the lower platform being so far elevated as to afford
head room for passengers occupying seats below. This arrangement affords
ample convenience for a sleeping infant or reclining invalid, without disturbing
the passengers below. A rod S, placed near the roof of the car, passes above
the ends and front of the berths, and to this rod are hung curtains which may
be made to inclose the whole of the berths as best observed on reference to

page_text: the perspective view, Figure 5. It will thus be evident that a space equal in
length and breadth to that occupied by two car seats; and of the height of
the car, is by the above-described contrivances rendered available for four con-
venient berths, each set of four berths being inclosed by separate curtains.
In the side of the car at a point midway or thereabouts between two seats
are placed two ventilators n, n, (Figure 1.) one just above the platform K',
and the other above the platform K, these ventilators being of the ordinary
valvular or any other construction whereby the admission of air into the interior
of the car can be regulated at pleasure. It is also proposed to place in the
roof of the car ventilators p of such a construction as to admit of the free
egress of tainted air and to prevent the ingress of rain, one of these ventilators
being situate above each set of four berths. Independently of the last named
ventilators there are placed midway between the opposite sides and at suitable
distances apart larger ventilators r, r. By this system of ventilation an
efficient supply of pure air is allowed to enter the car, whilst the tainted air
caused by the presence of a number of passengers crowded into a limited space
has free egress.
In the summer months when it becomes necessary to open the windows of
the car, the recumbent passengers would be much annoyed by dust, sparks, &c.,
but for the presence of wire gauze arresters T, seen in Figures 2 and 3. These
dust arresters are secured to the exterior of the car, one arrester in front of
each window, and they are so constructed that they can be moved away from
the windows when the latter are closed. Similar wire gauze arresters may be
secured to the exterior of the car over each ventilator H.
On reference to Figure 2, it will be seen that a corner of the car is partitioned
off at U, so as to afford ample room for a water-closet, a necessary adjunct to
a sleeping car, and near this closet is a stove guarded by a grated shield u, so
as to prevent the clothes of the passengers from being burnt. This stove is so
attached to the floor of the car as to be readily removed when its use is not
required during the summer months. Near the closet another space is
partially enclosed by a partition, and in this space is a bench or table con-
taining any convenient number of wash basins z. r, above which is a pipe y
(Figure 1). furnished with suitable cocks, the said pipe communicating with a
reservoir z, which contains a supply of water.
Figure 6 represents the second part of the Invention, consisting of the body
of a railway car having three compartments, each compartment having two
transverse rows of seats, three scats in each row, and the whole being otherwise
constructed in the same manner as the cars generally used on the English
railways. The padded arms 2, however, which in ordinary cars are used as

page_text: permanent divisions between the seats, are so hinged to the partitions between
the compartments that they can be moved back, and made to occupy a position
beneath the padded back 3 of the seat (Figure 7), so that the latter is at
once rendered available as a reclining couch. Above cach row of seats thus
converted into a couch two platforms K and K' are suspended, constructed
and arranged for adjustment in a manner similar to that described in reference
to the platform shewn in Figure 1 and 3, and will therefore require no further
description.
It will be seen that by this arrangement any of the ordinary railway cars
can be readily converted into a convenient sleeping car without detracting from
its utility as a day car, there being six berths in each compartment, which in
ordinary cars has seats for the accommodation of six passengers.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, would observe, in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly, the employment in railway cars or carriages of seats capable of
being readily converted into sleeping couches in the manner described, or any
equivalent to the same.
Secondly, the employment in railway cars or carriages of any convenient
number of platforms so connected to the roof or to the side of the car or
carriage, or to both, as to form upper sleeping couches. which can be readily
moved out of the way when not required during the day.
Thirdly, the application and use of the seat composed of the platform E, with
hinged boards I and I', and b. b, and sliding boards G and G. the whole
being constructed substantially as set forth, so that in conjunction with the
adjacent seat it may be readily converted into a sleeping berth as herein
specified.
Fourthly, the use of the platforms K and K' guided and retained in
position by the rods M and L. connected together by the jointed rods P, and
to the roof by the jointed rods N.
Fifthly, the use of the board R hinged to the roof of the car in combination
with the moveable platforms K and K'.
Sixthly, the use of the curtain rods S arranged beneath the roof of the car
in respect to the seats substantially as herein set forth.
Seventhly, the use of the compartment U containing a water-closet combined
with and arranged on a railway car substantially as set forth.
Eighthly, the use of the compartment c containing a bench or stand, with

page_text: wash basins z, z, pipe y, and reservoir Z, the whole being arranged on the car
substantially as specified.
Ninthly, the mode herein described in reference to Figures 6 and 7, or the
equivalents to the same, of arranging sleeping berths in the several compart-
ments of an ordinary railway car.
Tenthly, the application and use of the padded arms 2 hinged to the car as
and for the purpose herein set forth.
Eleventhly, the general construction and arrangement of cars or carriages
for railways, as herein-before described and illustrated by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)