IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS AND CARRIAGES FOR THE SAME.
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ebenezer William Hughes, of Princes Street, in
the City of Westminster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS AND CARRIAGES FOR THE SAME.'
"
Scaled the 21st March 1873, and dated the 25th September 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ebenezer William
Hughes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis
Petition, on the 25th September 1872.
I, EBENEZER WILLIAM Hughes, of Princes Street, in the City of
Westminster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS AND
CARRIAGES FOR THE SAME," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in that form of tramway in
which the carriages and weights to be carried are suspended below the
level of the rail or rails, instead of being supported above it, and is
applicable especially to the conveyance of ores, coals, and other minerals,
but may also be used for the purpose of conveying passengers or
merchandise.

page_text: In order to construct a tramway according to my Invention I crect
at suitable distances apart (which may either be equal or unequal) in
the longitudinal direction of the course of the tramway, supports con-
sisting each of two or more poles of wood or bars or columns of metal
or other suitable material, the upper ends of which are made to cross
each other near the top, and are connected firmly together where they
cross by means of bolts, spikes, ropes, or wires. The lower ends of
these supports are made to separate or "rake out" at right angles to the
direction of the line of tramway.
At the lower ends of the supports I place or fix sole plates of wood, 1
metal, or other suitable material, in order to distribute the bearing
surfaces which carry the supports, and also to firmly hold down the
supports when they are fixed in the ground, by ramming down the earth
or soil upon and round the sole plates and the parts of the supports
which are buried in the ground. Or, where it is convenient that the
supports should rest upon the surface, the sole plates described serve to
carry them and to attach them to the ground.
At a suitable distance below the point where the upper ends of the
supports are attached together as described, I arrange pieces of wood,
iron, or other suitable material, which I bolt or attach to the supports
transversely to the direction of the line of tramway. These transverse
picces serve as sleepers, at or near the centre of which is hung or
attached a continuous rail upon which the wheels of the carriages run.
The form of such rail which I prefer to use is constructed as follows:
-A continuous longitudinal beam (vertical in cross section), preferably
of wood, is bolted or attached to the under side of the transverse pieces
described, and to the lower edge of this continuous beam is bolted or
attached another continuous beam, preferably of wood (horizontal in
transverse section), and sufficiently wide to form upon each side of the
vertical beam a rail, upon the upper face of which the wheels of the
carriages may run. I prefer to bolt or attach iron rails of suitable
section to the upper surface of the horizontal beam described, in order to
reduce the friction of the wheels.
In order to render the supports above described more steady and
secure, I sometimes attach cross stays to their upper extremities, and
I arrange stays of wire or other suitable material between such cross
stays and different parts of the continuous beams described and of the

page_text: supports, so as to render the entire structure firm and steady, both
longitudinally and transversely. To the cross stays described, or to the
upper extremities of the supports, insulators carrying telegraph wires
may be fixed.
Each of the wheels carrying the carriages or waggons (of which I
prefer that there should be four to each carriage) runs upon a separate
pin or axle, to the outer end of which is attached a bar. The bars
connected to each opposite pair of wheels are carried down, and are
jointed together at a point below the centre of the longitudinal beam
above described. By this arrangement each pair of wheels can, if
required, be separated sufficiently to allow them to be placed upon or
removed from the rails, and when in position upon the rails the bars
are fixed by means of a transverse bolt between them and below the
longitudinal beam described. This bolt may carry a roller or wheels,
which by touching the lower surface of the transverse beam prevent the
wheels of the carriage from rising from the rails.
Where the tramway has to be carried over soft ground, I sometimes
connect the poles or bars forming the supports by cross pieces attached
to them at their lower ends, and resting upon brushwood or the small
branches and strippings from trees arranged for the purpose. In this
way the weight of the supports and of the structure is distributed.
Where a single line only of tramway is to be constructed I form
passing places at suitable distances apart. For this purpose I make two
parallel sets of rails for a sufficient length at such places, and I make a
moveable rail or switch turning upon a centre, so that the principal line
of rail may be connected, as required, with either of the parallel rails at
the passing places.
I make the carriages or waggons which are hung to the bars upon
which the wheels run, as above described, of any convenient form,
but I prefer (where minerals or merchandise are to be carried) to hang
them upon centres at their ends, turning in the joints which connect
together the bars supporting the opposite pairs of wheels, as already
described. By this arrangement the waggons or carriages can be readily
inverted when required for the purpose of discharging their contents.
I work the carriages or waggons upon my improved tramway by
means of locomotive engines suspended upon wheels running upon the
rails described, or by means of ropes driven by stationary steam or

page_text: other engines, or by horse power, or water, or any other convenient
power. And where ropes are used for the purpose of working the
carriages or waggons, I prefer to use endless ropes passing over drums
arranged at a sufficient distance from one another, and I support the
ropes by means of intermediate pulleys attached in suitable positions to
the supports already described.
The carriages or waggons may be connected to or disconnected from
the driving ropes by means of adjustable clips, or in any other con-
venient way, and if required, suitable brakes may be fitted to the
carriages or waggons for the purpose of regulating or stopping their
movement.
The accompanying Drawing is in illustration of my Invention.
Figure 1 represents two of the supports, and the longitudinal beams
and tramway in cross section; Figure 2 represents a longitudinal
elevation of the same. A, A, are poles or bars, the lower ends of which
are shewn resting upon plates B, B, and buried in the ground. These
poles are firmly attached together near their top ends at C; D is a
cross bar or sleeper bolted or fixed to the poles A, A, and having the
longitudinal beam E bolted to its lower edge. To the bottom edge
of the beam E is bolted the continuous longitudinal beam F, which is
wide enough to form or support rails G, G, on either side of E.
The carriage or waggon H, which is shewn cylindrical in end view,
but which may be of any convenient shape, is suspended by the
frames I, I, to the wheels K, K, which run upon the rails G, G.
The poles A, A, are fixed in pairs at sufficient distances apart to carry
securely the tramway and waggons or carriages, and at suitable intervals
I arrange four poles instead of two, as shewn in Figure 3 and Figure 4.
In Figure 3 A, A, A, A, are the poles attached together near their tops;
and D, D, are cross bars or sleepers (of which one only may be used)
to which the tramway is bolted as shewn. Figure 4 shews on a smaller
scale a plan of the tramway, the series of poles or supports being
arranged at regular distances, and four poles instead of two being
shewn at A.
Figure 5 is a cross section; and Figure 6 an clevation of the method
which I prefer to use to render the attachment of the beams and rails
more secure. D is the cross bar (shewn broken off) which is fixed to

page_text: the poles as described; E is the vertical longitudinal beam; and F, the
horizontal longitudinal beam supporting the rails G, G, as described;
L is a strengthening plate of metal which is fitted round the beam E
and underneath the rails G, G, which are screwed to the beam F, as
shewn. A bolt M passes through the beams E, F, and the cross bar D,
and holds the entire structure firmly together.
Figure 7 shews in plan a method of constructing passing places, as
described, where only a single line of tramway is used. A, A, are two
parallel sets of rails and beams of the form already described, and of
sufficient length to serve as passing places for the carriages or waggons;
B, B, are moveable rails or switches turning upon centres C, C, so that
the principal line of rail D may be connected with either of the parallel
rails A, A, when required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Ebenezer William Hughes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 25th March 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EBENEZER
WILLIAM HUGHES, of Princes Street, in the City of Westminster,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of September, in the
year of our Lord Oue thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Ebenezer William Hughes, Her special
licence that I, the said Ebenezer William Hughes, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Ebenezer
William Hughes, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS AND CARRIAGES FOR THE
SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Ebenezer
William Hughes, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in

page_text: writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, 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 Ebenezer William Hughes, 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 and accompanying Drawings (that is to
say) :-
5
]
My Invention relates to that form of tramway in which the carriages
and the weights to be carried are suspended below the level of the rail,
or rails, instead of being supported above it, and it has for its objects the
novel construction and arrangement of such tramways, so that they may
be readily and cheaply constructed, and be more durable and offer greater 1
facilities for the easy and steady conveyance of merchandise and pas-
sengers than in suspended tramways as heretofore constructed.
Also improvements in the methods of applying motive power to the
propulsion of carriages upon such tramways, such motive power being
either applied to the carriages by means of ropes, or by steam, or other
locomotive appliances travelling with the train of carriages.
In order to construct a tramway according to my Invention I mako
and arrange in the manner herein-after described longitudinal rails, upon
the upper surface of which the wheels of the carriages run, and I suspend
these rails (in such a manner as not to interfere with the passage of the 1
carriages) to piers or supports consisting of two or more poles, which I
prefer should be of wood, but which may be of cast iron or other suitable
material.
upper
In ordinary cases I construct a series of such piers, at suitable distances
apart, such distances depending upon the character and amount of the
weights which are to be carried, and I make each pier consist of two
poles which I attach firmly together at or near their extremities
by means of ropes, clips, or bolts, and I separate the lower ends of the
two poles, or cause them to rake out at right angles to the direction of
the line of tramway across which they stand. I make the lower ends of
the poles rest upon solc plates of wood, stone, metal, or other suitable

page_text: material, in order to distribute the bearing surface which has to support
them, and also to hold down the poles when they are fixed in the ground
by ramming the earth or soil upon and round the sole plates and the
lower parts of the poles, which are thus buried in the ground. Tie bars
of wood or metal may also be fixed to the lower ends of the poles to
prevent them from separating, and where it is necessary that the poles
should rest upon the surface, instead of being buried in the ground, the
sole plates described, or other suitable shoes, sockets, or foundations are
used to carry them, and hold them in their places. The poles may also,
if necessary, be steadied by struts or stays, and where the tramway has to
be carried over soft ground I sometimes make the sole plates and tie
bars rest upon brushwood or the small branches and strippings of trees
arranged for the purpose, so as to distribute the weight of the poles and
the structure; or screw piles may be used.
At intervals along the line of tramway I form the piers described of
three or more poles, instead of two only, for the purpose of affording
greater longitudinal rigidity and stiffness to the structure. If three
poles be used I arrange two upon one side, and one upon the opposite
side of the line of the tramway, and if four poles be used I arrange two
upon each side of the line of the tramway; and in either case I attach
the poles together at or near their upper extremities in the method
already described, and I fix and steady the feet of the poles in these
piers in the same way as those of the piers where two poles only are
used.
When a series of piers has been constructed or arranged in the method
described, that is to say, a sufficient number at a suitable distance apart,
consisting of two poles arranged across the line of tramway, a pier of
three or four poles being substituted for one of them at intervals of
sufficient length to ensure the stability of the structure, I then proceed
to fix under the points of junction of the poles which form cach pier the
rails which constitute the tramway. For this purpose I take cross
sleepers of wood, metal, or other suitable material, and I fix them to the
poles at a sufficient distance below the points of junction of the latter,
and transversely to the direction of the line of tramway. I either bolt
or spike them, or tie them with cords, or otherwise attach them, so that
their lower horizontal edges may be at the proper height for the attach-
ment of the continuous rails upon which the wheels of the carriages are
to run.

page_text: The form of such rails which I prefer to use is constructed of a
continuous longitudinal beam, preferably of wood, having its narrower
edges at top and bottom, and of such a form in cross section as to give
the greatest possible amount of strength and rigidity, and bolted or
attached to the under edges of the cross sleepers already described. To
the lower edge of the continuous beam is fitted and attached another
continuous longitudinal beam of sufficient width in transverse section to
form upon each side of the vertical beam already described a rail upon
the upper face of which the wheels of the carriages may run.
Iron or
other rails of suitable section may be spiked or bolted to the upper faces
of the lower beam, in order to reduce the friction of the wheels. Plates
and stays of iron are arranged so that the weight of the carriages passing
over the tramway may be distributed as evenly as possible upon the
piers and upon the bolts which carry the continuous beams; and some-
times I use stays or struts of rope, or rods, which are attached to
the upper extremities of the poles forming the piers, and to the con-
tinuous beams at suitable intermediate points between the piers,
and I make them adjustable, so that they may be tightened as they
stretch.
Instead of the forms of continuous beams described for the purpose of
carrying the rails, I sometimes use another continuous beam above the
vertical one as well as below it, the three being strongly bolted and
secured together, and the wheels of the carriages running upon the
upper face of the lower one as already described. Or sometimes I use
one continuous beam only, square or rectangular in transverse section,
upon the upper face of which the wheels of the carriages run, and I
suspend this beam to the cross sleepers attached to the poles by means of
bolts or stays of sufficient length to allow the wheels to pass between the
rails and the cross sleepers; or I use two continuous beams, preferably
square or rectangular in cross section, arranged side by side and
suspended to the cross sleepers in the same way as that just described,
but having a sufficient space between them for bars to hang and pass
between, which are connected to the axles of the wheels, one of each pair
of which runs upon the upper surface of each beam; or the continuous
beam or beams may be formed of wrought or cast iron, constructed in
the strongest and most suitable form in cross section. The tramway
described may be fixed or suspended to any suitable structure instead of
to poles.

page_text: Where a wooden beam is used and the tramway is passing round a
curve, I prefer to make the vertical continuous beam (in the form first
described) of two or more thicknesses, which after having been bent to
the proper curve are bolted firmly together, and I bolt or fix properly
bent or curved strips or pieces to the lower sides of such compound
beam, the upper sides of which strips serve for the carriage wheels to
run upon or to support rails for the same purpose. If an upper beam is
also used it need not be curved, but may be formed of straight pieces of
proper length, firmly joined and bolted together.
In countries or climates where it is advisable, I form a roof or cover
to the continuous beams described, and to the rails, in order to prevent
the lodgment of snow upon the latter. This roof may be of timber
attached to the cross sleepers, carried by the poles described. Where
the continuous beams of the different forms described are joined, I
form their ends scarfed into one another, and strengthened with
covering plates, stays, and bolts where necessary, so that they may be of
sufficient strength.
To the upper extremities of the poles, or to any other convenient part
of the structure, insulators carrying electric telegraph wires may be fixed
if required.
The form of carriage which I prefer to use upon tramways made
according to my Invention are constructed as follows:-Each carriage
consists of a hollow body (preferably cylindrical in end view) having a
centre at each end by which it is hung to the lower end of frames, the
upper ends of which are fitted to the axles of the wheels which run upon
the tramway. These frames are made in pairs, turning upon the centres
in which the carriage bodies are hung so that they may be opened out
transversely sufficiently to allow each pair of wheels to be placed upon
the rails, and they are then held firmly in their places by cross stays
which are bolted between them. The frames may be made double in end
view with struts or stays rivetted or bolted between their separate parts in
order to secure greater transverse rigidity.
The carriages may be coupled together by moveable couplings in any
convenient way, but I prefer to connect them by sets of bars arranged so
as alternately to connect the centres of two sets of wheels together, and
the vertical bars at points intermediate (vertically) between the centres
of the wheels and the centres of the carriage bodies, and the latter sets of
bars themselves may be brought together at their centres (in plan), and

page_text: connected by bolts upon which revolve rollers below the continuous
beam described so as to stendy and prevent the frames and carriages
from rising. Where the lower continuous beam is made duplicate as
has been described, I suspend the carriage bodics to single bars, the
upper ends of which are attached or hung to axles which connect each 5
pair of wheels directly together, and the lower ends form sockets in
which the centres of the carriage bodies are suspended.
I make the upper part of the cylindrical carriage bodies open, and I
arrange catches upon the suspending frames, which fit into suitable
notches formed upon the circular ends of the carriage bodies, so that the 1
latter may be either fixed in their position for travelling when filled with
merchandise, or in an inverted or inclined position for the convenience
of loading or discharging them.
In order to propel the carriages or trains of carriages described along
the tramways, I use horse or other animal power or manual power, or 1
the force of wind; or I use a system of ropes driven by any convenient
stationary motive power; or I use steam or other locomotive engines
attached to the train of carriages, and running upon the rails of the
tramway.
Where ropes are used I prefer to use endless ropes passing over drums 2
or pulleys arranged at a sufficient distance apart, and I support the
ropes by smaller pulleys arranged at intermediate distances, and carried
in bearings supported by beams or brackets attached to the system of
poles first described; and where a single line of tramway is used, and it
is required that trains of carriages should travel in each direction, I 2
arrange passing places of sufficient length where the tramway is formed
double, and at each end having moveable points turning upon centres,
so that a train of carriages may be turned into either section of such
double tramways whilst another train of carriages is passing it, the
endless ropes being suitably arranged for the purpose.
3
Where locomotive steam power is to be used for propelling the trains
of carriages I construct a steam engine and boiler of suitable form and
arrangement, which I suspend to wheels running upon the rails of the
tramway in the same way as the carriages already described; and I
sometimes connect the steam engine to such wheels, so that by their 3
revolution the train may be propelled. But where there are steep
inclines on the tramway I prefer to form continuous inverted racks upon

page_text: the lower side of the continuous beam upon which the rails of the
tramway are formed, and to arrange a toothed wheel or wheels gearing
into such rack, and driven by the steam engine. I make the rack of
cast iron in pieces of suitable length firmly fitted and bolted to the con-
tinuous beam, or of wrought iron consisting of angle iron bolted to the
continuous beams, and having teeth formed upon them consisting of short
tubes arranged between the angle irons, and fixed by bolts passing
through them and through holes in the angle irons at regular distances
apart.
The rollers, which have already been described fitted upon the frames
connecting the carriages, may be arranged so as to run upon the lower
edges of the angle irons which form the rack, or if a cast-iron rack be
used, upon ribs formed along the sides of the rack.
One or more of the carriages may be used to hold supplies of water
and fuel for the locomotive engine, and a foot plate or scat for the
attendants may be formed suspended to the same frame as the engine,
or to separate frames. Brakes for the purpose of regulating the
stopping of the train of carriages on its descent upon inclines may
be formed in the ordinary way, so as to be applied to or removed from
the circumference of one or more of the wheels of the carriages at the
pleasure of the attendant.
Sometimes I use brakes consisting of rollers centred upon the ends of
bars, the other ends of which are jointed together at such an angle that
when their joint is depressed the rollers are forced against the surface of
the rails, and the circumference of the carriage wheels. Brakes thus
formed may be arranged between two or more sets of carriage wheels,
and upon either one or both sides of the tramway; and I prefer to put
them into or out of operation by means of ropes or chains having their
ends fixed to the frames of the carriage wheels, and passing under and
over pulleys attached to the same frames, and to the junction of the
bars described. The ropes or chains are sufficiently long to pass down
from one of the pullies last described, and round a hanging pulley to
which a handle is fastened, so that when the handle is pulled down the
bars are depressed, and the rollers forced against the rails and the
wheels, as already described. Another handle and pulley is arranged
so that when it is pulled, another rope or chain is tightened, by which
the bars are raised, and the rollers withdrawn from the rails and the
whicels.

page_text: The accompanying Drawings are in illustration of my Invention.
Figure 1, Sheet I., is an elevation of part of a tramway constructed
for carrying coals or mineral ores, and shewn with an incline of about
1 in 20; Figure 2 is a cross section, and Figure 3, a plan of the same.
A, A, are piers, cach consisting of two wooden poles tied together near
their upper ends, and having their lower ends buried in the ground and
resting upon sole plates B, B, to which they are strapped and spiked.
C is an intermediate pier, consisting of four poles similarly fixed and
fastened together. The wire rope stay D serves to strengthen and steady
the piers and support the beams. E, E, arc cross sleepers let into and
attached to the poles and carrying the continuous beam F, to the lower
side of which is bolted the continuous beam G, upon the upper face of
which rails are fixed, upon which run the wheels H, H, of the carriages
I, I, which are suspended to the axles of the wheels as shewn. The train
of carriages is shewn driven by the wire ropes K which run upon friction 1
pulleys L, L, supported by the poles.
In Sheet II. Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation, partly in section, of
a somewhat similar arrangement in which the carriages are propelled by
a locomotive steam engine. A is a pier composed of two poles (shewn
in plan at A, Figure 5), and C is a pier composed of four poles resting 2
upon sole plates B, B, which are fixed to the poles by straps and spikes.
D is a wire rope stay between the top of the poles and the upper part of
the continuous beam F, to which it is attached by the adjustablo bolt a.
The wire rope stay is shown at D' fixed to two adjustable points a', a',
where the tramway is passing round a curve. E, E, Figures 1 and 5, are 2
cross sleepers attached to the poles and carrying the continuous beam F,
which is composed of a top and bottom horizontal beam and a central
vertical beam, as shown in cross section at Figure 6, and is securely
bolted and strapped to the cross sleepers E, E.
Figures 7 and 8 shew the beam F, used where the tramway is curved, 3
composed of two thicknesses bent and bolted together, and having the
lower flange which supports the carriage wheels composed of curved
pieces, bolted to the sides of the beam F.
Wrought-iron plates are shewn fixed to the upper side of the lower
flange of the beam F, and serving as rails for the wheels H, H, of the 3
carriages I, I, to run upon. These carriages are hung upon centres,
turning in the lower ends of the suspending frames K, K, the upper ends

page_text: of which carry the axles of the wheels. The frames K, K, are arranged
so that they can open out for the purpose of placing the wheels upon the
rails, and can then be firmly bolted together by the cross stays and
bolts L. The carriage bodies I, I, are shewn open at the top, and are
held in place by the catches M, M, and when these catches are released
they can be turned over for the purpose of discharging their contents.
An inverted rack is shewn fixed to the lower side of the beam F, and
formed either of cast-iron lengths, as shown at P, and in Figures
4, 6, 7, 8, or of wrought iron, angle irons, and tubes and bolts, as shewn
at P', and in plan at Figuro 3.
In Figure 5, F shews a plan of the top of the beam; P¹, the wrought
iron rack from below; and W, a horizontal section of the girders, shewing
the rail plates b, b. The locomotive Q is shewn suspended to rails in
the same way as the carriages I, I, and driving a toothed wheel S which
gears into the rack P, P¹. d is a seat for an attendant, and a brake is
shewn of the kind already described, c, c, being rollers attached to
bars e, e, which can be forced against the rails and the wheels of the
carriages by depressing the points ff, which can be done by pulling the
handle g, and thus tightening the chain or rope K which has its ends
fixed at 2, 1, and passes round the small pullies m, m, m, m. By pulling
another handle g', the points f, f, can be raised in a similar manner, and
the pressure of the rollers withdrawn from the rails and wheels.
In Sheet III. Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section, and Figure 2,
a cross section of another arrangement of tramway, in which the carriage
wheels H, H, run upon the upper surface of the continuous beam F,
which is suspended to the cross sleepers E, E, by the keys or hangers
D, D. The carriages I, I, arc shewn connected together by bars a, a,
alternately coupling the pairs of wheels and bars b, b, coupling the
frames K, K, at points between the level of the axles and the centres of
the suspension of the carriages. Rollers c, c, are shewn upon the
bars b, b, Figures 1 and 2, and in plan at Figure 3, which run upon the
edges of the rack P if the carriages should rise from the rails, and to
steady them.
In Figure 2 e, e, e, e, are the pulleys round which pass the ropes
or chains of the brakes described and shewn in Figures 1 and 2, on
Sheet II.

page_text: from the axles which connect each set of wheels, and pass down between
the two parts of the beam F.
In Figures 1, 2, and 4, a timber roof or covering W is shewn pro-
tecting the rails from snow.
Figures 5 and 6 shew in plan the method which I prefer to use for
fastening together and strengthening the different parts of the piers and
the continuous beam.
In Sheet I. Figure 4 shews in plan the method which I prefer to
adopt in order to allow the trains of carriages to pass one another in
opposite directions on tramways constructed according to my Invention
where a single line of tramway only is used. The tramway is shown
constructed double for a sufficient distance, and has moveable points or
switches a, a', at each end, by which the trains of carriages b, b', can be
admitted upon either part of the tramway, as shewn. When the train
of carriages are in the position shewn, the points a, a', can be altered as
shewn by the dotted lines, and the journey of the trains continued in
opposite directions, transferring the trains from one rope to the next of
the series.
Figures 5 and 6 shew a side view and plan of the hauling ropes, which
I prefer to use in such circumstances, c being a double pulley, round
which one rope & is brought in the direction shown by the arrows, and c¹
being another rope also brought round the pulley c, as shown by arrows.
Sheet IV. shows a view of a steam tramway constructed according to
my Invention, passing through a hilly country.
Having now particularly described my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I claim,-
The general arrangement of suspended tramways constructed sub.
stantially as described and shewn in the Drawings.
Also the arrangement of poles, arranged substantially as described and
shown in the Drawings, for the purpose of supporting suspended
tramways.
Also the combination with such poles so arranged of continuous beams
supporting the wheels of carriages, constructed substantially as described
and shewn in the Drawings.

page_text: Also the arrangement of inverted racks and toothed wheels for the
purpose of propelling carriages upon such suspended tramways.
Also the construction of carriages suspended upon centres for use upon
such suspended tramways, substantially as and for the purposes described
and shewn in the Drawings.
Also the combination with such carriages of brakes, constructed and
arranged substantially as described and shewn in the Drawings.
Also the method of propelling trains of carriages on such suspended
tramways by means of endless ropes passing over pullies, and arranged
to work in separate sections of the length of the tramway, substantially
as described and shewn in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ebenezer William Hughes, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of March,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-three.
Witness,
EBENEZER WILLIAM HUGHES. (L.S.)
EDMUND EDWARDS, C.E.,
38, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane.