IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Burleigh, of the Great Northern Railway,
King's Cross, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF
THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 29th July 1856, and dated the 2nd February 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Burleigh at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd February 1856.
I, BENJAMIN BURLEIGH, of the Great Northern Railway, King's Cross, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN
PARTS OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the improvement of parts of the permanent
way of railways, consisting of the joints where the ends of the rails meet, also
of the chairs and fastenings, and of those parts of the permanent way called
switches and crossings.
Firstly, I construct a hollow key of wrought or rolled iron, either tapered or
paralel from end to end, and of a section which may be varied to suit the
peculiar form of rail used. The said key to be made either as an entire tube,
or with a slit or opening in the direction of its length, so as to be slightly com-
pressible when driven in between the rail and the chair. In making the said

page_text: key it may be either bent to the required section, or formed by being drawn
over a mandril placed between two rollers.
I also construct a solid key of cast or wrought iron, or other material, the
same being made slightly larger than the interior of the key already described,
and I propose sometimes to use them together by driving the solid key into
the hollow key, thereby enlarging or opening the latter to make it fit more
tightly between the rail and the chair.
Secondly, I construct either.a solid or a hollow cast iron, key or. wedge to be
inserted between the rail and the chair, and so fitting between certain parts of
the rail and the jaw of the chair as to form, in conjunction with the chair, an
improved rail holder in two parts, without the aid of wooden or other elastic
packings, and without the addition of other wedges or keys or bolts and nuts.
Thirdly, I construct a pair of cast or wrought iron wedges, to be driven in
opposite directions when inserted-between the rail and the chair. The said
wedges may be either plain or rebated, though I prefer the latter form. I
also construct a pair of wedges to be used with a chair of improved form, and
when inserted between the rail and the chair the wedges are made to move
from each other in opposite directions; either by means of a right and left-hand
screw or a vertical wedge inserted between their larger ends for the
purpose of
forcing them apart and thus fixing the rail. I also construct keys made of
rolled, bar, or plate iron, and bent to a form resembling the letter V or U, in
the open end of which a solid wedge of-iron or other material is driven for
tightening the same between the rail and the chair.
1
Fourthly, I construct a chair of cast or malleable iron, having a groove or
space in that part below the. under side of the rail, for the purpose of pre-
venting the indentation or notching of the centre portion of the lower table of
the rail.
Fifthly, I propose to make the following improvements in those parts of the
permanent way of railways called crossings and switches, for which Letters
Patent were granted to me, bearing date respectively November 22nd, 1853,
and January 9th, 1854, viz. :-
I construct those parts of the crossing called the "point rail" and " flange
bearers" in one solid piece, either of cast or malleable iron, or the same may be
made in one casting with a hollow centre, and in either case be similarly
shaped both on the top and bottom surfaces. The acute portion of the point
I sometimes make of steel or wrought iron, either in one piece extending
from the top to the bottom of the point rail, or the said acute portion may be
made in two pieces, or I construct the point rail and flange bearers in one
piece of cast iron, either chilled or not chilled on the top and bottom surfaces,

page_text: and it may be without the addition of the steel or wrought iron point. I also
sometimes construct the crossing point and flange bearers in parts, such parts
being divided longitudinally by inserting between them bars of steel or wrought
iron, or a combination of both; the said bars may be varied in section and
so placed as to bear certain portions of the wheels or their flanges when passing
over the crossing.
I also sometimes construct flange bearers for crossings of wrought or rolled
iron, in one or more picces, similarly formed at the top and bottom surfaces, so
as to be reversible, and I prefer rolling such flange bearers with a portion of
steel so piled on the top and under sides as to present a steeled surface for the
flanges of the wheels to rest upon when passing over the crossing.
I construct cast iron crossing chairs, so formed that the jaws of the same
clip or embrace certain portions of the outer sides or flanges of the wing rails
and hold them firmly, without the aid of wooden keys or wedges as commonly
used.
I also construct crossings with the check or guard rails so raised or elevated
above the surface of the main rails as to ensure an additional amount of safety
to passing trains. This arrangement is peculiarly well adapted to obtuse
crossings, which are considered as being the most dangerous points in the
permanent way.
I also construct crossings having the check rails & other rails elevated above
the main rails, and so arranged in combination with the flange bearers as to
leave no gap in the main line rails, thus insuring a much greater degree of
safety for trains passing through at speed.
In forming the tongue rail of a switch, I extend the projecting portion
which bears the flange of the wheel to a point beyond the hinge joint, so that
it laps over the adjoining rail, and, being bolted thereto, forms a break joint,
and at the same time improves the hinge of the switch. The said projecting
portion of the tongue rail may also be extended beyond the acute end of the
same, for the purpose of bearing the flange of the wheel before it reaches the
point.
I construct the hinge of the switch with a chair, either of wrought or cast
iron, having a jaw on one side only, against which the main rail lies. I insert
a long key or packing of cast or wrought iron between the main rail and
tongue rail to form a distance piece, a plate of iron being also placed on the
opposite side of the tongue rail. The whole are then bolted together and sup-
ported laterally by bolts, one of which is the hinge bolt. The plate, packing
piece, and chair, thus afford support to the rails at the binge joint, there being
only a sufficient bevel on one side either of the plate or packing piece to admit

page_text: of the lateral hinge motion of the tongue rail. By this means the hinge joint
is greatly stiffened, and consequently suffers less from the concussions produced
by the action of rolling loads.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Benjamin Burleigh in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd August 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
BURLEIGH, of the Great Northern Railway, King's Cross, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, IIer heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Benjamin Burleigh, Her special licence that I, the said Benjamin
Burleigh, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Benjamin Burleigh, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYE," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Benjamin Burleigh, 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 Benjamin Burleigh, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof (that is to say):-
This Invention has for its object the improvement of parts of the permanent
way of railways, consisting of the joints where the ends of the rails meet, also
of the chairs and fastenings, and of those parts of the permanent way called
switches and crossings.
Firstly, I construct a hollow key of wrought or old iron, either tapered or
parallel from end to end of a section, which may be varied to suit the peculiar

page_text: form of rail used. The said key to be made either as an entire tube or with a
slit or opening in the direction of its length, so as to be slightly compressible
when driven in between the rail and the chair. In making the said key, it
may be either bent to the required section or formed by being drawn over a
mandril placed between two rollers. I also construct a solid key of cast or
wrought iron, or other material, the same being made slightly larger than the
interior of the key already described, and I use them together by driving the
solid key into a hollow key, thereby enlarging or opening the latter to make it
fit more tightly between the rail and the chair.
Secondly, I construct either a solid or a hollow cast iron key or wedge to be
inserted between the rail and the chair, and so fitting between certain parts of
the rail and the jaw of the chair, as to form, in conjunction with the chair, an
improved rail holder in two parts, without the aid of wooden or other elastic
packings, and without the addition of other wedges or keys, or bolts and nuts..
Thirdly, I also construct a pair of wedges to be used with a chair of
improved form, and when inserted between the rail and the chair, the wedges
are made to move from each other in opposite directions, either by means of a
right and left-hand screw or a vertical wedge inserted between their larger
ends for the purpose of forcing them apart and thus fixing the rail.
Fourthly, I construct a chair of cast or malleable iron, having a groove or
space in that part below the under side of the rail, for the purpose of pre-
venting the indentation or notching of the centre portion of the lower table of
the rail.
Fifthly, I propose to make the following improvements in those parts of the
permanent way of railways called crossings and switches, for which Letters.
Patent were granted to me, bearing date respectively November the Twenty-
second, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, and January the Ninth,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, viz-I construct those parts of.
the crossing called the "point rail" and "flange bearers" in one solid piece,
either of cast or malleable iron, or the same may be made in one casting with
a hollow centre, and in either case be similarly shaped both on the top and
bottom surfaces.
I also sometimes construct the crossing point and flange bearers in parts,
such parts being divided longitudinally by inserting between them bars of steel
or wrought iron, or a combination of both; the said bars may be varied in
section, and so placed as to bear certain portions of the wheels or their flanges:
when passing over the crossing.
I also sometimes construct flange bearers for crossings of wrought or rolled
iron.in one or more pieces, similarly formed at the top and bottom surfaces, so

page_text: as to be, reversible, and I prefer rolling such flange bearers with a portion of
steel, so piled on the top and under sides aš to present a steeled surface for
the flanges of the wheels to rest upon when passing over the crossing.
. I construct cast iron crossing chairs, so formed that the jaws of the same
clip or embrace certain portions of the outer sides or flanges of the wing rails
and hold them firmly, without the aid of wooden keys or wedges, as commonly
used. I also construct crossings with the check or guard rails so raised or.
elevated above the surface of the main rails as to insure an additional amount
of safety to passing trains. This arrangement is peculiarly well adapted to
obtuse crossings, which are considered as being the most dangerous points in
the permanent way.
I also construct crossings having the check rails and other rails elevated
above the main rails, and so arranged in combination with the flange bearers
as to leave no gap in the main line rails, thus insuring a much greater
degree of safety for trains passing through at speed.
In forming the tongue rail of a switch, I extend the projecting portion
which bears the flange of the wheel to a point beyond the hinge joint, so that it
laps over the adjoining rail, and being bolted thereto forms a break joint, and
at the same time improves the hinge of the switch. The said projecting
portion of the tongue rail may also be extended beyond the acute end of the
same, for the purpose of bearing the flange of the wheel before it reaches the
point.
I construct the hinge of the switch with a chair, either of wrought or cast
iron, having a jaw on one side only, against which the tongue rail lies. I
insert a long key or packing of cast or wrought iron, between the main rail
and tongue rail, to form a distance piece. A plate of iron being also placed on
the opposite side of the main rail. The whole are then bolted together and
supported laterally by bolts, one of which is the hinge bolt. The plate packing
piece and chair thus afford support to the rails at the hinge joint, there
being only a sufficient bevel on one side either of the plate or packing piece to
admit of the lateral hinge motion of the tongue rail. By this means the hinge
joint is greatly stiffened, and consequently suffers less from the concussions.
produced by the action of rolling loads.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation, and Figure a section, shewing the hollow
wrought iron key. The slit A is formed slightly tapering; a projecting piece B

page_text: fits in the hollow and tightens the key as it is driven up. Figure 3 shews a
modification of the above, in which the hollow key is made in two parts, and
tightened in a similar manner. Figures 4 and 5 shew the mode of enlarging
the hollow key, by driving a solid key into its centre. Figure 6 is a plan of
a chair with two wedges, tightened by means of a right and left-hand screw,
which forces them apart. Figure 7 is a section of a chair, having a groove or
space C below the rail, for the purpose of preventing the indentation of the
lower table. Figures 8 and 9 shew an improved form of chair and wedge of
cast iron. The wedge touches the rail and chair at the points D, E, F, and is
fixed without elastic packings, thus forming an improved rail holder. The
wedges are driven in the direction of the traffic (see Figure 10),.as pointed' by
the arrow, so that as the rails draw forward in. the chairs they tend to tighten
the wedges. Figure 10.shews the improved chair and wedge, as adapted to
the ordinary sleeper way. Figures 11, 12, 13, shews the improved chair and
wedge as adapted to the guage bar system, in which the chair forms its own
sleeper; in this case it is made wedge-shaped on plan (see Figure 12), and the
guage bar is driven up tightly upon it (see Figure 13), and being dovetailed;
bolds it firmly. Figure 14, and 14 shews a crossing with the point.rail and
flange hearers in a solid piece, formed alike at the top and bottom surfaces.
Figure 15 is a section of the same. Figure 16 is a section of a crossing,
shewing the flange bearers made in parts; the parts G, G; being made of steel
or wrought iron for the purpose of resisting the wear caused by the flanges of
the wheels. Figure 17 shews a piece of steel H, H, H, H, inserted in the pile
of the flange bearers at the top and bottom, to answer a similar purpose.
Figures 15, 16, 17, also shew an improved form of crossing chair of cast iron,
in which the rails are retained without the aid of keys. Figure 18 is a plan
and Figure 19 a section of an obtuse crossing, having the guard rail raised
above the main rails, so as to form a guide and check to the passing wheels,
and thus insure a much greater amount of safety to passing trains, as the
raised guard rail guides the wheel on the right side of the point. Figures
20, 21, 22, shews an arrangement as applied to acute crossings for elevating the
guard wing and point rails above the main line rails, so as to carry the wheels
over the latter and leave no gap therein, thus insuring a greater degree of
safety for the through traffic. In the case of trains passing from the main line
to the siding, the flanges of the wheels are carried over the gap on the main
rail and flange bearer, which are flush with each other. Figures 23, 24, 25,
shew the improvements in the hinge and the tongue rail of the switch K, K.
(Figures 24, 25,) shows a piece of steel rolled in the pile of the tongue rail;
L is the distance piece, placed between the rails. Figures 26, 27, shew an

page_text: improved switch lever and counterbalance, weight. The weight N being
attached to the lever, above ground, the ordinary lever box is dispensed with.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to
the exact details described; but what I claim is,―
Firstly, the use of a hollow wrought iron key in conjunction with a filling
piece to, expand the same, such filling piece being so formed as to fill the
interior of the hollow key, as shewn at Figures 4 and 5, or being made to
expand the key by entering the groove thereof, as shewn at Figures 1, 2, and 3.
2
› Secondly, the method of tightening wedges in chairs, shewn at Figure 6.
Thirdly, the method of constructing chairs to prevent indentation of the
lower table of the rail, shown at Figure 7.
Fourthly, the use of cast iron keys or wedges without elastic packing, to
secure rails in chairs, as shown at Figures 8 to 13.
66
Fifthly, the making the parts of a crossing known as the "point rail" and
flange bearers" in one piece, and of a similar shape on its upper and lower
surfaces, that it can be turned over when necessary, as shown at Figures 14,
14, and 15.
Sixthly, the method of constructing point and flange bearers, shown at
Figure 16.
Seventhly, the method of constructing flange bearers, shewn at Figure 17.
Eighthly, the method of constructing crossing chairs, shown at Figures 15,
16, and 17.
Ninthly, the constructing crossings with raised guard rails, as shown at
Figures 18 and 19.
Tenthly, the constructing acute crossings, without breaking the main line, as
shown at Figures 20, 21, and 22.
Eleventhly, the method of arranging the chairs, hinges, and points of tongue
rails, as shown at Figures 23, 24, and 25.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Burleigh, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
JNO. ALCOCK.
BENJN BURLEIGH. (L.S.)