Improvements in Gravity or Switchback Railways.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 7th Apr., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gravity or Switchback Railways.
I JOHN WILLIAM CAWDERY of 45 Wells Street Oxford Street London Wi
Theatrical Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in gravity or switchback railways and has
for its object to provide an arrangement which can be more easily erected than
those commonly employed and which will not present the heavy and massive
appearance of such structures also providing for vehicles of different constructions
in the form of a horse for instance to be used, the track being raised clear of the
ground and supported only at necessary intervals.
In carrying my invention into practice I arrange at suitable distances along the
ground a number of standards or fixed frames, preferably of cast iron and carrying
at the top and on each side a T shaped rail arranged in a reverse position that is
to say with the cross bar undermost. Upon these rails can run two wheels mounted
on an axle fixed at end to a movable frame suspended thereon at the top, the lower
ends or extensions of which are guided by a bar or rod secured to or formed.
integrally with the standards or frames and extending along the whole length of
the track. This iron frame is enclosed in a shell of suitable material, having the
shape of a horse or other animal, the legs of which surround the extensions of the
suspended frame, while the crup encloses the top part of the said frame with
the wheels, the rail track passing through the shell above mentioned.
The track is laid in the ordinary manner, so as to present alternate curved
ascents and descents the whole track being inclined from one pavilion at one end to
the other at the other end, and there being two lines of rails as usual switched or
made continuous with one another at both ends. There are thus two rows of cast
iron frames which may be of graduated or of uniform height, according as the
track of the ground is undulated. Suitable means are provided at the pavilion
ends for preventing the horse from moving back when reaching the end of its
travels. Instead of the shell representing a horse, I may arrange the same to
assume the form of a boat, or a carriage and pair etc. two sets of standards carrying
each a pair of rails being used in the latter case.
In the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section showing the fixed frame or standard, the movable or
suspended frame with its shell representing a horse, and the rail track laid on the
top of the fixed frame or standard, Fig. 2 being a corresponding longitudinal
section,
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a shell representing a boat and its suspended frame.
Figs. 4 & 5, are plan views showing two different methods of connecting the
lines at their ends.
Fig. 6, is a sectional view showing the application of my invention to a carriage,
Fig. 7, is an elevation of a part of the track with a pavilion at one end, Fig. 8
is a detail.
According to my invention, I arrange a series of cast iron frames or standards s
along the ground these frames having suitable heights in order to allow the rail
track to be laid thereon with the necessary undulations or to follow those of the
ground. Fig. 1 shows one of these standards or frames carrying at the top the
rails o having the form of an inverted T, the cross and lowermost bars of

page_text: the rails o being fixed in the chairs s¹ formed on each side of the top of the frame.
Upon these rails can freely move the wheels w mounted on the axle a, secured at
each end to the inner walls of the suspended frame the latter being thus suspended
on the fixed frame or standards while its lower extensions or ends e are guided by a
rail r fitted at each side of the standards in the chairs or supports cast on the
same. Each extension is furnished with a friction roller e¹ which runs on the
rail thus effectually preventing any side motion. This frame f is fitted in
the shell cast or otherwise made in the form of a horse, and fixed thereto in
any suitable manner, such as by bolts or screws so that the shell h and the frame f
form one piece and hence move together giving the appearance of a horse galloping
along the track T or T'. This shell may also be made to represent a boat as shown
in Fig. 3. the suspended frame f being enclosed in the hold of the boat, which is
provided in this case with a deck i to carry the seats .
I may furthermore, by arranging two contiguous sets of standards s mount a
horse on each standard in the manner above described, and yoke these two horses
in any desired manner, to a carriage constructed and arranged as shown in Fig. 6.
The carriage body B is provided with brackets or frame f₁ carrying the wheels w
so that the whole carriage with its large dummy wheels W moves bodily along the
tracks T & T together with the two horses in front, Fig. 7 shows the general
arrangement of the tracks T and T' a pavilion such as P being provided at each
end and the two tracks T and T' being connected at one or both ends, either by the
switch shown in Fig. 4 or by the connection of Fig. 5 in which case the horse or
other figure will run round on to the return line. In Fig. 7. the standards are
shown of different heights, and are placed on a horizontal ground, so as to obtain
the necessary undulations but in some cases I may form the undulations in the
ground, when the standards will have a uniform height. To prevent the horse,
boat etc. from moving back on reaching the platform at each end, and in each
pavilion, I arrange a rack n on the central portion, Figs. 1 and 8. of the top of the
last two or three standards s wherein engages a pawl m fixed under the shell or
horse's belly (in the case first mentioned), and so arranged as to pass freely over
the rack, as the vehicle proceeds towards the end of the track, but to engage with
the teeth of the said rack should the vehicle move backwards away from the
pavilion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In gravity or switchback railways, the arrangement of a number of cast metal
frames or standards, whereon is laid an undulated track, formed of metal rails in
combination with a movable frame on which passengers are carried, rolling on the
said rail track, substantially as herein described and for the purposes set forth.
2. In gravity or switchback railways the combination of a number of cast metal
frames or standards formed at top with chairs or cheeks in which a pair of rails
are supported, forming an undulating track, with a movable frame, on which
passengers are carried, running on wheels on the track so formed, substantially as
herein described and for the purposes set forth.
3. In gravity or switchback railways the combination with a number of cast metal
frames or standards formed at the top, and at each side with chairs on which are
fixed Trails, a pair being fitted on top and one at each side, forming an undulating
track, of a movable frame running on wheels, on the upper set of rails and furnished
with extensions having rollers at their end, bearing against the side rails, the form
of an animal such as a horse being fitted to the frame, the said extensions following
the form of the legs and being concealed therein, substantially as described and
shown.
4. In gravity or switchback railways, the combination with two sets of cast metal
standards placed side by side, each.formed with chairs at top and sides, carrying
rails forming an undulating track, of three frames, two in front, one on each set of

page_text: rails, having extensions with rollers bearing against the side rails, and having forms
of horses fitted on to them and wheels running on top rails, and one frame at the
back having wheels running on both sets of rails and supporting a carriage connected
to the horses in front, substantially as described.
Dated this 7th day of February 1894.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.