IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the County of Laucaster and
of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex Civil Engineer for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGES Communicated
to him from abroad by the Rev. Andrew Heber Munro of the city of
Montreal in the district of Montreal and province of Quebec in the
Dominion of Canada.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Phillips Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th July 1882.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON of the Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors
6 Lord Street Liverpool in the county of Lancaster, and of 323 High Holborn
in the county of Middlesex Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY
CARRIAGES." A communication to me from abroad by the Rev. Andrew Heber
Munro of the city of Montreal in the district of Montreal and province of Quebec
in the dominion of Canada.
This invention has for its object to provide a carriage adapted for use upon
railways or tramways which shall combine all the desirable features and facilities
of the system in use in America (i.e. with seats arranged in an open car with an
aisle between,) with the desirable features of the "close-compartment" arrangement
peculiar to English and European Carriages-and one which shall afford the
protection of passengers accruing from the former construction where free access
can be had from one part of the open car to another at any time, and where all its
occupants are constantly within reach of supervision from each other and from the
guard or conductor, and at the same time provide for several degrees of seclusion
which can be regulated at the will of the passengers and of the guard, while not
interfering with that free and rapid ingress and egress allowed by the latter form
of carriages, and so much desired."
The invention also has for it object to unite with the advantages discernible in
such a construction of car, many comforts and necessary conveniences not at present

page_text: found in close-compartment carriages, and without the objectionable features and
unhandy contrivances existing in the open system alluded to.
Another important object attained by this invention is the facility for a ready
conversion of the car, or any compartment or section thereof, from a "day-car" to a
"sleeper," both arrangements embodying comfort, convenience and utility with
safety, entire or partial seclusion of the passengers, and ready ingress and egress
when the train arrives at stations or stopping places.
These improvements may be described as consisting, first, in so constructing the
carriage that there shall be a continuous passage from end to end thereof the seats
being arranged inside compartments formed on alternate sides of the car, by
extending partitions from the floor up to within a short distance from the roof,
each of these compartments being furnished with a door for egress to and ingress
from the station platform, and also an opening or, openings, into the continuous
passage which can be covered by a curtain or closed by a door when desired. The
doors through the sides of the car may have glass panels or gratings, or each com-
partinent may be provided with a window, as desired and the openings to the inner
continuous passage may be arranged to afford different degrees of seclusion, by
having the partitions low enough to allow the guard to look over same when
standing on a stool, the doors being locked only with his permission, or by having
an unlocked sliding door,-or by the simple use of a curtain etcetera.
The invention provides secondly for the construction of separate retiring or
toilet rooms at one or both ends of the car where strict privacy is accorded to
passengers of either sex the same being easy and convenient of access from any of
the compartments throughout the car-the special arrangement of the latter
ensuring escape from general observation.
The car is converted into a sleeper (i.e. beds or sleeping berths are substituted
for the seats used in day-time,) preferably by closing the door opening into the
continuous passage and opening sliding doors on other sides of the compartments
and then folding down or arranging the upholstered backs-to form the lower berth;
a suitable mattrass being laid over the foundation thus formed and the bed' made
up in any approved way. Said mattrass will be folded or rolled for convenience of
stowage under the seats or in boxes arranged inside the car near the roof.
upper berth is formed by inserting suitable bars provided with spring bolts or
other fastenings in sockets in the sides of the car and in the partitions said bars
being arranged to carry the berth frame or mattrass and bedding.
The
The bedclothes are stowed away with the mattrasses, or in special receptacles
provided for the purpose.
A continuous passage runs from end to end of the car the central compartments
being arranged either single, double or multiple, at alternate sides of the cars; being
provided with seats; and doors, through the sides of the car, leading on to the station
platform, one for each compartment; openings from said compartments lead into
the continuous passage covered or closed in any approved manner as already
explained; sliding doors made preferably in two halves are arranged to admit
passengers to their berths when the car, or any compartment thereof, is turned into
. a sleeper. Other compartments used when desired are preferably at either end of
the car; these are of rectangular shape and arranged so that the longest seat will be
parallel to and facing the outside windows they are also provided with internal
openings for general use, the extra sliding doors used in the other compartments
being not here necessary, as the one door will give convenient means of ingress and
egress to the berths, and the arrangement of the berths can be such as to afford
• standing room and a seat inside the compartment.
Retiring or toilet rooms are placed one at each end of the car, one for use by
passengers of each sex, a space being provided for the heater and doors opening
on to the continuous passage are also provided in these retiring or toilet rooms.
The special construction and arrangement inside these retiring rooms form no
part of this invention.
The invention must not be so confined as to necessitate their situation one at

page_text: each end of the car as they may be placed both at one end of the car if desired,―or
in cars of an inferior class, or those used as smoking cars, only one may be used.
Neither is the invention limited to the special arrangement of the central or end
compartments as it is obvious that they may be made single, double or multiple, of
different shapes, and their number and position increased, diminished or changed
without in any way departing from the main principle of the invention. An
additional room for the guard may be arranged at the end of the car with a door
if desired leading on to a platform or foot board which is placed all round the
car, hand rails being also fixed to the sides of the car at either end and between
all the doors and windows to ensure his safety in passing from one door to
another.
A box or receptacle is arranged inside each compartment near the eaves, in whichr
the mattrass, bedding etcetera., may be stowed when the spaces under the seats are
not of sufficient capacity for the purpose.
A convenient form of spring mattrass for upper berths is made up of rings
having flat strips of metal coiled round same and arranged in a continuous series
with a light frame preferably surrounding same. This mattrass will rest upon bars
said bars being provided with spring bolts at either end, or other suitable means of
attachment to the partitions and car walls.
An improved device for ventilating the compartments consists of a channel cut
through the side of the car, and on the outside is attached a centrally pivoted wing
or damper which is always turned so as to admit air in the reverse direction to
that in which the train is travelling, suitable brackets being provided therefor.
A door is provided for admitting the air which can be opened or closed at the
pleasure of the passenger.
A greater or less number of compartments may be used and the situation or
arrangement of the retiring rooms &c. be varied to suit different modifications of
the invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said William Phillips Thompson
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th January 1883.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON of the Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors
6 Lord Street Liverpool in the county of Lancaster and of 323 High Holborn
in the county of Middlesex civil Engineer. " IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY
CARRIAGES A communication to me from abroad by the Rev. Andrew Heber
Munro, of the city of Montreal, in the district of Montreal and province of Quebec,
in the dominion of Canada.
"
This invention has for its object to provide a carriage adapted for use upon
railways or tramways which shall combine all the desirable features and facilities
of the system. in use in America, (that is with seats arranged in an open car
with an aisle between) with the desirable features of the close compartment
arrangement peculiar to English and European Carriages and one which shall
afford the protection to passengers accruing from the former construction where
free access can be had from one part of the open car to another at any time, and
where all its occupants are constantly within reach of supervision from each other
and from the guard or conductor and at the same time provide for several
degrees of seclusion which can be regulated at the will of the passengers and of
the guard while not interfering with that free and rapid ingress and egress allowed
by the latter form of carriages, and so much desired.
The invention also has for its object to unite with the advantages discernible in
such a construction of car, many comforts and necessary conveniences not at
present found in close compartment carriages, and without the objectionable
features and unhandy contrivances existing in the open system alluded to
a
"
Another important object attained by this invention is the facility for a ready
conversion of the car or any compartment or section thereof from a "day car" to
sleeper" both arrangements embodying comfort, convenience and utility with
safety, entire or partial seclusion of the passengers, and ready ingress and egress
when the train arrives at stations or stopping places.
car
These improvements may be described as consisting, first in so constructing
continuous
the carriage that there shall be a
passage through the
and giving access to every part thereof the seats being arranged inside
compartments formed-the end ones parallel to the sides of the car and the middle
ones on alternate sides, by extending partitions from the floor entirely up to within
a short distance from the roof as necessity requires each of these compartments being
furnished with a door for egress to and ingress from the station platforms and
also an opening or openings into the continuous passage which can be covered by a
curtain or closed by a door when desired. The doors through the sides of the car
may have glass panels or gratings or each compartment may be provided with a
window as desired and the openings to the inner continuous passage may be
arranged to afford different degrees of seclusion, by having the partitions low
enough to allow the guard to look over same when standing on a stool the doors
being locked only with his permission or by having a sliding door also subject to
his control or by the simple use of a curtain et-cetera
The invention provides secondly for the construction of separate retiring or
toilet rooms at one or both ends of the car where strict privacy is accorded to
passengers of either sex, the same being easy and convenient of access from the
continuous passage by the occupants of any of the compartments throughout
the car the special arrangement of the latter ensuring escape from general
observation

page_text: For full comprehension of the invention reference must be had to the accompanying
drawings where letters similar to those used in this description indicate like parts.
Fig 1 is a plan of the door of the car with the sections and parts marked upon
it. It indicates the continuous passage marked P P P giving access to every part
of the car, the peculiar arrangement of the seats, the end compartments 1. 2. 3. 4.
being parallel to the sides of the car and the middle compartments 5. 6. and 7, 8
being on alternate sides of the car; the side doors opposite both ends of the middle.
compartments and near to the entrance of the end compartiments. The windows
between these doors are not shewn in the diagram. The entrances of all these:
compartments are furnished with curtains o which can be used at the pleasure of,
the passengers and with sliding doors o' to be used only by permission of the.
guard. The middle compartments have each a second sliding door T which is to be
closed during the day and used only at night. Retiring rooms for both sexes are
provided at opposite ends of the car and so arranged as to be perfectly isolated.
The gentlemen's room 20 is smaller than the ladies room marked 21 part of the,
space being devoted to a heater 22. The upper parts of both of these rooms are
inade into tanks for water and cupboards. A tap for drinking water is placed
outside each of these rooms as shown at K. The partitions enclosing the water
closets and the retiring rooms will be carried up to the roof of the car The height:
of the other partitions will depend upon whether or not the car is intended to be.
convertible into a sleeping car
When it is so intended the partitions between the compartments and the;
continuous passage will be as high as the lowest part of the roof and the partitions.
between the compartments 5 and 6 and 7 and 8 as high as the highest part of the roof.
to give entire isolation to the adjacent berths. But when it is not intended to use
the car for sleeping in none of the partitions need be higher than about six feet;
six inches.
The small projecting marks V V V on the outside of the car indicate ventilators,
which will be described hereafter. A footboard 23 runs along the; car on both
sides; and at each end there is sometimes a wider platform for the use of the guard
and on which a cab may be placed for his convenience if desired, or a small com-:
partment for luggage may be placed there with no further change in the car, than,
that of having the windows of the retiring rooms at the sides instead of at tho.
ends. A handrail 24 runs along the foot board for a short distance at both sides
and at both ends to assist the guard in passing from one car to another while the
train is in motion.
Fig 2 is a plan of the car arranged as a sleeping car. When either of the end.
compartments 1. 2. 3. 4. is to be made into a sleeping berth the following operation
will be performed 1st The part B of the seat will be lifted and the bedding in the;
box beneath having been removed the seat is returned to its place 2nd The part
of the back of the seat running along by b will then be lifted out of its place, and,
laid on the seats with the cushioned side up being supported by the seats and by a
spring bolt at the corner where there is no seat 3rd The bedding will then be
used in making up the beds, which while of ample dimensions will leave a portion
of the floor and of the seats unoccupied for the comfort of the person using the
berth 4th The sliding door o¹ will then be drawn to, to be fastened at the pleasure,
of the passenger.
When either of the middle compartments 5. 6. 7. 8. is to be made into a sleeping
berth, the following things will be done 1st the seats b will be lifted, the bedding,
removed and the seat returned to its place 2nd The curtain o will be removed
and the sliding door o' drawn to and locked 3rd The sliding door T will be
unlocked and opened. 4th The portion of the seat marked b in Fig. 1. will then be
slid out of its place into the middle of the floor of the compartment
5th the
whole of the cushioned back of the seat near the sliding door T will then be lifted
and laid on the seats, with the cushioned side up to be supported by them and by
a.spring bolt at one corner. 6th The bedding will then be used in making up
the bed

page_text: The sliding doors of the sleeping berths will have fastenings on the insides which
only the guard will be able to open from the outside.
If it is desired to have two sleeping berths in the same compartment one below
and one above, the sliding doors will have to be divided in the middle forming two
doors so that the berths may be kept perfectly isolated..
4
.
Fig 3 is a longitudinal section of the car on the line XX of Fig 1. arranged for
day use. In the retiring rooms the divisions marked D. D¹. D. denote the closets
and tanks for holding water for drinking and washing The end compartiments
2 and 4 and all the middle compartments are shewn. In the former bb are the
cushioned backs of the seats the mode of stowing the bedding beneath the
seats is also indicated
Fig 4 is a longitudinal section of a car (made up for night use) on line XXXX,
Fig 2, E represents a folding shelf cushioned on its inner side and held up against.
or near the lower part of the car roof when not in use by means of a spring catch e
or other suitable device shewn in Fig 3 which may also be utilized as a means of
support for the berth when it is let down for the night to the position shewn in-
Fig 4
This form of berth is only used for the end compartments 1..2. 3. 4.
The upper berths in the compartments 5. 6. 7. and 8. shown particularly in Fig 4
are constructed as follows F is a wide cushioned shelf somewhat similar to E
and will be used and supported in a similar manner, but while of ample dimensions
for sleeping purposes will not perfectly isolate the upper berth from the lower one,
therefore there is provided a small shelf G which is hinged to the partition on the
opposite side of the compartment and can be let down and fastened so as to entirely:
seclude one berth from the other.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing the side doors windows and ventilators
approximately in their relative position
Fig 6 is a cross section on the line Y Y Fig 1 shewing the open ends of the
compartments 1 and 2, the curtain o with the sliding doors o' o' divided horizontally
in the middle; and part of the outside of compartment 5.
Fig 7. shows the same parts as Fig 6 but as they would appear when made into
sleeping berths with sliding doors open and the curtains not removed Fig 8 is a
oross section on line of Fig 1 showing the compartments 5 and 7 arranged as
sleeping berths with sliding doors T open.
Fig 9. is a modification of the original plan of the improved car (Fig 1) retaining.
its main features with some changes in the details The continuous passage marked
P, P, P, is retained the retiring rooms 20 21 are both at the same end of the car.
but still completely isolated The middle compartments. are the same as in Fig 1.
but the end compartments are somewhat altered. The compartments
and 4 are
the same as in Fig 1 with the exception of the entrances being at the other end.
The compartments 1 and 2 have this change and are also placed close to the end of
If the partitions at the backs of the two just named compartments be
carried up to the roof the space between them marked 9 and 10¹ may be made
into a smoking room, or the part marked 9¹ may be used as a cab for the guard, and
part marked 10¹ a smoking room with a seat along the dotted lines
the car.
Fig 10 is a second modification the difference between it and Fig 1 is the
omission of the compartments 6 and 7.
Fig 11. is a third modification differing from Fig 1 in the omission of the part of
the continuous passage across the car near retiring rooms and also of compartments
6 and 7.
..
Fig 12. is a fourth modification but is same as Fig 9 with omission of
compartments 6 and 7.
.
Fig 13. is a fifth modification it furnishes all the sitting and sleeping
accommodations of Fig 1 but places the end compartment close to the retiring.
roonis 20 and 21. without an intervening passage. The gentlemen's room 20 is
somewhat altered from Fig 1 that for the ladies (21) is somewhat smaller having
part of its space devoted to a cab 25 for the guard. The compartments 1 and 2
can be used as smoking room with a reversible seat shown at 26.

page_text: Fig 14 is another modification of the original design the object of which is to
combine with it as far as practicable the way passengers sit in the American 1**
class car with their faces in the same direction (unless they themselves turn over
the back of a seat to sit with their faces towards each other) This is accomplished
by a change in the middle seats; 5. 6. and 7. form one compartment and 8. 9. 10
another with all the seats of both in the same direction These sections may be
made into two sleeping berths in whatever manuer may be found most
convenient by an adaptation of the means and method above described for the other
modifications.
The improved ventilator is shown in Fig 15 R is a part of the side of the car,
S the back of a seat S' the seat itself and U an opening in the side of the car; V
is a shield moving easily in a groove formed in a bracket V' which is closed in
above and below The said shield always having its convex turned side towards
the the engine, V2 Is a door which the passengers can open and close as they desire
fresh air.
It will be seen that these modifications of the original plan retain all its main
features and show that it can be adapted in these and other ways to the wants of
different classes of travellers forming a car as cheap as an English second class car
though vastly its superior in safety and comfort, or one much more comfortable by
day and much safer by night than a Pullman car and not as costly. It will also be
seen that these modifications suggest the possibility of many of the railway
carriages now in use being converted at small cost So as to embody the
improvements.
Having now described the invention as communicated to me I wish it to be
understood that I do not make a general claim for an open railway carriage or one
with passage from end to end through which the occupants can move from one part
to another but that what I desire to protect and claim is
1 The construction of railway carriages or cars divided into a series of
compartments leading from an aisle or passage through the car giving access to
every part, such compartments being capable of being completely isolated one from
another and having separate means of ingress and egress from the stations substantially
as described and shown.
2nd In a railway carriage or car with passage from end to end the construction
of compartments capable of being readily converted into berths or sleeping
compartments with sliding doors at the end and side, and loose or hinged backs to
form the bottoms of the berths substantially as and for the purposes described
3rd A ventilator for railway carriages or cars with a centrally pivoted shield
opening on the outside to admit air in the reverse direction to that in which the
train is travelling and trap or valve on the inside which may be opened or shut
by the passengers substantially as described and shown. Fig 15
4th The general arrangement and construction of railway carriage in which is
combined both the advantages of supervision and protection afforded by the open
carriage and the privacy afforded by the ordinary carriage substantially as
described and shewn
In witness whereof I the said William Phillips Thompson have hereunto
set my hand and seal this twenty fourth day of January in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty three