IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PER- MANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Whittingham, of Nantwich, in the County of
Chester, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PER-
MANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 8th April 1879, and dated the 29th January 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Whittingham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th January 1879.
John WhittingHAM, of Nantwich, in the County of Chester, Civil Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS."
My Invention of improvements in the permanent way of railways has reference
to the joining or connecting of the adjacent ends of rails, hereinafter for clearness
called main rails.
As is well known, joints made by ordinary methods of fishing are liable to give
way, and the rails wear towards the ends, or where the wheels of rolling stock leave
one rail and reach the next. My Invention has for object the supporting the wheels
by supplementary rails or surfaces during the passage from rail end to rail end.
For this purpose I apply at the joints combined fish plates and rails, having their
upper surfaces flush with the surfaces of the adjacent main rails, so as to support or
assist in supporting the wheels as they approach, pass over, and leave the points of
junction of the main rails. The combined fish plates and rails may be supported in
chairs, and may be secured by bolts passing in the ordinary way through the webs
of the main rails, portions of the upper heads of which may be removed to receive
the upper portions of the combined fish plates and rails.

page_text: Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are corresponding views, to Figs. 1 to 4 of another modification,
the differences residing in the forms of the rails. The rails 1 and 2 in this last
arrangement are made with a wide base, so as to be fastened directly on to the
sleepers, as well understood.
In both arrangements (that is to say, Figs. 1 to 4 and Figs. 5 to 8) 1 and 2 are
portions of two lengths of rail, 3 is their point of junction, and 4 is my combined
fish plate and rail. The rails 1 and 2 are recessed, as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3.and
in Figs. 6 and 7 respectively, to receive the upper portion of the combined fish plate
and rail, and the upper and lower heads of the rails 1 and 2 of the first arrange-
ment may both be recessed, and the combined fish plate and rail made to fit in the
recesses, as in Fig. 4*.
In the arrangement shewn in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the combined-fish-plate-and.
rail is supported in chairs, and secured by bolts passing in the ordinary way through
it and through the webs of the rails 1 and 2.
It will be observed that in both arrangements the upper surface or head of the
combined fish plate and rail is flush with the surfaces of the adjacent rails 1 and 2
which it is employed to join or connect, so that the combined fish plate and rail will
support or assist in supporting passing loads.
Having described the nature of my said Invention, and explained in what
manner the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, I
would observe that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise forms of com-
bined fish plate and rail shewn in the accompanying Drawings, but what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me under
the Letters Patent herein-before in part recited is, the joining or connecting the
adjacent ends of rails by means of combined fish plates and rails, so constructed

page_text: and applied as to form supplementary rails or surfaces for supporting passing wheels
or loads, substantially as herein before described and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Whittingham, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
JOHN WHITTINGHAM. (L.S.)