IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ON RAILWAYS, MORE ESPECIALLY ADAPTED TO STEEP GRADIENTS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Crockford, of Holywell, Flintshire, Spelter
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ON
RAILWAYS, MORE ESPECIALLY ADAPTED TO STEEP GRADIENTS."
Sealed the 2nd June 1865, and dated the 8th December 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Crockford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
December 1864.
I, CHARLES CROCKFORD, of Holywell, Flintshire, Spelter Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION
ON RAILWAYS, MORE ESPECIALLY ADAPTED TO STEEP GRADIENTS," to be as
follows:-
I provide supplementary rails or parts of rails independent of the rails on
which the load to be drawn travels, and which supplementary rails or parts of
rails shall be formed relatively to the driving wheels of the locomotive, so as
to obtain friction sufficient to prevent slip.
And with a view to render the improvements in accordance with my
Invention applicable and adaptable to the present system of railways and
railway traction, the following is the mode in which I prefer to carry out my
Invention, or put the same into practice: I fix a rail, with an angular or
other suitably shaped top or ridge, contiguous to the ordinary rail, thus
forming a supplenicntary rail, which may either be formed separately, and
detached from the ordinary rail, or it may be connected to or form part of the

page_text: ordinary rail of each pair of ordinary rails, but in each case sufficient distance
is left between the supplementary formation of rails and the ordinary rails to
'permit of the wheels on the carriages, locomotives, tenders, and trucks for the
present system of railways to travel on the ordinary rails, as my Invention is
intended to be adapted to the present system of railways without interfering
with the present mode of traction. I either elongate the axle of the driving
wheels of the locomotive, and provide a pair of additional wheels thereon; or
I widen the tyres of the present locomotive driving wheels, and I groove such
extra wheels or extra width of driving wheels, so that they shall travel on the
angular ridges of the supplementary formation of rails. By this means I am
enabled to obtain the full tractive power of the locomotive, the load travelling
on the rails with a minimum of friction when lubricants are applied thereto.
On curves I propose to omit the supplementary formation of ridged rails on
the inner arc of the curve, and thus the outer driving wheel of the locomotive
travelling on the ordinary rail from its larger diameter enables the driving
wheels to adapt themselves to the curve. For steep inclines I may make the
external driving wheel or additional width of driving wheel of greatly reduced
diameter to that of the ordinary driving wheel, and I raise the supplementary
formation of ridged rail accordingly, that the external driving wheel or
additional width of driving wheel may work thereupon. And in some cases I
provide a frictional barrel or drum mounted on the axle of the ordinary
driving wheels, and situate between them, a bearing surface 'for-such drum or
barrel to work upon being provided and fixed between the width of rails; or
the said drum may be mounted on an axle independently of the driving
wheels, and be driven therefrom.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of Letters Patent, filed by
the said Charles Crockford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th June 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
CROCKFORD, of Holywell, Flintshire, Spelter Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by ller Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Charles Crockford, Her special license that I, the said Charles
Crockford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,

page_text: the said Charles Crockford, my executors, administrators, or 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 TRACTION OF RAILWAYS, MORE ESPECIALLY ADAPTED TO STEEP
GRADIENTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles
Crockford, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them, 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 Charles Crockford, 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 Sheet of Drawings;---
I provide supplementary rails or parts of rails independent of the rails on
which the load to be drawn travels, and which supplementary rails or parts of
rails shall be formed relatively to the driving wheels of the locomotive, so as
to obtain friction sufficient to prevent slip.
And with a view to render the improvements in accordance with my
Invention applicable and adaptable to the present system of railways and
railway traction, the following is the mode in which I prefer to carry out my
Invention, or put the same into practice: I fix a rail with an angular or
other suitably shaped top or ridge contiguous to the ordinary rail, thus forming
a supplementary rail, which may either be formed separately and detached
from the ordinary rail, or may be connected to or form part of the ordinary
rail of each pair of ordinary rails, but in each case sufficient distance is left
between the supplementary formation of rails and the ordinary rails to permit
of the wheels on the carriages, locomotives, tenders, and trucks for the present
system of railways to travel on the ordinary rails, as my Invention is intended
to be adapted to the present system of railways without interfering with the
present mode of traction. I either elongate the axle of the driving wheels of
the locomotive, and provide a pair of additional wheels thereon, or I increase
the width of the locomotive driving wheels, and I groove such extra wheels or
extra width of driving wheels so that they shall travel on the angular ridges
of the supplementary formation of rails. By this means I am enabled to
obtain the full tractive power of the locomotive, the load travelling on the

page_text: rails with a minimum of friction when lubricants are applied thereto. In
some instances 1 propose in the case of curves to omit the supplementary
formation of ridged rails on the outer arc of the curve, and thus the outer
driving wheel of the locomotive travelling on the ordinary rail from its larger
diameter enables the driving wheels to adapt themselves to the curve, but the
supplementary rails may be added to both the inner and outer curve. For
steep inclines I may make the external driving wheel or additional width of
driving wheel of greatly reduced diameter to that of the ordinary driving wheel,
and 1 raise the supplementary formation of ridged rail accordingly, that the
external driving wheel or additional width of driving wheel may work there-
upon. And in some cases I provide a frictional barrel or drum mounted on
the axle of the ordinary driving wheels, and situate between them, a bearing
surface for such drum or barrel to work upon being provided and fixed
between the rails; or the said drum may be mounted on an axle independently
of the driving wheels, and be driven therefrom, such axle and drum being
solely employed for the purpose of ascending inclines, or adding to the
tractive power of the engine.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, shew
modifications of my Invention, by which it is adapted to different conditions
and circumstances of application.
Figure 1 exhibits the ordinary rails combined with the supplementary rails,
having V-shaped bearing surfaces, each pair of rails being mounted in a single
chair, the tyres of the driving wheels being of an increased width of face, and
suitably turned to run upon each set of rails. These wheels are shewn as
being fitted upon a crank axle, and out of contact with the ordinary rails, and
running upon the V-shaped supplementary rails. Whilst the engine has by
the introduction of the supplementary rails been raised from off the ordinary
rails, the carriages composing the train, and the tender also (when its wheels
do not receive motion from the driving wheels of the engine by means of con-
necting or coupling rods), continue to run upon the ordinary rails.
Figure 2 shews a pair of ordinary driving wheels mounted upon crank
axle with inside bearings, there being an additional pair of wheels of smaller
diameter fitted on the axle outside the ordinary wheels, to which they may be
bolted or otherwise secured in addition to being keyed upon the axle. The
supplementary rails in this Figure are shewn as of a considerably greater height
than the ordinary rails, just in proportion to the difference of diameters of the
supplementary and the ordinary driving wheels. These supplementary rails
may be formed of hollow section, and strengthened with vertical and horizontal
ribs; they also form guard rails, and are only limited in their height by the

page_text: necessity for clearing the axle boxes, horn plates, and other parts of the tender
and carriages composing the train. In the latter illustration, as in the former,
the supplementary rails are shewn, outside the ordinary rails, although in
engines having driving wheels with outside bearings, and where the con-
struction of the engine and carriages, as well as the permanent way permit,
the supplementary rails and the wheels corresponding therewith may be placed
inside the ordinary rails instead of outside. The height to which the engine
need be lifted above the ordinary rails, so as to take their bearing upon the
supplementary rails, is but sufficient to prevent contact between the ordinary
rails and the tyres of the driving wheels, but in the case of applying this
Invention for the purpose of stopping and starting trains, the supplementary
rail may rise gradually to a considerable height, so as to give the advantage
afforded by an inclined plane.
Figure 3 exhibits the arrangement which comprises the employment of a
central rail having a series of V or other suitably shaped grooves or cor-
rugations placed between the ordinary rails at a suitable height to clear the
fire-box of the engine and the axles of the carriages and tender composing
the train, and forming a bearing surface for the frictional barrel or drum to
work upon.
Figure 4 illustrates the mode in which I prefer to carry out my Invention
where sharp curves have to be traversed, the supplementary rail in such case
being only employed in addition to the inner ordinary rail of the curve, whilst
the outer ordinary rail is super-elevated, so as to allow of the wheels adapting
themselves to the curve.
Although my Invention is more particularly adapted for application under
the conditions herein-before enumerated, it may also be applied with advantage
on level lines of railway, and more especially for heavy trains, such as goods
and luggage trains.
By the application of my Invention it will be seen that the present system
of traction is not interfered with, the additional width of driving wheel being
clear of all points and pass-byes, and the weight of locomotive, engines may
be greatly reduced, and a considerable economy in working of railways
may thus be effected. The extension of the inclined plane system in the
formation of railways, and economy effected in their working will enable their
cost of construction to be considerably reduced, and railway facilities may thus
be afforded to places where they could not hitherto be profitably introduced.
The starting and stopping of trains at railway stations will by the employment
of this Invention be greatly facilitated, and great economy effected in the
time at present necessary to overcome the vis viva of the train in stopping

page_text: and its inertia in starting; also the wear and tear incident to the stopping
and starting movements in the ordinary system of railway traction will be
greatly reduced.
Having now described my Invention, and in the accompanying Drawings
shewn some of the modes in which I may. put the same into practice, I wish
it to be understood that what I claim is,-
First, the use or employment in conjunction with a suitably formed central
drum or pair of wheels upon the locomotive engine, of a separate rail or pair
of rails upon which the locomotive engine or motive power shall travel, whilst
the train or load to be drawn continues to run upon the ordinary rails.
Second, the use or employment for the purposes herein stated of the
supplementary central rail, as herein described, in combination with a barrel
or drum of corresponding shape; mounted upon a driven axle, as herein
set forth.
Third, the use or employment of a pair of supplementary rails placed
either inside or outside the ordinary rails, for the purpose of supporting the
locomotive engine, and enabling its power to be transmitted more perfectly
for the purposes of traction on railways, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Crockford, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
JAMES STEVENSON,
19, Salisbury Street,
Strand, W.C.
CHARLES CROCKFORD. (L.S.)