IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS, AND OF VEHICLES TO BE EMPLOYED THEREON
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sir John Macneill, of the Grove, Boltons, South
Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS, AND OF VEHICLES TO BE
EMPLOYED THEREON.”
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sir John Macneill
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th January 1873.
I, Sir JOHN MACNEILL, of the Grove, Boltons, South Kensington, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS, AND OF VEHICLES
TO BE EMPLOYED THEREON," to be as follows:-
•
My improvements are designed to render tramways or street railways
more generally useful than they have hitherto been, and to diminish the
cost of conveyance thereon, and make the carriages or vehicles more

page_text: comfortable and convenient for the passengers and less objectionable to
persons residing near them than has heretofore been practicable.
My said improvements in tramways are more especially designed to
facilitate the laying of the same in macadamised or gravel roads, but
they may be adopted for tramways laid in any kind of road.
In constructing my improved tramway I proceed as follows:-On
each side of the centre line of tho tramway to a distance of five feet
therefrom the ground is excavated to a depth of about cleven or twelve
inches. In the space thus excavated the ground is levelled and raked
quite smooth, and the space is filled to the depth of about three inches
with coarse gravel, which should be carefully screened. After this
coarse gravel has been properly levelled it is covered with a layer of fine
screened gravel or sand to the depth of about two inches which must bo
rolled with a suitable roller. When this foundation is completed it is
covered with boards or planks laid close together and transversely or across
the road, and upon these another layer of boards or planks is laid
longitudinally, and so that their ends "break joint" the ends of the
adjacent boards or planks should not come nearer than twelve inches to
cach other. Upon these planks I place the longitudinal wood sleepers
which are to carry the metal rails. These sleepers are placed at the
proper distance apart to give the required gauge of the rails, and they
are secured in their proper positions upon the planks by nails or
otherwises. The space between the sleepers is then filled with blocks
of wood placed in rows, care being taken to break the joints by having
in every alternate row a half block at each end or next to the sleepers.
Then the space outside each of the sleepers to the width of eighteen
inches is also filled with similar wood blocks and in rows corresponding
or in line with the same. The spaces between the rows of blocks and
between the sleepers are to be filled with concrete or other suitable
packing.
Outside each outer row of blocks or outer paved portion of the
permanent way I place plates of iron or other suitable metal about a
quarter of an inch thick and five or six inches deep, which form a
border for the said paved portion. These plates are formed with a
narrow flange or rim projecting outward or towards the road, and the
gravel or other substance of the road is rammed tightly under these
flanges. Through the said plates and the sleepers and between the rows
of blocks I pass strong iron tie rods which have screw plates or nuts at
5

page_text: each end about four or five inches long and half an inch thick; these plates
when in place form a vertical rib outside of the border plates. I prefer to
make the tie rods in three parts, connected by suitable nuts. These rods
will bind the central portion and two outer portions solidly together, but
will permit the ready removal of any part of the structure for laying gas
or water pipes or for other purposes. Between these long tie rods which
extend from side to side of the structure, as above described, I use short
rods passing through each sleeper, and extending therefrom to the outer
plate; these short rods being provided with screw plates or long nuts
like those of the long rods. In connection with the improved carriages
herein-after described, I construct my tramway to turn sharp or short
curves, so that the carriages may run from one street to another as
readily as an omnibus or other vehicle. For this purpose I use curved
rails and sleepers, and make the wood blocks so that the rows of blocks
converge toward the centre of the curve, and the tie rods may be
arranged between them, as above-described.
To render the tramway carriages capable of running freely and safely
upon the sharp curves of the tramway, and of being used more
economically than heretofore, I construct them as follows:-Instead of
making long carriages like those at present used, I make cach carriago
of two or more separate short portions or sections, which may be used
separately or coupled together in any suitable manner. At those times
of the day when there are few passengers one of these carriages may be
used separately, and will only require one horse, but when the passengers
are numerous the said carriages are coupled and used together as one
carriage. One short carriage or portion of a carriage may be fitted up
for first class and another for second class passengers, the doors being
so arranged that in entering the carriage the first class passengers turn
in one direction and the second class passengers in the other directions,
so that neither will obstruct the other, and each passenger will never
have to pass a great number of other persons in the carriages.
For
connecting the carriages I prefer to use a contrivance which serves both
as a coupling chain and buffer. The axles of cach of these carriages or
portions of carriages are made to turn on a centre pin or as in ordinary
omnibuscs or similar vehicles.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Sir John Macneill in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 18th July 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Sir JOHN
MACNEILL, of the Grove, Boltons, South Kensington, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Sir John Macneill, Her special
licence that I, the said Sir John Macneill, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Sir John Macneill,
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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAYS, AND OF VEHICLES TO BE EMPLOYED
THEREON," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Sir John
Macneill, 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 Sir John Macncill, 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:-
-
My improvements are designed to render tramways or street railways
more generally useful than they have hitherto been, and to diminish the
cost of conveyance thereon, and make the carriages or vehicles more
comfortable and convenient for the passengers, and less objectionable to

page_text: My said improvements in tramways are more especially designed to
facilitate the laying of the same in macadamized or gravel roads, but
they may be adopted for tramways laid in any kind of road.
In constructing my improved tramway I proceed as follows:-On each
side of the centre line of the tramway to a distance of five feet therefrom
the ground is excavated to a depth of about eleven or twelve inches. In
the space thus excavated the ground is levelled and raked quite smooth,
and the space is filled to the depth of about three inches with coarse
gravel which should be carefully screened. After this coarse gravel has
been properly levelled it is covered with a layer of fine screened gravel
or sand to the depth of about two inches, which must be rolled with a
suitable roller. When this foundation is completed it is covered with
boards or planks laid close together, and transversely or across the road,
and upon these another layer of boards or planks is laid longitudinally,
and so that their ends "break joint, "the ends of the adjacent boards or
planks should not be nearer than twelve inches to each other. Upon
these planks I place the longitudinal wood sleepers which are to carry
the metal rails. These sleepers are placed at the proper distance apart
to give the required gauge of the rails, and they are secured in their
proper position upon the planks by spikes placed at each side of the
sleepers, and sufficiently long to pass through the double planking."
They extend three or four inches up the sides of the sleepers, and are
secured to them by nails passing through holes which have been drilled
or punched in the said spikes for that purpose. The space between the
sleepers is then filled with blocks of wood placed in rows, care being
taken to break the joints by having in every alternate row a half block
at each end or next to the sleepers. Then the space outside each of the
sleepers to the width of eighteen inches is also filled with wood blocks
of the same dimensions and in rows corresponding or in line with the
The spaces between the rows of blocks and between the sleepers
and the adjacent blocks are to be filled with concrete or other suitable
packing. Between the rows of blocks which are laid between the
sleepers, and where there are sharp curves on the line, I place tie rods
which passing through the sleepers are secured by nuts to prevent the
separation of the sleepers by the pressure of the flanges of the wheels,
thus preserving the exact gauge.
same.

page_text: of wood cut from the ends of timber of sufficient dimensions to allow
grooves to be cut in them to the depth of two or three inches according
to the depth of the blocks used in the construction of the tramway, so as
to combine three or four ordinary blocks in one solid mass, and so that
when laid in place the surface of this solid block will appear as three or
four separate blocks; these combined blocks can be secured to the
foundation platform by long spikes passing through that solid portion
of the block which remains under the groove above described; the said
spikes or pins should be cylindrical and of sufficient length to pass
through the block from the bottom of the groove right through the
platform. Holes should be bored through the solid portions of the said
blocks from the bottom of the groove to the bottom of the planking of a
diameter of about one-eighth of an inch less than that of the spike or bolt;
one row of these blocks on each side of the tramway will be sufficient;
the space between them and the sleepers may be filled up by the
ordinary blocks used in the tramway. The aforesaid solid blocks secured
to the foundation platform, as above-described will keep the whole
structure solidly together, so that the macadamized road of broken stone
or pavement can be laid up to them as to a curbstone in a strect; if
necessary, a slip of anglo iron about onc-eighth of an inch thick and one
and one-half inch in width may be nailed along the upper angle of
these solid blocks to prevent breaking down the edges of the blocks
where they join the macadamized road by the wheels of ordinary
carriages or vehicles.
In connection with the improved carriages, hercin-after described, I
construct my tramway to turn sharp or short curves, so that the
carriages may run from one street to another as readily as an omnibus
or other vehicle. For this purpose I use curved rails and sleepers; and
make the wood blocks so that the rows of blocks converge towards the
centre of the curve, and the tie rods may be arranged between them,
as above described.
To render the tramway carriages capable of running freely and safely
upon the sharp curves of the tramway, and to be used more economically
than heretofore, I construct them as follows:-Instead of making long
carriages like those at present used, I make cach carriage of two or more
separate short portions or sections, which may be used separately or
coupled together in any suitable manner. At those times of the day
when there are few passengers, one of these carriages may be used

page_text: separately, and will only require one horse, but when the passengers are
numerous the said short carriages are coupled and used together as one
carriage. One short carriage or portion of a carriage may be fitted up
for first class and another for second class passengers, the doors being
so arranged that in entering the carriage the first class passengers turn
in one direction and the second class passengers in the other direction,
so that neither will obstruct the other, and any persons entering will not
have to pass a great number of other persons in the carriages. For
connecting the carriages I prefer to use a contrivance which serves both
as a coupling chain and buffer. The axles of each of these carriages or
portions of carriages are made to turn on a centre pin, or as in ordinary
omnibuses or similar vehicles.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim, -
First. The improvements in the construction of tramways, as crein
set forth.
Second. The improvements in the construction of vehicles to be used
on the said tramways, as hiercin set forth.
In witness whercof, I, the said Sir John Macneill have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
THIS. I improvements in consonamways, as
set forth.
Second. The improvements in the construction of vehicles to be used
on the said tramways, as licrcin set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sir John Macneill have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Seventeenth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
HENRY J. NOONE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
JOHN MACNEILL. (L.S.)