IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF THE 'POINTS' OF RAILWAY, TRAMWAY, AND OTHER SIMILAR LINES OF RAILS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Henry Wilkinson and Elon Crowther,
both of Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield, in the County of York, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT
OF THE 'POINTS' OF RAILWAY, TRAMWAY, AND OTHER SIMILAR LINES OF
RAILS."
Sealed the 23rd December 1873, and dated the 4th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Henry Wilkin-
son and Elon Crowther at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 4th November 1873.
We, CHARLES HENRY WILKINSON and ELON CROWTHER, both of
Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield, in the County of York, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF THE 'POINTS' OF RAILWAY, TRAMWAY, AND
OTHER SIMILAR LINES OF RAILS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the
'construction and arrangement of the "points" of railway, tramway,
and other similar lines of rails.

page_text: In carrying our Invention into practical effect we place underneath
the movable or point rails two lock boxes, which taper in width from
the coupling to the moving ends of the point rails, at which ends they
are widest. The boxes are placed so far beneath the level of the rails
that the flanges of the travelling wheels of the carriages, waggons, or
vehicles do not come in contact therewith. They are firmly secured to
sleepers by chairs of suitable shape, the sides of the boxes being dove-
tailed or bevilled to give a better hold, or they are otherwise made fast
and secured to the permanent way by fish plates or other well known
appliances usually employed.
In tapering dovetailed grooves in the lower parts of the boxes we
place easy fitting slides having movement lengthways, only upon the
upper surfaces of which at suitable distances apart are tapering or
wedge-shaped retaining projections with intervening spaces, and one or
more transverse bevelled or wedge-shaped locking nibs, which projec-
tions and nibs are cast with or otherwise made fast and secure to the
slides.
Up to either end of the lock boxes the main line and siding rails
remain as hitherto without change, the present improvements relating
mainly to the movable or point rails and to certain means for retaining
them in position immediately after having been traversed or moved from
the one line to the other so as to shunt a train from the main line on to
a a siding, or vice versa, or to allow of its passage continuously on the
main line and preventing them being interfered with by unauthorized
persons, and also for absolutely locking them and preventing them being
removed or reversed by the pointsman during the passage or transit of a
train or carriage or vehicle over them, so that the occurrence of an
accident to a train whilst passing these points is rendered in the highest
degree improbable.
We form the heads of the point rails, which consist of long T rails of
the same dimensions and strength as those of the main line and siding,
in conjunction with which they work, and they are thus not open to the
many objections to which the blade or tapering facing points or rails at
present in use are, and which have been the cause of many calamitous
accidents on railways.
The under parts of the point rails we cut away so as to leave projec-|
tions and notches similar or corresponding to those on the slides, one or

page_text: more of the projections of each rail being grooved or hollowed at its
under surface, and covering at certain times the locking nibs. The
hollows of the projections are made so much longer than the nibs
that when the latter have been thrust under the former they will
travel so far in the hollows as to allow of the slides being properly
thrust home.
When the slides are subsequently withdrawn the nibs are withdrawn
from the hollows to between two of the rail projections which rest firmly
on the slides and on the bottom of the lock boxes, but when the slides
are again thrust in the locking nibs make their way under the hollows,
and in doing so slightly raise the point rails, but as soon as under the
latter, drop to their beds, and the nibs continue to travel in the hollows
until the slides are thrust right home. This movement is simply reversed
in withdrawing the slides. It will thus be seen that when a train or
carriage is passing over the point rails (which are of sufficient length to
at all times have some of the wheels of a carriage on them) the bare
weight thereof causes the hollows to retain the nibs in them, and thus
lock the slides and consequently the rails in position, so that it would be
a simple impossibility for the pointsman to withdraw the slides or move
the point rails whilst there is a single wheel resting thereupon, the
weight of which would be more than sufficient to overcome any leverage
he could bring to bear upon the rails.
When the train has passed and he wishes to change the point rails
from say the main line to the siding, as the weight has been removed,
he can by his locking lever withdraw the slides, which bring the
projections thereof opposite the notches of the point rails, and he can
then by his point lever move the rails across the lock boxes, and by
again moving his lock lever he can then thrust back the slides and
retain the point rails in position, as this movement brings the projections
of the slides by the sides of those on the rails, which thus compresses
those of the latter against the sides of the lock boxes. We thus secure
the advantage of the pointsman only having control over the point rails
when unlocked by the train, and of his making them equally safe or
secure whether for the main line or siding, and of putting the points
beyond his or any other persons power to work during the passage of
even a single carriage over them.
As the pointsman has to unlock the point rails previously to moving
them, and to lock them subsequently thereto, he can immediately tell

page_text: whether the points are right home or not, for if not he cannot bring mis
lock lever to the right notch in the lever bridge in bis box, and if
necessary he can then inspect them before accident happens.
The point rails are of the whole length of the lock boxes, and form
communication from either main line to main line or from main line to
the siding, or vice versa. They are secured at the coupling ends by pins
or other suitable means, allowing of their free and easy motion at the
other or change ends. The under projecting parts of the rails are dove-
tailed or wedge-shaped, as also are the inner sides of the lock boxes at
these parts and the projections on the slides to prevent the point rails
jumping and to secure them firmly in position.
To the sides of the point rails are fastened projecting covers which
slide therewith over the open tops of the lock boxes, and at all times keep
the slides enclosed. These covers may be made fast by screws or bolts,
or may work on hinges to allow of the boxes being readily inspected for
such purposes as cleaning.
The slides with their retaining projections and locking nibs are used
for retaining the point rails in position when once moved, and for
locking them therein during the passage of a train over them, as above
described.
The longitudinal movements of the slides are effected by vertical
levers, which are made fast to a transverse rod which is actuated by
suitable means, or an arrangement of levers in connection with the
locking lever from the pointsman's box or other suitable place.
Now supposing the slides to be in their most backward positions and
the point rails in communication with the main line rails at other end,
and that the siding branches off to the right with this disposition, the
point rails are retained in position by the projections on the slides
bearing against the right sides of those on the point rails, and thus
tending to keep them against the left inner sides of their lock boxes
and in communication with the left or main line rails.
When it is required the point rails can then be shifted, as above
described, and when in communication with the siding the projections
of the slides bear against the left sides of those on the point rails, bearing
them against the right inner sides of their lock boxes.

page_text: Among the many advantages to be derived from the employment of
our Invention we would mention that we dispense with the present and
untrustworthy system of blade joints, and make the travelling way
cqually secure whether for the main line or siding, and dispense with
the necessity of drivers slacking speed in passing over the point rails.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Henry Wilkinson and Elon Crowther in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd May 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, CHARLES
HENRY WILKINSON and ELON CROWTHER, both of Slaithwaite, near
Huddersfield, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said Charles Henry Wilkinson and Elon Crowther,
Her special licence, that we, the said Charles Henry Wilkinson and Elon
Crowther, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
we, the said Charles Henry Wilkinson and Elon Crowther, our 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, excrcise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for “ImprovEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF THE POINTS OF RAILWAY, TRAMWAY, AND
OTHER SIMILAR LINES OF RAILS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said Charles Henry Wilkinson and Elon Crowther, our executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or one of our
or their, or one of their hands and scals, 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 imme.
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Charles Henry Wilkinson and Elon
Crowther, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement in writing and on
reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, that is to
say :-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction
and arrangement of the "points" of railway, tramway, and other
similar lines of rails.
The Invention is illustrated on the accompanying Drawings in Figures
1 to 5. Figure 1 represents a plan view shewing the main line open
and locked; Figure 2, a cross section of the same through 1, 2; Figure 3
a longitudinal section through 3-4, shewing the point rails unlocked;
Figure 4, a similar section showing the same locked; and Figure 5 a
plan view of a cover.
In carrying our Invention into practical effect we place underneath
the movable or point rails B two lock boxes A, which taper in width
from the coupling to the moving ends of the said rails, at which latter
ends they are widest. The boxes are placed so far beneath the level of
the rails that the flanges of the travelling wheels of the carriages,
waggons, or vehicles do not come in contact therewith, and they are
firmly secured to sleepers C by chairs D, their sides being dovetailed or
bevilled to give a better hold, or they may be otherwise made fast and
secured to the permanent way by fish plates or other well known
appliances usually employed when similarly required.
In tapering dovetailed grooves E (Figure 2) formed in the lower parts
of the boxes A we place easy fitting slides F, which are capable of :
moving lengthways only, and which have on their upper surfaces and at
suitable distances or spaces apart tapering or wedge-shaped retaining
projections G and one or more transverse bevilled or wedge-shaped
locking nibs H. These projections and nibs are cast with or otherwise
made fast and secure to the slides.
We form the rails B of a T section and of a length equal to the boxes
A, so that they form a communication from either main line to main
line or from main line to siding, or vice versa, and we secure them at
the coupling ends by pins or other suitable means, and connect them by
one or more stay rods O, allowing of their free and easy motion at the
other or change ends.

page_text: We form the heads of the Trails B of the same width as those of
the main line and siding, in conjunction with which they work, and
make them sufficiently deep to allow the flanges of the wheels travelling
over them to ride clear of the boxes A. (these point rails are thus not
open to the many objections to which the blade or tapering facing point
rails at present in use are, and which have been the cause of many
calamitous accidents on railways), and we cut away the under parts of
the said rails in such a manner as to leave projections J and intervening
spaces (similar or corresponding to those G), and we groove or hollow
out the under surface of two or more of these projections, see Figure 3.
These hollows at certain times cover the nibs H, and they are made so
much longer than the nibs that when the latter have been thrust under
them they will travel so far therein as to allow of the slides F being
properly thrust home.
When the slides are subsequently withdrawn the nibs are withdrawn
from the hollows to between two of the projections J, which rest firmly
on the slides and on the bottoms of the boxes A, but when the slides are
again thrust in the nibs make their way under the said hollows, and in
doing so slightly raise the rails B, but as soon as under the latter drop
to their beds, and the nibs continue to travel in the hollows until the
slides are thrust right home. This movement is simply reversed in
withdrawing the slides. It will thus be seen that when a train, carriage,
or vehicle is passing over the rails B (which it should be observed are of
sufficient length to have some of the wheels of a carriage passing over
them at all times on them) the bare weight thereof causes the hollows
to retain the nibs H in them, and thus lock the slides F and conse-
quently the rails B in position, so that it would be an impossibility for
the pointsman to withdraw the slides F or move the rails B whilst there
is a single wheel resting or travelling thereupon, the weight of which
would be more than sufficient to overcome any leverage he could bring
to bear upon the rails.
When the train has passed and he wishes to change the rails B from
say the main line to the siding, as the weight has been removed, he can
by his locking lever withdraw the slides F so as to bring its projections G
opposite the notches of the rails B, and he can then move the said rails
across the boxes A by a loose lever on the shaft M and connected to the
rails by a rod N, and by again moving his locking lever he can then
thrust back the slides F and retain the rails B in position, as this move-

page_text: ment brings the projections G by the sides of the projections J, and
causes the former to compress the latter against the sides of the boxes A.
The projections G and J are wedge-shaped or dovetailed, as also are the
inner sides of the boxes A at these parts to prevent the rails B jumping
and to secure them firmly in position. We thus secure the advantage
of the pointsman only having control over the rails B when unlocked
by the train, and of his making them equally safe and secure whether
for the main line or siding, and of putting the rails B beyond his or any
other person's power to work during the passage of even a single carriage
over them.
As the pointsman has to unlock the rails B previously to moving them
and to lock them subsequently thereto he can immediately tell whether
they are right home or not, for if they are not he cannot bring his
locking lever to the right notch in the lever bridge in his box, and if
necessary he can then inspect them before accident happens.
To the sides of the rails B are fastened projecting covers K (see Figure
5) which slide therewith over the open tops of the boxes A, and at all
times keep the slides F enclosed. These covers K may be made fast by
screws or bolts, or may work on hinges to allow of the boxes A being
readily inspected for such purposes as cleaning.
The longitudinal movements of the slides F are effected by vertical
levers L, which are made fast on a transverse rod M, which is actuated
by suitable means, or an arrangement of levers in connection with the
locking lever of the pointsman's box or other suitable place.
Now supposing the slides F to be in their most backward positions
and the rails B in communication with the main line rails at either end,
and that the siding branches off to the left, with this disposition the
rails B are retained in position by the projections G bearing against the
left sides of the projections J, and thus keeping them against the right
inner sides of the boxes A.
When it is required the rails B can then be shifted by the lever and
rod N, and when in communication with the siding the projections G
bear against the right sides of the projections J, and keep them against
the left inner sides of the boxes A. It will thus be seen that up to
either end of the boxes A the main line and siding rails remain as
hitherto (except that when the point rails are set for main line or siding

page_text: the dead side of the siding and main line rails is rounded at the end
(see Figure 1) to prevent striking in extreme oscillation of the train),
the present improvements relating mainly to the movable or point rails
B, and to means for retaining them in position immediately after having
been traversed or moved from the one line to the other so as to shunt a
train from the main line on to a siding, or vice versa, or to allow of its
passage continuously on the main line and for preventing them being
interfered with by unauthorized persons, and also for absolutely locking
them and preventing them being moved or reversed by the pointsman
during the passage or transit of a train, carriage, or vehicle over them,
so that the occurrence of an accident to a train whilst passing these
points is rendered in the highest degree improbable.
Among many other advantages we derive from the employment of
our Invention we would mention that we dispense with the present and
untrustworthy system of blade points and with the necessity of drivers
slackening speed in passing over the point rails, and we make the
travelling way equally safe and secure whether for the main line or
siding.
Having now particularly and fully described the nature and object of
our said Invention, together with the manner in which the same is to be
or may be performed or carried into practical effect, we would remark in
conclusion that we claim as our Invention, the improved and peculiar
construction and arrangement of the point or facing rails of railway,
tramway, and other similar lines of rails, and the improvements con-
nected therewith, substantially as above described and as illustrated on
the accompanying Sheet of Drawings or any equivalent variation thereof
or therein.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Henry Wilkinson and Elon
Crowther. have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty.
C. H. WILKINSON. (L.S.)
E. CROWTHER.
(L.S.)