IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGE- MENT AND METHOD OF WORKING STEAM FERRY BOATS AND LANDING STAGES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Banks Rennie (of the Firm of T. & G. Rennie,
Engineers & Ship Builders), of 60, Holland Street, Blackfriars Road, London, S.E.,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGE-
MENT AND METHOD OF WORKING STEAM FERRY BOATS AND LANDING STAGES."
Sealed the 7th October 1876, and dated the 13th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Banks Rennie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th April 1876.
GEORGE BANKS RENNIE (of the Firm of T. & G. Rennie, Engineers & Ship
Builders), of 60, Holland Street, Blackfriars Road, London, S.E. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD OF WORKING STEAM
FERRY BOATS AND LANDING STAGES."
This Invention relates to improvements in steam ferries for passengers, vehicular
traffic, heavy and other goods, comprising improved vessel and landing stages and
appliances for working the same; also in an improved method of navigating the
vessel and facilitating and regulating the traffic, and means of adapting the plan
to various foreshores, causeways, wharves, piers, and other places.
For this purpose, according to these improvements, one or more vessels are
employed, propelled by steam and paddle wheels, both ends being similar so as to
be propelled equally well one way as the other. These vessels are so constructed
and arranged as to be readily placed alongside a landing stage, and the gangways
so arranged that the weight of one end of them, together with the weight of any
cart, carriage, or horses, should be borne in the middle line of ship whilst the other
end is borne by the stage. The stage is arranged to run on wheels or rollers up
and down an inclined causeway to suit the varying heights of tides and levels of
water. The vessel is to be so navigated as not to be placed across the tide or
current, and the horses or cattle are to be taken from the opposite side of vessel
from that on which they entered. Both ends of vessel are to be similar and of a
section and displacement to ensure stability, and constructed either of wood or iron
or a combination of those materials.
The vessel and everything appertaining thereto is arranged so that the boat can
be worked ahead or astern at pleasure with equal advantage. For this purpose a
rudder is mounted at each end with steering chains, and an arrangement made so
that by means of a clutch or some other mechanical contrivance one rudder may be
locked and the other brought into use by the man at the wheel."
[Price 8d1

page_text: The vessel is to be propelled by suitable engines and paddle wheels placed in
paddle boxes in the usual way in the centre part of vessel, and arranged to work
equally well ahead or astern.
In order to guard against an undue pressure being brought upon the side of the
vessel by a loaded vehicle or any other heavy weight while passing from the
landing stage over the gangway (thereby causing the vessel to heel over) the deck
is to be inclined in way of the gangways, and to hinge one or more gangways to
girders in the centre line of the beams so as to throw the pressure of the beams
with the weight thereon on the centre part of the vessel.
In order to load and unload the vessel from the side the vehicles are to stand
athwartships and not fore-and-aft, the object being to load and unload the vessel
A
while lying alongside the landing stage as being preferable to loading end on.
winch or other power apparatus is arranged so that a chain or rope may be quickly
secured to the vehicle, which can then be drawn on to its proper position by steam
or hand power without the aid of or to assist the horses if necessary. The vehicles
are to remain in the positions in which they are drawn on to the vessel, generally
speaking standing across the middle line of the ship.
In order to convey the passengers in fine weather on an upper or bridge deck,
and in bad weather in the cabins below the cattle deck, access is to be had to the
cabins by stairs leading from the upper deck. Horse boxes or pens for sheep, pigs,
or other animals may be arranged at either end.
The gangways above mentioned are to be hinged as described to a girder in the
centre line of the vessel, and as the outer ends will require to be raised so as to
come clear over the landing stage when the boat comes alongside and then lowered
on to it before the vehicles are drawn over the gangways.
In working this improved ferry the vessel need not in any case get across the
tide. This vessel would leave the landing stage and proceed in a diagonal direction
towards the middle of the river, and when taken sufficiently far the engines will
be stopped and reversed, the stearing gear reversed, and the vessel then proceed in
the opposite direction and be brought alongside the landing stage on the opposite
side of the river to that from which it started, so that the boat may come alongside
end on or nearly so to the tide. At night or in dark weather the signal lamps are
to be so arranged that the red or green lights may be shewn at pleasure as the
direction of the vessel may require.
The landing stage is constructed of girder work, the top being decked over and
made sufficiently strong to carry the heavy traffic, with one or more inclined
gangways to be attached to the shore side to suit the necessary requirements, so
that the vehicles can be drawn down the causeway up the inclined gangways across
the landing stage and on to the vessel to work the stage up and down the shore
by means of rollers or wheels running upon lines or rails, the stage being drawn up
and down by chains and crab winches or capstans, worked either by hand, steam,
hydraulic, or other power, which could also be used if necessary for assisting the
heavy laden waggons up the causeway or incline as before mentioned, and where
the incline of the foreshore is steep the power must be sufficient to pull up the
stage with the carts or load thereon. A recess is forined to take the paddle box
of the boat when alongside, as it is undesirable to have the gangway extending
beyond the paddle boxes, which gangways being hinged to the centre line of vessel
could neither be drawn in nor raised sufficiently high to come within the line of
the paddle boxes. Should the ferry be not working, the stage can be drawn up
the incline out of the danger of collision, and there left until work is resumed.
Waiting rooms, pay box, and other requirements are erected upon the stage for the
convenience of passengers.
Suitable causeways with one or more line of rails are arranged and constructed,
the space between the rails being paved suitable for horses, the incline of the
causeways depending on the nature and incline of the shores.
The tolls to be taken could be regulated to a great extent by the weights carried,
a weighbridge being placed at each entrance to the ferry.

page_text: In order to transport heavy weights if necessary without sending the conveyances
across the river, suitable trölleys are to be provided, and cranes fixed for lifting
such weights off and on, as well as having cranes placed on board the vessel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said George Banks Rennie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th October
1876.
GEORGE BANKS RENNIE (of the Firm of T. and G. Rennie, Engineers and Ship
Builders), of 60, Holland Street, Blackfriars Road, London, S.E. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD OF WORKING STEAM FERRY
BOATS AND LANDING STAGES."
This Invention relates to improvements in steam ferries for passengers, vehicular
traffic, heavy and other goods, comprising improved vessel and landing stages and
appliances for working the same; also in an improved method of navigating the
vessel and facilitating and regulating the traffic, and means of adapting the plan to
various foreshores, causeways, wharves, piers, and other places.
And in order that my improvements may be clearly understood and readily
carried into practice, I will proceed to describe the same, reference being made to
the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, shows a plan, and Figure 2 an end elevation of a steam ferry
boat and landing stage, arranged and constructed in accordance with my improve-
Sheets 2 and 3 show similar views of ferry boats and landing stages,
the arrangements and details of which differ to some extent from those shown in
Sheet 1.
ments.
According to my improvements one or more vessels A are employed, propelled by
steam and paddle wheels, both ends being similar so as to be propelled equally well
one way as the other. These vessels are so constructed and arranged as to be
readily placed alongside a landing stage B, and the gangways are so arranged that
the weight of one of them, together with the weight of any cart, carriage, or horses,
should be borne in the middle line of a ship whilst the other end is borne by the
stage. The stage B is arranged to run on wheels or rollers up and down an inclined
causeway C to suit the varying heights of tides and levels of water. The vessel A
is so navigated as not to be placed across the tide or current, and the horses or cattle
are taken from the opposite side of the vessel from that on which they entered.
Both ends of the vessel A are similar and of a section and displacement to ensure
stability, and constructed either of wood or iron or a combination of those
materials.
The vessel A. and everything appertaining thereto is arranged so that the boat
can be worked ahead or astern at pleasure with equal advantage. For this purpose
a rudder is mounted at each end with steering chains, and an arrangement made so
that by means of a clutch or some other suitable mechanical contrivance one rudder
may be locked and the other brought into use by the man at the wheel.
The vessel is propelled by suitable engines and paddle wheels placed in paddle
boxes in the usual way in the centre part of the vessel, and arranged to work equally
vell either ahead or astern.
In order to guard against an undue pressure being brought upon the side of
he vessel by a loaded vehicle or any other heavy weight while passing from
he landing stage over the gangway (thereby causing the vessel to heel over) the
leck is inclined in way of the gangways, and to hinge one or more gangways to
irders in the centre line of the beams so as to throw the pressure of the beams with
he weight thereon on the centre part of the vessel.
.
In order to load and unload the vessel from the side it is preferable that the
ehicles stand athwart ship and not fore-and-aft, the object being to load and

page_text: unload the vessel while lying alongside the landing stage as being preferable to
loading end on. A winch or other suitable power apparatus is arranged so that a
chain or rope may be quickly secured to the vehicle, which can then be drawn on
to its proper position by steam or hand power without the aid of or to assist the
horses if necessary. The vehicles are to remain in the positions in which they are
drawn on to the vessel, generally speaking standing across the middle line of the
ship.
5
In order to convey the passengers in fine weather on an upper or bridge deck,
and in bad weather in the cabins below the cattle deck, access is to be had to the
1
cabins by stairs leading from the upper deck. Horse boxes or pens for sheep, pigs,
or other animals may be arranged at either end of the vessel.
The gangways above mentioned are to be hinged as described to a girder in the
centre line of the vessel, and the outer ends will require to be raised so as to come
clear over the landing stage when the boat comes alongside and then lowered on
to it before the vehicles are drawn over the gangways.
In working this improved ferry the vessel need not in any case get across the
tide. This improved arrangement of vessel would leave the landing stage, and
proceed in a diagonal direction towards the middle of the river as represented in
diagram, Figure 3, Sheet 1, of the Drawings, and when taken sufficiently far the
engines will be stopped and reversed, the steering gear reversed, and the vessel
then proceed in the opposite direction and be brought alongside the landing stage
on the opposite side of the river to that from which it started, so that the boat
At night or in dark weather
may come alongside end on or nearly so to the tide.
signal lamps are so arranged that the red or green lights may be shown at pleasure
as the direction of the vessel may require.
The landing stage is constructed of girder work, the top being decked over
and made sufficiently strong to carry the heavy traffic, with one or more inclined
gangways, as represented in the Drawings, to be attached to the shore side to
suit the necessary requirements so that the vehicles can be drawn down the cause-
way up the inclined gangways, across the landing stage, and on to the vessel to
work the stage up and down the shore by means of rollers or wheels running
upon lines of rails, the stage being drawn up and down by chains and crab winches
or capstans worked either by hand, steam, bydraulic, or other power, which can
also be used if necessary for assisting the heavy laden waggons up the causeway
or incline as before mentioned, and where the incline of the foreshore is steep the
power must be sufficient to pull up the stage with the carts or load thereon. A
recess is formed to take the paddle box of the boat when alongside, as it is
undesirable to have the gangway extending beyond the paddle boxes, which
gangways being hinged to the centre line of vessel could neither be drawn in
nor raised sufficiently high to come within the line of the paddle boxes. Should
the ferry not be working the stage can be drawn up the incline out of danger of
collision, and there left until work is resumed. Waiting rooms, pay box, and
other requirements are erected upon the stage for the convenience of passengers.
Suitable causeways with one or more lines of rails are arranged and constructed,
the space between the rails being paved suitable for horses, the incline of the
causeways depending on the nature and incline of the shores.
The tolls to be taken can be regulated to a great extent by the weights carried,
a weighbridge being placed at each entrance to the ferry.
In order to transport heavy weights if necessary without sending the conveyances
across the river, suitable trolleys are provided, and cranes fixed for lifting off and
on as well as having cranes placed on board the vessel.
Having thus described the nature of my improvements, and the manner of
performing or carrying the same into practice, what I claim is—
First. The improved general arrangement, construction, and combination of steam
ferry boats and landing stages, arranged to work substantially in the manner and
for the purposes herein-before described and represented in the Drawings annexed.
Second. The inclined landing stages mounted on wheels or rollers, and moved by

page_text: mechanical power up and down the inclines, substantially in the manner and for
the purposes herein-before described and represented in the Drawings annexed.
Third. The inclined gangway supported from the middle of the ship, the deck
being so formed as to allow the gangway to be raised or lowered, substantially as
and for the purposes herein-before described and represented in the Drawings.
Fourth. The improved arrangement and application of rollers for supporting the
landing stage and other heavy weights carried thereby, so as to afford great facility
for moving and working the same, substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Banks Rennie, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six
CFORCE R RENNI
то
CFORCE B RENNIE (I S.)