US1547019A - Laying or taking up of railway tracks - Google Patents

Description

July 21, 1925.

' 1,547,019 A. w. BRETLAND LAYING OR TAKING U? of RAILWAY TRACKS File Nov. 6. 1924 s Sheets-sheaf 1 flrflur W11 e refjvznz g venfar:

July.21, 192s. 1,547,019

A. W. BRETLAND LAYING 0R iAKING UP OF RAILWAY TRACKS Filed 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 zvven'for:

flrflur' Wily; graze/arid July 21, 1925.

A. w. BRETLAND LAYING OR TAKING UP OF RAILWAY TRACKS Filed Nov- 6, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jul 21, 1925.

. r 1,547,019. A. w. BRETLAND LAYING-OR TAKING UP OF RAILWAYTRACKS Filed 'Nov. 6, 1924 e Sheets-Sheet 4 Ha. /0. 4c 1r July 21, 1925. 1,547,019 A w. BRETLAND LAYING OR TAKING UP OF RAILWAY TRACKS Filed Nov. 6, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 LQ/Enflfh July 21, 1925. A.'W. BRETLAND LAYING OR TAKING UP OF RAILWAY TRACKS F le o 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 f2 24 .D 243 56.20. 24 24 ]i" 4 5 v: I 1 I IS 25 25 27 26 26 25 25 2 L vmfw,

Patented July 21, 1925.

UNITE seams.

rursur OFFICE.

ARTHUR WHITE BRETLAND, 0F DUBLIN, IRELAND. 1

LAYING one-"mine nr or RAILWAY TRACKS.

Application filed Novmber 6, 1924. Serial No. 743,270.

To all 10 how may concern Be it known that l ARTHUR lt iii'rn LAND, a sulnect of the King of. llngland;

residing at Dublin, Irish Free State, have invented certain new and usetul improvement in or Relating to the Laying or Taking Up otltailway Tra ks, or' which the following is a sp ciiication.

This invention relates to an improved plant for the handling oi assembled track units of railway tracks and it has for its object to enable the laying of new railway tracks or the taking up o1 aid railway tracks and the relaying of railway tracks to ap iiropriate hoisting and conveying gear,

whereby the individual track units are picked up iron! the stacks on the trucks and conveyed to a laying ear at the end of the train and placed at the requisite point of the road bed.

New according to this invention, and in orderto enable the performance of the several ope ations aforesaid to be eti'ected in a simple and highly QCOHOfillCELl manner, the rails of the continuous runwayon the trucks tlll'G'dTlOlilliQCl laterally preterably above the longitudinalsides of the "trucks to leave the space between them on the trucks unobstructed for the fstacl-zing o'tthe track units directly onthe decks orfioors of the trucks and to provide a clear runway alongside of the train. Adapted to run on this con tinuous runway is a travelling trolley crane or gantry so constructed as to bridge or spanthe train transversely and to run freely over and clearer. the stacked track units on the consecutive trucks from one end o t the train to the other ineither direction Supported at the laying end oi the train over a normally empty truck is a suspended cantilever 'irovided'with a laying crab and arun 'way therefor along its entire length and having its rear arin so constructed and overhanging the runway oithe travelling gen try as to enable that overhanging part oi the cantilever and the gantry structure to house one another or to overlap in their cooperative position,

Due to this arrangement, therefore, when the gentry has reached the laying end of the train its conveying gear is brought into close proximity to the laying crab of the cantilever crane; and the arrangement is such as to enable this co-operation to be et- 7 fected between the cantilever arm and thebottom of the truck on which the cantilever is supported or over which the feed of track units takes place, with the result that the laying crab and the grab on the gantryniay readily teed one anotherwith track units no matter in what direction.

The above and other characteristics of this invention will hereinafter be niore fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which o Fig. 1 shows diii-grammatically the composition of a train for laying, relaying or talgingup railway tracks according to the invention.

F igQ 2 shows a complete railway truck for transporting the railway track in made up sections or units and fitted with runways and a travelling gantry for transporting such units from any one of the trucks totlie front of the train for laying or vice versa. F 3 is a plan view of the travelling gantry showing more particularly the driving and hoisting gears mounted thereon.

Fig. 4: isran end view of the truck and gantry as shown in Fig. 2. r Fig. 5 illustrates the crane truck titted with a cantilever crane and shows the travelling gantry and the laying crab in their co-operative posit-ions, respectively, for either laying a new .tracl or picking up an old-one.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5, butshowing only the truck and cantilever crane."

Fig. 7 is asectional elevation on the line VII-VII o't' F 8 of the rear end of the crane truck, showing the layingcrab in the act of picking up a iiewtrack unit or of de positing an old one which haspreviously been'laid and is to be removed by the lltlV: elling gantry.

Fig. 8 is plan and Fig. 9 is an end elevation of Fig. 7. It should be notedthat the Figs. 1 to 9 represent inore or less diagran'iniatic views from which irrelevant details have been eliminated, while details of importance deleted therefrom for the sake of clearness are illustrated in the following separate drawings on an enlarged scale.

Fi 10 and 11 show in elevation and plan respectively the means for connecting the runways and electric conductors of the several vehicles.

Figs. 12 and 13 are sections along lines Xll Xll and XHIXTTT of Fig. 10 re spectively.

Fig. 14: is a sectional elevation of mechanism enabling a limited lateral displacement of the hoisting gear on the traveling gantry to be effected.

Figs. 15 and 16 are, respectively, a plan view of Fig. 14:, and a cross-section on line XVI XVI thereof.

Figs. 17 and 18 show respectively a partly sectional elevation on the line XVII-XVH of Fig. 18 and a plan of a part of a frame which is suspended from the travelling gantry and provided with devices for gripping the rail sections to be hoisted.

Figs. 19 and 20 are cross sections on the lines XIXXIX and XX-XX of Fig. 17 respectively.

Figs. 21 and 22 are cross sections and longitudinal sections respectively in vertical planes through the points of suspension of the grip frame'carried by the laying crab and Fig. 23 is a. part plan of the same illustrating means for limited lateral. displacement of the points of suspension with the object of tilting the said grip frame.

The arrangement of adepot whether stationary or movable for the stacking of new and used railway sleepers and rails and for the stacking of assembled new track units and assembled old track sections,'and the means forhandling that material and for its transfer to or from the rolling stock employed, will be fully understood by those skilled in the art, and no specific representation thereof would appear to be necessary in the accompanying drawings, and it will be obvious also without going into much detail that the actualtrack laying plant illustrated herein and hereinafter exhaustively described in connection more particularly with the handling and laying ofa new track from a depot would, in a substantially like manner, be inversely employed f-orthe taking upof an old trackway and the transfer of its constituents to a depot, or-for the relaying of an already existing track.

The various contrivances which together form the mechanical installation or portable plant for laying new, disassembling old or relaying existing railway tracks are preferably accommodated en a number of rail vehicles connected to form a train, as illustrated, for example, diagrammatically in Fig. 1; As shown the train referred to is composed of a driving vehicle or locomotive L placed at the rear end thereof; a wagon P representing in the instance shown in the drawings a brake van and an electric power plant; a number of trucks A carrying stacks of completely assembled track units RS each comprising rail sections and sleepers properly assembled together and at the forward end a truck 13 supporting a cantilever or bridge C and motor driven crane crab .t will be noticed in the drawing that a truck A is shown immediately behind the crane truck B which carries no load. This truck is normally empty and serves as a pass over truck above the deck of which the assemblec units RS brought forward by a travelling trolley crane or gantry D from any one of the rear trucks A, are individually posi tioned so that they may be placed by the gantry below the rear arm C of the cantilever crane C where they can be picked up by the laying crab thereof and carried forward thereby beyond the forward end of the crane truck l?) to be lowered on to the permanent way. Another empty wagon or truck may be placed in any convenient position between the last named truck and the power or brake van for the purpose of suitably dealing with sections of old track when relaying.

In Fig. 1 a track unit BS is shown in the act of being lowered from the forward crane arm C of the cantilever C to the permanent way, while the travelling gantry D has picked up a unit from the foremost loaded truck A and is in the act of conveying it onto the truck A, enabling it to be lowered. and advanced and be placed below the cantilever arm C on the truck B. The travelling gantry D then returns to fetch another track unit from the stacks on the trucks A while the laying crab of the cantilever structure returns to pick up the track unit which has been deposited on truck 13 and to carry it forward for layin on the-pern'ianent way.

The whole of the truck A A B employed in a train of this kind have secured to their decks or floors or are otherwise provided with permanent runways or rails 1 forming together a continuous track portable as a. whole as the train travels and enabling the crane, gantry or like contrivances to move backwards and forward along the same. These runways formed by parallel rails 1 are best shown in Figs. 2 and 10 to 13. They are supported by brackets 2 along each side of each truck A and in rear of the leg of the cantilever crane on truck B. The gauge of these runways is of a breadth allowing suflicient clearance to the sleepers of the truck units RS.

The gaps in these runwrys between consecutive trucks according to this invention are bridged over by ShOlL rail joints constructed and so connected to the fixed runways l on the trucks. as to yield to the movements= of the individual trucks and generallyto I adapt themselves to any irregularities of the permanent railway track of r the train. Inasmuch as the. distance behicles, it is necessary also that these rail joints should be capableot expansion and contraction as the casemay be. With these objects in view the'bridge rails of which these joints are formed are cach composed of two members'B and 4;, the member 2 be ing permanently secured tothe end of the I adjacent rail of the runway 1 of one vehicle i no direction.

and releasably to the other member t which latter forms a permanent partor, but is arranged, to slide alongthe corresponding runway ;1 of the other vehicle. Each bridge railmember 3 is pivotally so connected, both to the stationaryfrailott therunway 1 and to theqcorrespondingislidable bridge rail member 4 as to, be capable of swinging in a vertical plane and of. performing also limited oscillating movements in a lateral The, permanent connection of the member 3 to the runwayrail 1, is effected within a fork of the latter by means of a cardan joint 5, the movements of which are, however, restricted, not only in .conse quence of the stationary nature of the runway part of such joint, but, further, by the arrangement oi laterally flared faces on the forked ends of the said runway l and of stop in the form of. a flange 1? on the underside thereof whereby the lateral oscillations and the downward swinging movements of the bridgerail member 3. are appropriately limited. The flange 1 is cut away inpart toallow the member 3 to be swung back over the top when not inuse.

The b idge rail member t is arranged to slide along the inside oi"? the opposite run way rail, (Fig.1?) being supported on the bottom flange 1? ins guide way formed by the runway 1 and" an inner lateral flange la secured thereto. At its outer end the member 4i isprovidcd vwith a shoe a". (Figs. 10 and 13) slidably supported on a plate 6 forming thetop of a bracket which is rigid: 1y secured on the vehicle or some stationary part thereof, as for instancdthe bracket 2 supporting therunway 1. Thisend of the member 4- is moreover orlset to form a tongue l (Fig. 11) and the adjacent end of the l'n'idge rail member 3is. forked and adapted to receive said tongue and thereby to align the member 3 with the member a. One prong 3 of the forked end or the 111G111. her 8 isproduced by reduetionofits thickness and the other prong 3" is formed bya part laterally offset thereto. The. prongs Stand 3? as clearlywseen from Figs. 10 and 13, are hook-shaped and recessed to engage a hor1zontalp1n 4 rlgidly secured in the tongue 4. The parts 4, 3* and 3 are, as

, shown in Fig. 11, outwardly tapered ofit to admitto a limited extentof relative lateral oscillations of the two members 3 and 4. In order to prevent the book 8, 3' from disengaging itself accidentally, a flange i proecting laterally over the prong 3? is formed on the tongue 4 and the prong 3 is reduced to a height enabling it to pass clear between the said flange l. and the pin. 4 when-com necting or disconnecting the members 3: and 4t.

. The necessity of providing for a "sliding V movement between the bridge rail members 3, land the runwaysl and the consequent lateral juxtaposition thereof entail v for a corresponding distance a double width of tread. E gantry running on these runw H s and provided with the ordinary type of wheels having I a sufliciently broad tread would be liable to runwoff the track or to twist. In order to. overcome this danger the wheels 7 (Figs. 4 and 13) are formed with double treads, one 7 of normal diameterto run on the broader gauge track formed by the runways 1 and a tread 7 of a larger diameterto run on the inner narrower gauge track, which is formed by the bridging rails and 4 on a correspondinglylower level than the runways 1. The tread 7 thus forms a rim or flange for the tread 7 and prevents running off ortwisting of the gantry. Theends of the tread of the high level track are tapered to ensure smooth running. f A r j At each end of the truck one runway is thus fitted with a member Sand the other with a memberalnitin inverse order at opposite endsof the truck so that when two vehicles so fitted are brought together, the bridge rails will always be complementary. Alongside the runways 1 butpreferably below the. same and secured tothe brackets 2 ers;- arranged insulated conductor rails 8 by which electric current is supplied from thepower plant P (Fig.1) to the travelling gantry D and to the laying crab E. Atone end these conductors 8 are connected means of a flexible cable 9;to ajunction box 10 secured on the vehicle (Fig.10). On

the opposite truck the conductor rail has.

connected to its. flexible cable 9 which is securedto the vehicle by means of aclamp 11 and is coupled to the cable 90f the ad. joining vehicle at the junction box 10. This cable 9 is of sufiici'ent length to freely span the normal maximum distance between the vehicles. Each conductorrail is thus connected atone end to a junction box and at the other end to a flexible cable,an inverse order beingladopted at opposite sides of the vehicleso that these fittings oftwo vehicles complement one another irrespective of which endsthereof may meet.

The travelling gantry D (Fig. 4) has an arch shaped structure of a spanallowing free clearance to the length of the sleepers of the track units RS and enabling it freely to travel on the runways 1 and the bridge rails 3 and 4.

It is driven from a motor 12 through suitable gearing (Figs. 2 and of any known type and chain drives engaging sprocket wheels attached to the wheels '7. Hoisting is performed by a winding drum l3 driven by means of suitable intermediate gearing (clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3) from a motor 14. The motors 12 and 14 are controlled by switches 12 and ll operated respectively by chains 12 and 1 1 (provided at both sides of the gantry) and are fed with electric current by the co-operation of appropriate collectors with the conductor rails 8. In order to ensure continuous supply of electricity'to the motors, two collectors are provided ateach side of the gantry, placed at such distance apart that in passing from one vehicle to the other oneconductor at each side is always in contact with a conductor rail.

An operators platform D adapted to be folded into the gantry is provided at each side thereof.

uspended from the hoisting ropes 13 which pass over rope pulleys 15 (Figs. 2 and 4) isa grip frame D having a length approximately equal to two-thirds of the length of a track unit BS. The lowering of this grip frame'is effected in well known manner by gravity under brake control (not shown).

A device enabling the grip frame to be laterally displaced or adjusted is shown in Figs. lt to 16. Two each of the'rope pulleys 15 at each end of the gantry are journalled in a freely rotatable manner on hubs formed on a carriage 16 which is'adapted to run on rails formed. by transverse -beams d arranged on the top of the gantry frame D. The carriage itself forms a nut for a screw spindle 17 bearing in the longitudinal members-of the saidgantry frame and carrying rigidly mounted on it, atone end a. worm wheel 18 operated by a' worm 19 mounted on a longitudinal shaft 20. Theshaft 20 is operated in either direction .by chains 21 actuating chain pulleys 21 mounted at either rside of the gantry frame within easy reach of the operator, on transversely. arranged shafts 22 which are operatively connected'to the said shaft 20 by means of bevel gears 22 and a chain drive 23.

'The grip frame D showing the means for gripping the track units is shown in Figs. 17 to '20. Preferably andas shown such a frame is provided at each side with, for instance, four pairs of gripping dogs or claws 24,

projectingtransversely:through the sides of the frame D and adapted to engage .below the head of the rails of.the track units to be seized. The dogs orclaws of :the two sides are arranged transversely in alignment and are all operated simultaneously. The gripping claws 24-,'25 of opposite pairs are connected by links 2 1 25 to eccentric pins mounted diametrically. opposite each other onvone of two meshing spur wheels 20, 26. The spur wheels 26 of the several sets on one side are mounted on a common shaft 27 operated by either of two hand wheels 28 secured as shown in Figs. 18, 19 at opposite sides of the frame Don a common actuating shaft 29. The rotary motion imparted to the shaft 29 by one of the hand wheels 28 is transmitted by spur gearing 30 and a worm 31 to a worm wheel 32 mounted on the shaft 2?. The spur wheels 26 :being thus operated will each cause its companion spur wheel 26 to rotate in the opposite direction so that the claws 24'W1HhbB drawn in and the claws 25 pushed out (see Fig. 20) thus jointly closing on the head of the rail R of the track unit. Rotation of a hand wheel 28 in the opposite direction will cause the claws 2i and 25 to open and thereby to release the rails R. v

The arrangement and construction of the cantilever or bridge C including its motor driven crane crab E are illustrated more particularly in Figs. 1 and 5 tot). It is as stated mounted on thecrane truck B and provided with a long arm C projecting forward over the truck and the roadbed so as to allow an assembled track unit to be run out clear thereof and lowered. The inner shorter cantilever arm C is weighted in the usual manner to assist balance.

As shown in Fig. 9 the pillar structure C is arch-shaped to provide room for the crane or laying crab E and the passage of the track section RS and is rigidly supported on the sides of the truck. As shown in Figs. (3 and 8, the arms C and C of the cantilever are tapered or contracted to outward and inward, respectively; the object of the taper on the rear arm C being to enable the gantry structure D to travel over or, rather, to house a substantial portion of the arm C at the laying end of the train, and the grip frame or grab D to approach the grip frame E as closely as possible for their cooperation.

The laying crab E (Figs. 7, 8, 9) runs on rails 33 arranged on the inside of the cantilever and is provided with a driving motor 34: connected by a reducing gear directly to the front axle of the crab. A hoisting motor 1 35 drives the winding drum 36 working the ropes 35 over pulley blocks. suspended from which is the grip frame E. Only two floating sheaves 37 carry the frame E so that lateral displacement of the said sheaves out of thecentre line of gravity of the frame E aiidthe loadcarried thereby enables'such load to be tilted laterally at will.

For this purpose and as shown in Figs. 21,22 and 23 the frame E is suspended or supported at each point of suspension on the wheels of a transversely arranged carriage ,38 which is attached to the sheaves 87.

At one end the carriage is. formed into or has secured to ita guide rod 38? while at the other end a screw threaded spindle 38 is fitted to saidcarriage. A worm wheel 89 mounted as a nut on the spindle 38* when rotated by means of the worm l causes the carriage to be moved axially, that is trans- .ve'rselyto the frame, and thereby to dis- "place the point of suspension laterally. The worms etOof the two suspension devices are imounted on a common shaft 41 which is operated by "means of the hand wheel 42.

' Theframe E is fitted with gripping claws 24, in an analogous manner as described hereinbefore in connection with the grip frame D of thetravelling gantry.

In operation, if it is desired to lay a new track, sections RS of the, assembled track are 3 stacked on the successive railway trucks A as shown and picked up in successive order propelled on to the cantileverti'uck B and. over the arm C of the cantilever, this being by the grab D attached to the gantry D which travels on the runways 1, 3, 4 on top of said trucks. The gantry crane D is then possible due to the outer structure of the gantry D being wider than that of the taper ing; arm G which latter is thus enabled to telescope, so to say, into the gantry to the desired extentas shown in Figs. 5 to 8, after having lowered the assembled track with its sleepers over the truck .A, and is caused to deposit it on top of the cantilever trucln The crane crab E on the, cantilever C is then caused to pick up this section of assembled track which is then run out on the cantilever arm C and the section of track is lowered out and laid on the ground. In the meantime the first trolley crane D referred to has travelled backon the railway trucks A and A to pick up its next load of assembled track and so the cycleof operations proceeds until all the sections of assembled trackare transferred from the trucks A to their laid posiwork proceeds.

tions, the train progressing forward on the newly laid sections of railway track as the 1 In taking up sections of old. laid railway track and laying new units in their place,

the old. assembled sections with their sleepers, are raised by means ofthe cantilever crane crab E and transferred on to the top of the cantilever truck Bfwhile the travelling gantryD on the railway trucks travels with its load as before and lays the new track unit on top of the removed section of track. These operations can also be reversed,tl1e

the stacked units.

old track being placed on top of the new length already in position on the cantilever truck,

it in joining position to the existing laid track. In the meantime the gantry crane D picks up the old section of track from the cantilever truck B and transfers it on to oneof the trucks A and so the operation proceeds until all'the new track units are re moved from their trucks and are replaced by the old sections of removed tracks, the .,train progressing along the previously ex1stingtrack as the new track units are laid. The old sections of track are then trans,

ferred to the depot. When not laying track it is found convenient and desirable to boost or support the longer overhanging portion of the cantilever C by means of a railway V truck provided if desired with a bolster or,

support which will run .on the railway proper. Said truck may be subsequently side-tracked and shunted on to the train and loaded up, with sections of removed track.

It will be readilyunderstood that atrain,

arranged according to this invention could deemed limited to the specific example or application illustrative of its. performance. I claim as my inventiontq v 1. Railway rolling stock for laying, taking up or relaying railway tracks from assembled track units or sections, comprising a train of trucks coupled together in line and having track sections attached to their respective floors or decks and connected with one another to form a single continuous rail track; a gantry adapted to travel freely along said track from one end of the train to the other; and a laying crab at the laying end ofthe train adapted to receive track units from or feed them to the gantry.

2. Railway rolling stock, according to claim 1, in which the crab'is carried by a cantilever extending into the path of the. gantry; and in which the reception and feeding of the track units by and from the crab take place substantially on a levelwith the decks of the trucks.

0 3. Railway rolling stock, according to claim 1, inwhich the track sections are. mounted on the consecutive trucks with spacesbetween them for the stacking of the track units; and in which the gantry is adapted to travel along the track and over 7 The cantilever crane crab E then picks upthis new section of track and lays i. Railway rolling stock for laying, taking up or re-laying railway tracks from assembled track units vor sections, comprising a train. of trucks coupled together in line and having track sections attached to their respective floors or decks and connected with one another to form a single continuous rail track, the track sections on successive trucks being mounted with spaces between them for the; stacking of the track units; a gantry adapted to travel freely along. said track and over the stacked units fromone end of the train tothe other; a cantilever at the laying end of the train extending into the path of the. gantry; and a laying crab carried. by the cantilever adapted to receive track units from or feed them to the gantry substantially on a level with the decks of. the trucks.

5. Railway rolling stock for laying, taking up or re-laying rail'way'tracks from assembled track units or sections, comprising a train of trucks coupled together in line and having. track sections attached to their respective floors or decks andconnected' with one another to forma single continuous rail track, the track sections on consecutive true-ks being mounted with spaces between them for the stacking of the track units; a gantry adapted to travel freely along said track and constructed to form a bridge or arch over and clear. of the stacked track units;' a cantileveruat the laying end of the train having an arm which overhangs said track and which is constructed to enable the. gantry and the said arm itself to house one another in their co-operative position; and a crab carried. by said cantilever to receive track units from or feed them to the gantry.

6 Railway rolling stock for laying, tak ing up or re laying railway tracks from assembledtrack' units, or sections, comprising a train of trucks coupled together in line and liavingitrack sections attached to their respective floors or decks and connected with one another to form a single continuous rail track,fthe track sections on consecutive truclis being mounted with spaces between them for the stacking of the track units; a gantry adapted to travel freely along said track and constructed to form a bridge or arch over and" clear ofthe stacked track units; a cantilever at the laying end of the train having a forward arm which overhangs the-road bed and a rear'arm which overhangs the'tra'ck; a crab carried by the cantilever to receive track units from or feed them-to thegantry;,and*a runway for the crab laid over the entire length ofthe cantilever coaxially with and at a-relatively slight distance'above the said track.

71' Railway rolling stock for'laying, taking up or re-laying railway tracks from assembled track units or sections, comprising a train of trucks coupled together in line and having track sections attached to their respective floors or dec (S; and bridge rails between the track sections of consecutive trucks each composed of two members connected by a readily-detachable substantiallyuniversal joint, one of said members being universally jointed to the rail of one truck and the other member being slidably attached to tire rail of the other truck.

8'. Railway rolling stock for laying, taking up or re-laying railway tracks from assembled track units or sections, comprising a train of trucks coupled together in line and having track sections attached to their respective floors or decks and connected with one another to form a single continuous rail track; a gantry adapted to travel freely along said track and provided with a hoisting gear and with a grip frame suspended therefrom; and mechanism for adjusting said frame laterally transversely of the trucks. I 9. Railway rolling stockfor laying, taking up or re-laying railway tracks from assembled track units or sections, comprisinga train of trucks coupled together in line and having track sections attached to their re spective floors or decks and connected with one another to form a single continuous rail track; a gantry adapted to travel freely along said track; a hoisting crab-at the lay ing end of the track for cooperation with th gantry; and a grip frame suspended from the crab and provided with means enabling lateral displacement of its points of suspension out of the center line of gravity, so that said frame and the load it carries may be tilted laterally.

10. Railway rolling stock for laying, taking up or re-laying railway tracks from as sembled track units or sections, comprising a train of trucks coupled together in line and having track sections attached to their respective floors or decks and connected with one another to form a single continuous rail track; a gantry adapted to travel freely along said track; and a grip framecarried by the gantry having laterally-operable jaws arranged in pairs at opposite sides. a

11. Railway rolling stock, according to claim 10, in which the several pairs of jaws provided on the grip frame are operable simultaneously to grip or to release the two rails of a track section by means of toothed gearing and crank mechanism.

12. Railway rolling stock for laying, taking up or re-layingi railway tracks from as sembled track units or sections, comprising a plurality of trucks coupled together in line and having track sections attached to their respective floors or decks and connected with one another to conjointly form a single continuous rail track; a power-driven gantry lUU and current-collecting means carried by the adapted to travel along said track; flexible gantry for engagement with the track rails. conductors associated with the several trucks In testimony whereof I aflix my signature for supplying current to the track sections in presence of two Witnesses.

thereon; a portable power house connected ARTHUR lVI-IITE BBETLAND. to travel With the track-carrying trucks and lVitnesses:

from which said conductors are supplied; BLANCHE MAY LQUERIDGE,

ESTHER STUART.

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