US517110A - Railway-terminal transfer and switch yard - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

No.'517,,'110. 7 'P'mitd Mar. 27,1894.

JAMES D. MILLAR, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

RAILWAY-TERMINAL TRANSFER AND SWITCH YARD.

ESPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,110, dated March 27, 1894.

Application filed May 20, 1893. Serial No- 474,927- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES D. MILLAR, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway- Terminal Transfer and Switch Yards; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,- clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The main objects of my invention are to facilitate the handling and transfer of freight of a number of roads or divisions centering at any point; to relieve individual railway companies of the burden and annoyance of switching and making up their own-trains, and to prevent blockades which frequently occur at large railway centers.

It consists essentially of two or more-lines of endless tracks located one within another; one or more radiating tracks running into the space within the inner endless track and affording entrance to the yard for incoming trains; a number of side tracks located within the inner endless track and connected therewith and with the incoming radiating tracks by a suitable system of switches, and a number of tracks arranged between and connected with the endless tracks by switches and affording yard room for the storage of cars and trains of the various intersecting roads.

The accompanying drawing shows in diagram a system of tracks embodying my invention.

A, A and A represent three lines of endless tracks which may be conveniently constructed in concentric circles, and each composed of any number of parallel tracks according to the amount of traffic to be provided for. The number of lines and their distance from each other may also be varied according to the amount of business to be done.

B B are tracks connecting the outer endless line of track A with the yard space within the inner endless line of track A, and connected with the several endless tracks at their intersection therewith by suitable switches.

O 0 represent side tracks located within the inner line of endless track A, and connected therewith and with the lines B B'of approach, by switches. These tracks alford the necessary facilities for receiving trains from the various intersecting roads, breaking them up, transferring cars from one road to another, and making up trains for the various roads; all of which is intended to be done by a separate company, organized and equipped to operate the terminal.

The entire space within the inner endless line of track A, or only such portion thereof as may be necessary to handle the business of the terminal, may be utilized for the tracks 0 0, except such space as is required for ofiices and sheds and for the storageof coal and other supplies. The offices and sheds of the transfer company may be conveniently located at the center of the space at the intersection of the incoming tracks B B, as shown on the diagram at D, and spaces such as are shown at E E, may be left at any convenient point or points for the water supply and the storage of coal and other necessary supplies, which are preferably located adjacent to the main lines of entrance within the central yard space, and to which easy access is had by switches from the main lines, which are kept clear for the purpose of receiving and transferring cars or trains.

F F are a series of tracks intersecting and connected with the endless lines of track A, A and A between which they are constructed preferably in radiating lines as shown. Access is had to either end of any of these tracks by way of the endless tracks A, A and A for the purpose of shunting trains or cars thereon or withdrawing them therefrom.

In the operationof my improved system, I contemplate that the transfer company shall make up the trains for the several roads and set them on the tracks F F, to be taken therefrom by the locomotives of the individual companies for which they are made up, and that a certain amount of space, equipped with tracks FF, sufficient for the business of each intersecting road, shall be assigned thereto. It is also intended that in the operation of the system certain of the radiating tracks F F shall be kept clear to facilitate access to all parts of the yard. It is obvious that all or any portion of the space between the outer and inner endless lines of track may be utilized for side tracks F F, as the business may demand.

No special appliances are required for my improved system, the ordinary rails, switches, 650., such as are in common use, being sufficient for its construction and operation.

a. a represent different railway lines connecting with the outer line of endless track A. The areas in the corners of a circumscribed square around the outer circle of tracks may be utilized if desired,for repair shops, round houses, 1350.

According to the foregoing plan, tracks for a large volume of business can be advantageously arranged withinacomparativelysmall compass or area, it being possible to utilize the entire space within the outer line of tracks. The space between the outer andinner lines of circular or endless tracks may be separated by radiating lines of track, such as the main lines B Bot ingress and egress, or by arbitrary lines, into divisions, and the several divisions operated bydepartments of a single organization or by separate. organizations, and the yard space and side tracks of each division may be subdivided and the subdivisions allotted to different roads connecting therewith.

By the term endless track as employed herein, I intend to designate a belt line or. track upon whicha train starting at any point may make the entire circuit and return to that point without reversing its direction or switching back.

Various changes in the size of the yard and the number and arrangement of the tracks may be made, according to the exigencies of the location where the system is installed.

I claim- 1. A railway transfer and switch yard, comprising two or more lines of endless tracks arranged one within another, and a number of tracks arranged between them and connected therewith, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A railway transfer and switch yard, comprising two or more lines of endless tracks arranged one within another, and connected with each other by a number of intermediate tracks, and one or more lines of ingress and egress leading from the outer endless line of tracks to the area within the inner line of endless tracks, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A railway transfer and switch yard, comprising two or more lines of endless tracks arranged one within another and connected with each other by a number'of: intermediate tracks, one or more lines of ingress and egress extending from the outerline of endless track intothe space within the inner line of endless track and intersecting the intermediate line or lines of endless track, and a series of side tracks arranged in the space within the inner line of endless, track and: connected with the line or lines of ingress and: egress, substantiallyas and for thepurposesset forth.

4. A railway transfer and switch yard, comprising two or more circular lines of track arranged one within another and connected with eachother by a series of radiating tracks, and one or more radiating lines of ingress and egress extending from the outer circle to the center and connected withthe interme diate track or tracks which it intersects, by switches, substantially as and; for the purposes set forth.

5. A railway transfer and switch yard, comprising two or more circular lines of track arranged one concentrically within and at a suitable distance from another, and connected by a series of radiating tracks, a number of radiating tracks connected with the several circular lines of tracks and extending from the outer circle into the area within the inner circle, and a series of side tracks arranged within the central area and connected by switches with one or more main lines of ingress and egress, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. A railway transfer and switch yard, comprising one or more endless tracks, and a system of side tracks and switches connected therewith and arranged within the area surrounded thereby, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES D. MILLAR. Witnesses:

CHAS. L. Goss, T. F. HAYDEN.

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