US755158A - Scenic pleasure-railway. - Google Patents

Description

No. 755,158. v YPATENTED MAR. 22, 1904.

A. c. MORGAN.

SCENIC PLEASURE RAILWAY. APPLICATION FILED APR. 18. 1903. no MODEL. 2 sums-sum: 1.

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'PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904.

A. GJMORGAN. scmm PLEASURE RAILWAY.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18; 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented March 22, 1904.

PATENT I OFFICE.

ARTHUR C. MORGAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SCENIC PLEASURE-RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '755,158, .dated March 22, 1904."

Application filed April 18, 1903.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR C. MORGAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scenic Pleasure- Railways, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

' This invention relates to improvements in pleasure railways of the type known as scenic railways, in which a portion of the track is inclosed and the inclosure or tunnel provided with scenic effects; and its object is to so construct and arrange the track that the uninclosed portion will be the most elevated portion, giving an unobstructed view, and the inclosed or tunnel portion will be beneath the supporting-framework for the upper run forming the framework for the tunnel and the tunnel serving to strengthen said framework.

It is also an object of this invention to provide certain new and useful features in the construction of the track for safety, to provide certain features to aid in producing scenic effects, and to provide the particular arrangement, construction, and combination of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying the invention; Fig. 2, a diagrammatic plan view of the same; Fig. 3, a section on the line 00 w of Fig. 2; Fig. 4:, a section on the line y y of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, an enlarged detail plan view of a portion of the lower course; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the steep gradient up which the cars are drawn by power, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the cars.

As shown in the drawings, a single continuous track is arranged in a spiral form with two undulating courses or an upper course A and a lower course B, one above the other and having side straight-away portions connected by end half-circle portions forming in plan view an oblong configuration, the lower end of the lower course being connected with the highest point of the upper course by a steep gradient 0, extending in the straight-away Serial No. 153,203. (No model.)

an unobstructed view in all directions may be had as the cars pass along the upper course A, and the supporting-framework for the upper course also serves to support the lower course.

The frames D, which are arranged transversely of the track, each consist of side posts D, inclined toward each other towardthe top and connected by a sleeper D at the bottom and by thecrossties D D*, upon which crossties the track-rails E are laid between the uprights D extending vertically upward from the sleeper, and uprights D, which are secured to the cross-tie D intermediate their ends and to the bar D at their lower ends. Vertical bars D are secured at their ends to the cross-ties D and bar D at a greater distance apart than the uprights D and D and form studding for the side walls of the tunnel F, the roof and floor of the tunnel being secured, respectively, to the bar D and crosstie D The uprights D and D extend upward beyond the track at each side thereof and are connected at their upper ends to the posts D by the bars D, and to their inner sides at their upper ends are secured continuous strips forming the side guide-rails E for the cars. The frames, tracks, and guide-rails thus form a way to receive the cars and within which they are guided against any possibility of becoming derailed, the supporting-wheels G of the car Gr engaging the track-rails E and the friction-wheels G engaging the guide-rails E. A walk E is laid upon the bars D at each side of the upper course A and also at each side of the gradient portion C of the track, so that the attendants may walk along the track and see that it is in proper condition, and the walk also helps to strengthen the structure and give it a more solid and safe appearance,

railings E being provided at the outer edges of the walks to prevent any one from falling off.

The tunnel F begins where the upper course A or the curved portion G of that course passes beneath the gradient C and continues around to the pavilion H, which is located at that end of the structure where the lower course reaches the ground-level. The entrance to the tunnel is closed by suitable doors F and is divided into different compartments or sections by similar doors located at intervals throughout its length, said doors serving to exclude the outside light and to produce scenic effects by excluding the light of one compartment from that of another, so that there may be alternating dark and light compartments or alternating compartments having different-colored lights. These doors are automatically opened and closed by the moving car by hanging the doors on spring-hinges which tend to hold the doors closed and mounting in bearings beneath the track at some distance from the doors a transverse rock-shaft F which is provided with upwardly-extending arms F at each end and an arm F, which extends upward between the rails of the track in a position to be engaged by the car to rock the shaft. Connecting-rods F are pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the upper ends of the arms F and the doors, respectively, so that when the shaft is rocked the rods will swing the doors open, in which position they are held by spring-actuated catchhooks F. When the car has passed the doors, they are released by providing a similar rockshaft F having arms, and also connectinging-rods F attached to the hooks to actuate the same and release the doors when the shaft is rocked by the passing car, the rock-shaft F at the same time also serving to operate the next doors if the construction is such as to make it desirable.

The cars are drawn up the incline C by a chain I, driven by a motor in any suitable manner, said chain being provided with lugs 1, adapted to be engaged by a hinged plate I or other suitable means carried by each car, and to prevent the retrograde movement of a car should the chain or other part break a series of stops is provided, each consisting of a dog J, pivotally secured to the frame at one end at each side of the track beneath the guide-rails E and formed with a shoulder J at the opposite end to engage the back end of the car upon retrograde movement of the car, said dog being held with its side projecting into the path of the car by a suitable spring J a stop J being provided to limit the inward movement of the dog and the side of the dog forming an incline to be engaged by the car to force the dog out of its path.

Within the pavilion H a suitable platform K is provided on a level with the top of the guide-rails, from which platform the passengers may step into the cars, and near said platform the track is provided with one or more brakes L for stopping the cars, which brakes consist of a brake-shoe L, consisting of a board secured at one end to the frames lying along the track below the guiderails opposite the side of the passing car, with its secured end extending in the direction from which the cars come, so that when its free end is pressed inward it will come in frictional contact with the side of the car. A vertical hand-lever L is pivoted to the frame at one side of the track and extends downward below the same. A lever L is pivoted intermediate its ends at the opposite side of the frame, to one end of which lever is connected a pushbar L, longitudinally movable in bearings on the frame to engage and move the free end of the brake-shoe, and a connecting-rod L connects the lower ends of the levers L and L to transmit motion from the hand-lever to the push-bar. Also located within the portion of the track within the pavilion is a movable track-section M, mounted upon suitable rollers in such amanner that it may be moved laterally out of the line of track to remove or place a car on the track, said section being of such a length that a car may be run onto it.

The track may be made with two undulating courses one above the other, as shown, or it may have a greater number of courses and be a gradual incline, and the tunnel portion may inclose the whole or only a portion of one or more of the lower courses.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a scenic railway, the combination with an upper and a lower course or track, a gradient connecting the lower end of the lower course with the upper end of the upper course, and a portion curved around said gradient intermediate the upper and lower courses, of a framework for supporting both courses, and a tunnel intermediate the upper and lower courses and through which one of the courses extends, said framework also forming the framework for said tunnel.

2. Inapleasurc-railway, the combination of a continuous spiral track forming upper and lower courses, one directly above the other, a tunnel intermediate the upper and lower courses, a gradient extended above and below said tunnel and connecting the lower end of the lower course with the upper end of the upper course, a curved portion extending around at one side of the gradientintermediate the upper and lower courses and connecting the lower end of the upper course with the upper end of a lower course; and a common framework for supporting the courses.

3. In apleasure-railway, the combination of a continuous spiral track forming upper and lower courses, one directly above the other, a gradient connecting the lower end of the lower course with the upper end of the upper course, a portion curved inward around said gradient intermediate the upper and lower courses, and a series of frames for supporting the courses consisting of inclined side posts, cross-ties connecting said posts and upon I which the dilferent courses of the track are supported, and uprights at each side of the track secured to the cross-ties.

4. In a scenic railway, the combination of a continuous spiral track forming an upper and a lower course connecting the lower end of the lower course with the upper end of the upper course and a portion curved around said gradient intermediate the upper and lower courses,

a series of frames for supporting the courses consisting of inclined side posts, cross-ties connecting said posts upon which the tracks are laid, vertical bars at each side of the lower course, and a tunnel inclosing the lower course and disposed below the upper course, the frames forming the framework for the tunnel.

5. In a scenic railway, the combination of a continuous spiral track forming an upper and a lower course, a steep gradient intermediate the upper and-lower courses, a portion curved inward around the gradient, a series of frames for supporting the courses each consisting of inclined side posts, cross-ties connecting said side posts upon which the track-rails are supported, uprights at each side of the track and extending upward beyond the same, bars secured to the upper ends of the uprights and to the posts, and vertical bars at each side of the lower course, guide-rails secured to the inner sides ofthe uprights, a tunnel inclosing the lower course, the cross-ties and vertical bars of each frame forming the frame for said tunnel,and a walk at each side of the upper course and walks upon each side of said gradient and curved connecting portion.

6. In a scenic railway, in combination, with a track comprising upper and lower courses in a continuous spiral form and a tunnel inclosing said track and interposed between the upper and lower courses, of doors for said tunnel, a rock-shaft having upwardly-extending arms and an arm extending'upward in the path of the car, connecting-rods connecting the ends of the arms and the doors, hooks to engage the doors .and hold the same open, springs to close the same, a rock-shaft at the opposite side of the doors and having upwardly-extending arms, connecting-rods connecting said arms and said hooks, and an arm on the lastnamed rock-shaft extending upward in the path of the car.

7 In a pleasure-railway, in combination with a track supported upon a suitable framework, guide-rails at each side of said track and at a distance above the same, a brake-shoe consisting of a flexible member secured at one end to the framework to engage the side of the car at its opposite end, a vertically-disposed pivoted lever, and means embodying a vertically disposed lever, a longitudinally movable push-bar connected therewith, and

means connecting said levers below the track and operated by said first-mentioned lever for forcing the free end of the shoe into the path of the car.

8. In a pleasure-railway, in combination with a track supported upon a suitable framework, uprights extending upward at each side of said track, guide-rails secured to said uprights, a flexible member secured at one end to said uprights below the guide-rail, a pushbar longitudinally movable in bearings on the frame and engaging the free end of said member, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the frame and its upper end to the p ush-bar, a lever pivoted to the frame at the opposite side of the track, and a connecting-rod connecting said levers and disposed beneath the track.

9. In a pleasure-railway, the combination with a spirally-arranged track having a steep gradient connecting the lower end of the lower course with the upper end of the upper course,

and a portion curved around said gradient intermediate the upper and lower courses,-and means for drawing cars up said gradient, of a framework for supporting said track, uprights on said framework at each side of the track, guide-rails secured to the inner sides of said uprights, a series of dogs pivotally secured to the frame along the gradient portion of the track and projecting into the path of the car at one side, a shoulder on each dog, stops to limit the inward movement of said dogs, and springs to hold the dogs in engagement with the stops. I

In testimony whereof I'aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR O. MORGAN.

Witnesses:

O'r'ro F. BARTHEL, LEWIS E. FLANDERS.

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