Engineers and Mechanics Encyclopedia 1839: Railways: Thomas Hill
In the invention patented by Thomas Hill, Junior, of Ashton-under-Lyne, dated the 10th of May, 1825, that gentleman proposes to construct a steam-carriage equally adapted to run upon edge-rails, tram-plates, and the common road. For this purpose he makes the guiding flanges removable at pleasure by the withdrawal of bolts, by which they are connected to the fellies of the wheels.
Another equally sagacious invention consists in making the running wheels of the carriage revolve loosely upon a fixed axletree, which, when applied to railways, he considers to be a new and useful invention. This is, however, a mistake, as they have been so used, but were abandoned on account of their unsteadiness, and other defective action.
A third contrivance is to lock the fore-axle to the perch, to prevent its turning round when upon a railway, by means of a square staple entering loops or eyes.
A fourth invention consists in making the rails of tubes instead of solid bars, to save metal, and obtain strength.
There are some other trifling appendages or alterations to steam-carriages and railroads, for the description of which we must refer the reader, who may want "further particulars," to the enrolled document.