railway system, a railway carriage and a railway siding

Abstract

A railway carriage to be transported on a railway system includes a living area ( 164 ), a bathroom ( 36 ), a sleeping area ( 26 ) and a kitchen area ( 62 ). Appliances ( 40, 42, 75 ) in the bathroom ( 36 ) and kitchen area ( 62 ) are connected to a common potable water supply system ( 170 ). The railway carriage includes a potable water connector ( 136 ) to releasably connect the potable water supply system ( 170 ) of the carriage to an external water supply. The appliances ( 40, 42, 73 ) in the bathroom ( 36 ) and kitchen area ( 62 ) are also connected to a common waste water system ( 172 ). The railway carriage includes a waste water connector ( 138 ) to releasably connect the waste water system ( 172 ) of the carriage to an external waste system, such as a drain. The potable water connector ( 136 ) and the waste water connector ( 138 ) are provided on a common mounting ( 132 ).

1 . A railway carriage to be transported on a railway system, the railway carriage including a living area, a bathroom, a sleeping area and a kitchen area, appliances in the bathroom and kitchen area being connected to a common potable water supply system, the railway carriage including a potable water connector to releasably connect the water supply system of the carriage to an external water supply, the appliances in the bathroom and kitchen area being connected to a common waste water system, and the railway carriage including a waste water connector to releasably connect the waste water system of the carriage to an external waste system, such as a drain, wherein the potable water connector and the waste water connector are provided on a common mounting. 
   
   
       2 . A railway carriage as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the carriage includes an electrical system and the carriage includes an electrical connector to connect the electrical system of the carriage to an external power supply. 
   
   
       3 . A railway carriage as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the electrical connector is provided on the common mounting. 
   
   
       4 . A railway carriage as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the common mounting is arranged to be moved into place to make the connection. 
   
   
       5 . A railway carriage as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the common mounting is arranged to be moved by pivoting to make the connection. 
   
   
       6 . A railway carriage as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the common mounting includes guide means to guide the connection thereof. 
   
   
       7 . A railway carriage as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein means is provided to allow for movement of the common mounting with respect to the body of the carriage to allow for misalignment. 
   
   
       8 . A railway carriage as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the carriage defines a space to receive a vehicle. 
   
   
       9 . A railway carriage as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the carriage comprises a flat car and at least one freight container thereon, the freight container or freight containers on the flat car defining the living area, bathroom, sleeping area and kitchen area. 
   
   
       10 . A railway carriage as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the kitchen of the carriage includes at least two means of cooking. 
   
   
       11 . A flat car including a plurality of first connectors on a common mounting for simultaneous connection to complementary connectors beside a railway track, the first connectors including a connector for potable water and a connector for waste, the flat car further including transmission means, such as pipes, linking the first connectors to second connectors for connection to external systems including a potable water supply system and a waste system of a freight container or freight containers to be carried on the deck of the flat car 
   
   
       12 . A railway system including a plurality of special carriages and a plurality of special sidings, the special sidings being in a plurality of different geographical locations, each special carriage including a living area, a bathroom, a sleeping area and a kitchen area, each special siding including living facilities including a source of potable water and a waste deposit resource, wherein the system further includes a common coupling device, the common coupling device comprising both a coupling to releasably couple the source of potable water at a special siding to an inlet of a special carriage for supply of potable water in the special carriage, and a coupling to releasably couple the waste deposit resource at a special siding to a waste outlet of a special carriage, so that the special carriages can be moved around the railway system and on arrival at any of the special sidings a special carriage can be releasably connected to a supply of potable water and to a waste deposit resource through the common coupling device. 
   
   
       13 . A railway system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the living facilities of each special siding include a power source. 
   
   
       14 . A railway system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein a coupling is provided to releasably connect the siding power source to an input of the special carriage. 
   
   
       15 . A railway system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the said common coupling device also includes the power coupling. 
   
   
       16 . A railway system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the coupling device is arranged to be operated on docking of the special carriage at a special siding. 
   
   
       17 . A railway system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a resource unit is provided on the special siding for connection to the special carriage by the common coupling. 
   
   
       18 . A railway system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the coupling comprises a male part and a female part, and wherein the female part is on the siding. 
   
   
       19 . A railway system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the system includes at least one special area including capacity for a plurality of special carriages to be parked on one or more special sidings in the area, the space for each special carriage in the special area including the said living facilities. 
   
   
       20 . A railway system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein each special area is in a desirable destination such as in a city or at a non-urban tourist destination, such as the seaside. 
   
   
       21 . A coupling device for use between a railway carriage and a unit at a siding, the coupling device including male and female connections for a plurality of resources including male and female connections for potable water and male and female connections for waste deposit, the coupling device being arranged to be moved into place to connect the plurality of resources simultaneously. 
   
   
       22 . A coupling device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the coupling device includes male and female connectors for a power resource. 
   
   
       23 . A coupling device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the coupling device is arranged to be moved by pivoting. 
   
   
       24 . A coupling device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the coupling device includes guide means to guide the parts together. 
   
   
       25 . A siding for use as a special siding in the railway system according to  claim 12 .