| (1846
- 1914) |
| Inducted: |
1980 |
| Region: |
Northeast |
| Industry: |
Manufacturing
|
|
George Westinghouse was a towering figure in the great industrial expansion that followed the Civil War. His first revolutionized the railroads. At the time trains were not very safe because the only way to stop them was by hand. He developed an air-brake system that could be controlled from the engine cab. It was soon used by every railroad in the country. After successfully drilling for natural gas in his own backyard, he developed and patented equipment to control, transmit and stop the flow of high-pressure gas. Then, Westinghouse proved that alternating current could be used to transmit electricity long distances at high voltage and low cost. By the time of his death, Westinghouse had taken out nearly 400 patents and founded sixty companies worth a total of $200 million. |
