George Westinghouse

Lore & Background

George Westinghouse was born in 1846 in Central Bridge, New York, to Emeline and George Westinghouse Sr., a farmer and machine shop owner. He displayed early talent for machinery and business, working in his father's shop. During the Civil War, he enlisted in the New York National Guard and later the Union Navy, serving as an Acting Third Assistant Engineer. After the war, he briefly attended Union College but dropped out. At age 19, he received his first patent for a rotary steam engine, and by 21, he invented a car replacer and a reversible frog for railroads.

In 1869, Westinghouse demonstrated his compressed air railway brake system in Pittsburgh, which allowed engineers to stop trains simultaneously. He founded the Westinghouse Air Brake Company that year. He later developed track-switching and signaling systems, founding Union Switch & Signal in 1881. In the early 1880s, he invented systems for natural gas production and distribution, founding the Philadelphia Company. By 1886, he founded the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, competing with Thomas Edison's direct current system. His AC system illuminated the 1893 Columbian Exposition and powered the first large-scale AC plant at Niagara Falls in 1895.

Reader's Guide

George Westinghouse's significance lies in his transformative contributions to railroad safety and electrical power distribution. His invention of the air brake, which used compressed air to stop trains simultaneously, revolutionized rail travel by enabling longer, faster trains and reducing accidents. He also advanced railway signaling and switching systems, improving overall rail efficiency. In the energy sector, Westinghouse pioneered the safe production and distribution of natural gas, creating a new industry. His most enduring legacy is his championing of alternating current (AC) for electric power, which allowed long-distance transmission and ultimately became the global standard. His company's success at the 1893 Columbian Exposition and the Niagara Falls power plant demonstrated AC's viability. Despite competing with Thomas Edison, Westinghouse received the Edison Medal in 1911 for his AC work. His 360 patents and 61 companies reflect a prolific career that shaped modern infrastructure.

Did You Know?

• Westinghouse received 360 patents during his career and established 61 companies.
• He served in the Union Navy as an Acting Third Assistant Engineer during the Civil War.
• His first patent, at age 19, was for a rotary steam engine.
• He received the 1911 Edison Medal for developing the alternating current system.