Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission
Explore Pa History: George Westinghouse
Read about George Westinghouse's invention, the train air brake, that revolutionized the safety of trains and train travel. Find out how the air brake worked and why it was such an important invention for the railroads.
Other
Railroad Archive: Westinghouse Air Brake
Everything necessary to know about the Westinghouse Air Brake for railroad cars is included on this site. There are diagrams of the air pump, triple valve, and advice on how to use the brake correctly. This brake was a life-saver for...
Library of Congress
Loc: About George Westinghouse
This is a detailed biography about George Westinghouse with a link to an article about Westinghouse from the Wilmerding News, 1904. Read about his many inventions that improved railroad safety.
Great Idea Finder
The Great Idea Finder: Inventor Granville Woods Biography
A detailed biography of Granville T. Woods, who was known as "the Black Edison" because of his many inventions. He is best known for greatly improving the safety of railroads by his invention of the Multiplex Railway Telegraph.
Great Idea Finder
The Great Idea Finder: Inventor George Westinghouse Biography
A very readable biography of George Westinghouse, Jr., inverntor of the train air brake, among many other things. Find a list of his achievements and a discussion of the development of his inventions.
PBS
Who Made America?: Innovators: George Westinghouse, Jr.
One-page profile of influential innovator, George Westinghouse, Jr., whose vision and ideas helped to increase the safety of the railroad system in America. His experimentation with electricity also had a huge impact on the power...
PBS
Pbs: Who Made America?: George Westinghouse, Jr.
From the series, They Made America, on PBS, this biography of George Westinghouse tells about his development of the air brake for railroad cars, and his experimentation with alternating current that revolutionized the transmission of...
Other
Black Inventor Online Museum: Andrew Beard
A short biography of Andrew Beard, whose invention improved the safety of railroads in the 19th century.
Other
African American Inventors and Their Inventions: Granville T. Woods
Here is a thorough biography of inventor Granville T. Woods, who is credited with improving railway safety for bot the trains and trainmen. Find out what concepts in railroad safety are still being used today.
Other
Operation Lifesaver: Lesson Plans
Teachers will find detailed lesson plans covering varying aspects of railroad safety. Connections to curriculum subject standards, such as physics, are provided. Various data and activity sheets, as well as grading rubrics, can be easily...
Other
Westinghouse Electric Co.: George Westinghouse
A brief biography from the company that bears his name. George Westinghouse was a prolific inventor, and this biography recounts his many inventions, beginning with the air brake which greatly increased safety on the railroads.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Granville T. Woods: The Multiplex Telegraph
A description of Granville Woods' successful invention, the multiplex telegraph, which greatly improved railroad safety. From the Lemelson-MIT Project.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: George Westinghouse
This brief article on the life and contributions of George Westinghouse (1846-1914) includes a picture. Read about his air brake as well as his development of the alternating current system.
Library of Congress
Loc: Westinghouse Works, 1904: George Westinghouse
Read a brief biography of George Westinghouse, who invented the air brake, making trains much safer. Find out how he was responsible for some very important concepts in the delivery of electricity.
Library of Congress
Loc: The Westinghouse World
This has detailed information about the various historical Westinghouse plants and their working conditions. Also includes information about George Westinghouse and "Life in Wilmerding, home of the Westinghouse Air Brake Company."
National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame: George Westinghouse
Find information about George Westinghouse's contributions to both railroad safety and the adoption of alternating current for motors and the transmission of electricity.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Granville T. Woods
Inventor Granville T. Woods is featured in this brief biography for his multiplex telegraph which was a useful invention for the railroad industry.