The state government of Pennsylvania saw the
need to establish railroads as ameans to transport
rawmaterials throughout itsmain industrial areas of
Philadelphia
,
Pittsburgh
, and Erie. As a result, in
1834, the Columbia and Philadelphia railroad was
built as part of a state-owned business. This was the
first railroad ever built by a government. It was not the
first time Pennsylvania’s state government became
involved in the transportation industry. Recall that the
state nearly went bankrupt building canals.
Although some 300 railroad companies were
formed in our state, the
Pennsylvania
and
Reading
Railroads
became two of themost powerful ones. The
Pennsylvania Railroad alone became the largest
railroad company in the world.
New equipment and inventions improved the
service of the railroads. Stronger steel rails replaced
the old iron tracks. Locomotives were improved. Many
of themwere built at the Baldwin LocomotiveWorks in
Philadelphia described in Lesson 15.
GeorgeWestinghouse
was a
mechanical engineer
who worked to improve the operation of trains. After he
moved to Pittsburgh, he invented several devices for the
railroads. Up until 1869, trains were stopped with hand
brakes that were operated on each car. Westinghouse
invented
air brakes
, which allowed oneman to stop the
entire train inmuch
less time. He also
invented safety signals, making
it possible for the safer operation of trains. Later, he
formed theWestinghouse Electric Company, where he
developed the use of
alternating current
, a systemof
electric
transmission
we still use today.
Aluminum Industry
A newmetal product had its beginning in
Pennsylvania. In 1886, a 22-year old chemist by the
name of
Charles Hall
discovered a new and cheaper
method for making
aluminum
from themetal ore
bauxite
. As withmany new discoveries, he had trouble
getting investors to fund the production of this new
metal. Hall moved fromOhio to Pittsburgh and in
1888, along with two partners, produced the first bar
of aluminumat their factory. Aluminumwould soon
become another metal by which tomake pots, pans,
and kettles. Because of heavy demand, Hall and his
partners built a new factory at
NewKensington
. In
1907, their company was renamed the Aluminum
Company of America, or
Alcoa
. Alcoa is the world’s
largest producer of aluminum. Today, themain offices
of Alcoa are located in Pittsburgh.
GeorgeWestinghouse invented the railway air brake (right) in 1869 at age 22. A few
years earlier he witnessed two trains collide even after the two train conductors saw
each other. Before the air brake, brakemen had to run on the roofs of the trains and
applymanual brakes on each car.
Railroads Grow as New Industries Emerge
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