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Mar 5, 1868: The Patent That Made Trains Safer, and Bigger
Season 1
Episode 26064
Published 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Description
Capacity was limited by fear.
On March 5, 1868, George Westinghouse patented the railway air brake, replacing scattered manual braking with a coordinated compressed air system that allowed trains to stop reliably as a single unit. By reducing worker fatalities and operational uncertainty, railroads gained the confidence to run longer, heavier trains, proving that risk reduction is often the true engine of industrial scale.
From bsnsHistory, the daily podcast about the moments when business quietly reshaped the world.
Written and hosted by Ron Trucks. Research and editing by Rodney Russ. Sound design by Angela Cahoy. Music by Cody Martin and Soundstripe.
For more daily business stories, visit www.bsnsDAILYpodcasts.com