People We Should Know: Granville T. Woods
Granville T. Woods, Innovator, Light Rail System in the 1800’sA view to the past with a focus on the present and future
by David L. Head
David L. Head has worked over 25 years for the New York City Transit system. He recently retired and lives in Detroit, Michigan. For over 12 years he has researched the noble ca-reer of Granville T. Woods. His efforts have been written about in the New York Daily News, the New York Times, Astella Action News and Newsday. “I hope that my legacy inspires students to be obser-vant of the world around them and to understand that their perceptions when combined with education can turn into something profound”, said Head. His exhibit and presentation on Granville T. Woods showcases the technical aspects of his contributions to mass transit and addresses the strug-gles Woods` encountered as a Black man in the late 19th century. It is also a revealing look into the extraordinary work of Granville T. Woods and charg-es students to pursue their life’s goals. ————————————–
Achievements and Recognitions on behalf of Granville T. Woods▪ David L. Head was a 2010 recipient of the Transit News Telly Award Telly for Granville T. Woods Documentary▪ A Century of Progress – 2004 New York Subway Centennial Granville T. Woods Commemorative Exhibit▪ Four million Granville T. Woods Metro Cards▪ Brooklyn Street renamed “Granville T. Woods Way”▪ Woods` Coney Island Hall of Fame Induction – for World First Electric Roller Coaster “Figure 8”Efforts are being spearheaded for: US Commemorative Postal StampThe Granville T. Woods Achievement AwardMr. Head (DLH) can be contacted at:
dlhfoundation@nyc.rr.com or
917 517-1770
Light Rail service returns along Woodward Avenue where transit began in the Motorcity. Transportation is vital for the economical survival of its citizens and businesses in any sta-ble society. Let us look back for a mo-ment to get a better understanding and appreciation at one of the most innovative minds who believed that electric power could move a street car. When the public was fearful of injury to themselves and doubted its viable possibility. There were many others who felt that the costly cable system was safer and more reliable. The name Granville T. Woods may be alien to the aver-age American. He most certainly is one of the giants left out of the en-cyclopedia and documentaries on transportation. His saga is one of the great legacies African Ameri-cans have given to American his-tory and technology. Granville T. Woods was a multi-faceted electro magnetic genius whose inventions were pivotal in advancing the In-dustrial Age.Case in point: Granville T. Woods was the originator of a new electric railway system which the Ameri-can Engineering Company demon-strated on Saturday, February 13, 1892. Known as the Multiple Dis-tributing Station System, it pos-sessed features distinct from any-thing devised for electric streetcar operation. The system relied on using existing rails and removing the wire rope and pulley. Electrical contact plates were installed which connected to an underground dis-tributing station that also provided a means for lighting electric street lights and home appliances. It was a dramatic depar-ture from exposed dangerous feed wires and costly secondary bat-teries. It did not employ slotted causeway which were used for the extensive mechanical cable car system. Shortly thereafter on September 16, 1893 Mr. Woods introduced his novel, Underground Electrical Railway Conduit System in Coney Island, Brooklyn ( New York ). “The system consists of a conduit which is placed at regu-lar intervals, hermetically sealed and water tight boxes, from which project contact points form a con-nection with a long shoe which is fastened on the bottom of the car and runs in the slot.” As the railroad train moved forward, a long flexible shoe si-multaneously made contact with automatic electro-magnet switches between the two rails within the boxes. Understanding the laws of physics, Woods` devised an oil pressure pipeline to insure immu-nity from condensation and car-bonization of integral parts. With an effective weather resistant insulator Woods` solved the problem that had paralyzed surface electric transit service commercially.
On January 29, 1901, General Electric purchased Woods` Electric Railway pat-ent #667,110, now known as the revolutionary “Third Rail.” This extremely durable and low mainte-nance system of power collection and distribution allowed for the electrification of “heavy rail” oper-ation such as passenger and freight railway lines. The third rail system also allowed for more efficient tun-nel construction and underground train operation.
An innovative system builder, Woods` foresight led him to invent devices that would pre-vent frequent railroad accidents such as; the Automatic Air Brake System and two Railway Brake Apparatus that were all assigned to Westinghouse Company. And two Safety Apparatus known as the “Deadmans Handle” was also purchased by General Electric the Co. Today the art of innovation is still necessary for America to compete in a global economy. Cor-porate entities who thrive on profit and gain must invest, by laying the foundation for our next generation. An untapped reservoir remains dormant in the United States’ ur-ban communities, because they too count. The opportunity of hands-on resources in science, engineer-ing and technology are needed within each classroom. Students should be cross-trained, nurtured and challenged to solve problems. David L. Head recently completed an illustrative book about the legendary Granville T. Woods entitled, “Granville T. Woods, African American Com-munications and Transportation Pioneer. Head believes there are so many lessons to be learned in Woods` exemplary character. What America needs now is to produce more innovators like Granville T. Woods.For copies of David L. Head’s book on Granville T. Woods, or questions about exhibits, Mr. Head can be con-tacted at: dlhfoundation@nyc.rr.com or call: 917 517-1770 On January 29, 1901, General Electricpurchased Woods` Electric Railway patent #667,110, now known as the revolutionary “Third Rail.” This extremely durable and low maintenance system of power collection and distribution allowed for the electrifica-tion of “heavy rail” operation such as passenger and freight railway lines. The third rail system also allowed for more efficient tunnel construction and underground train operation.Granville T. Woods
Category: Feature Articles
