1879 Braking Up Is Hard To Do in Chicago, Illinois For Sale

xxxx authentic Stock Certificate for the Thompson Automatic Train-Brake Company based in Chicago. Measures 7 X 10 1/4 inches. Excellent condition. 133 years old.
As business returned to normal following the Civil War, the lack of safety on the world's railroads was appalling. In fact, after nearly four decades of modern railroading in America, adequate braking and signaling systems were yet to be developed. At this time, railroad cars were still stopped by brakemen who were stationed along the length of a train to turn hand brakes on each car after hearing whistle signals from the engineer.
In xxxx George Westinghouse (later to become a household name) developed a train brake that consisted of an air pump powered by the train's engine, a single control valve for use by the engineer or brakeman, pipes and flexible connections that ran the length of the train, and mechanical devices on each car to activate brakes.
Further testing revealed two problems with the Westinghouse braking system. To rectify these problems, Westinghouse tried applying another theory: instead of activating the brakes with air, why not activate them with a drop in air pressure? The idea worked and, with only minor changes, Westinghouse's xxxx air brake principles continue to be used today.