February is Black History Month in Canada – The 2025 theme for Black History Month is: “Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations.” As we celebrate the rich past and present contributions and accomplishments of Black people in Canada, we take a look at some prominent stories and figures in North American transportation history.
Birthplace and Childhood
Elijah McCoy was a mechanical engineer and inventor born in Colchester, Ontario in 1844. He is most famous for his inventions that helped to keep trains running smoothly by not overheating.
Elijah’s parents, George McCoy and Mildred Goins, escaped slavery in Kentucky, USA by using the Underground Railroad to come to Canada. George later served in the military and was given 160 acres of land in Colchester Township, where Elijah grew up. When Elijah was 15, he was sent to school in Edinburgh, Scotland, to learn about mechanical engineering and worked as an apprentice for five years.
Working on the Railroad
When he returned to North America, Elijah could only find a job as a fireman for the Michigan Central Railroad. The lubricants used on trains back then were not very good and wore off quickly. This meant the trains had to stop often, so workers like Elijah could reapply the oil, which slowed down rail networks and wasted a lot of time and money.
Inventions
After six years, Elijah invented a device called an “oil-drip cup,” which let oil flow into the engine automatically, keeping it lubricated without needing to stop the train. In 1872, he patented the drip cup, and it became popular in the rail industry because trains no longer had to stop for oiling.
This invention helped Elijah get a job in Detroit, where he taught other engineers how to install his device and consulted with rail companies. He later designed various new lubrication systems for different engines.
At the age of 72, Elijah created what he thought was his greatest invention – the graphite lubricant. This lubricant helped reduce the amount of coal and oil used in locomotives, making them more much more cost-effective and efficient.
Legacy
Elijah McCoy passed away in his mid-80s, having registered over 50 patents during his life. In 2001, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, and on May 2, 2022 (his birthday), Google honored him with a “Google Doodle” to celebrate his work. To those mechanical engineers in the know, his invention is considered “The Real McCoy”.
Sources: Elijah McCoy | The Canadian Encyclopedia; Elijah McCoy: A Founding Father to Machinery Lubrication, and the Real McCoy | Machinery Lubrication
