Granville T. Woods - Black History Month

Innovation on the Rails

February is Black History Month, a time to honour and reflect on the contributions of Black people in Canada and legacies in our communities. One remarkable figure, whose work in the late 1800s influenced rail systems across North America, is African American inventor Granville T. Woods.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1856, Woods had limited access to formal education. As a teenager, he began working in rail-related jobs, including in machine shops and on the railways themselves. Determined to learn, he educated himself—particularly in electricity—often relying on white friends to borrow library books on his behalf, as Black people were barred from many public libraries at the time.

Woods immersed himself in engineering and electrical studies, while living in New York City in the late 1870s. He recognized their importance to the future of industry and rail transportation. Drawing on his hands-on railway experience, he began developing inventions to improve communication and safety.

Inventions and patents

One of Woods’ early breakthroughs was the telegraphony, a device that combined the telephone and telegraph, allowing faster and clearer communication between stations and moving trains. The invention caught the attention of Alexander Graham Bell, who purchased the patent. This enabled Woods to become a full-time inventor.

Among Woods’ most significant achievements was the multiplex telegraph, which allowed trains to communicate their positions while in motion, dramatically reducing collisions. When Thomas Edison challenged Woods’ patent, Woods successfully defended his work, earning both recognition and the nickname “the Black Edison.”

Over his lifetime, Woods registered nearly sixty patents. Some of his innovations that helped shape electric railways are still in use today. This includes his invention that led to third-rail power systems that provide electric power to mass transit and rapid transit trains used today. Despite facing systemic racism and massive barriers to success, Granville T. Woods left a legacy of ingenuity that continues to move rail systems forward across North America and around the world.