Ross Winans

Ironically, the man who would set the standard for railroad wheel design for the entire 19th century first came in contact with railroads when selling horses to the Baltimore & Ohio in 1828. He began working for the B&O but eventually established his own firm to specialize in machinery for railroads, later diversifying into shipbuilding where he designed and produced a new hull design for steamships. He was also known locally as a philanthropist, and published pamphlets on religion.