KANDÓ, Kálmán
* 10. 7. 1869, Budapest, Hungary
† 13. 1. 1931, Budapest, Hungary
Railway Engineer
Until 1892 K. studied mechanical engineering at the Budapest Technical University. Then he went abroad and in France worked for the railway company „Compagnie de Fives-Lille“. After two years he returned home and got a job at the →Ganz electric works, where he soon became the managing director.
He undertook the production of induction motors and in 1898 constructed the first three-phase electric locomotives for Evian-Les-Bains.
On the basis of the experience he gained, he also designed the first three-phase alternating current locomotive with power of 3,000 volts, which was successfully tested on Italian Valtellina railway line. K. is therefore considered a pioneer of the development of haulage for railways operating on electricity.
With the help of American financial support, the company »Societa Italiana Westinghouse« was established in Italy. The company constructed the locomotives based on K’s system who took over the management. His system was used on several railways in different countries before the First World War. In 1917 he returned to Budapest. Working for →Ganz Company, he designed the electric phase-changer through which electricity could be used directly from power stations in order to power the railways with the power of 50 periods.
Such a system was first used for the electrification of the Budapest – Vienna railway line in 1929/31. K. was no longer alive to witness the first test drive.
