Railway Giants: The Story of Railway Electrification in Italy and Hungary Had One Common Denominator

Electrification is one of the most important chapters in the history of railways. Kálmán Kandó's name is closely associated with its beginnings. The first years of electricity in railways are explored in the new episode of Railway Giants.

It is the year 1869, and we are in the Hungarian city of Pest. Here, a boy named Kálmán is born to Géza Kandó and Irma Gulácsy. Hungary has been part of the Habsburg Monarchy for several centuries, which underwent extensive internal reforms two years ago and is now called Austria-Hungary. Pest is the center of Transleithania (the Hungarian part of the monarchy, named because it lies beyond the river Leitha) and will soon be united with the neighboring Buda to form the large city of Budapest.

It is 1888, and Kálmán, after successfully graduating from high school, enrolls at the Budapest Polytechnic. During his studies, he becomes fascinated with the hot new topic of electricity. As a fourth-year student, he wins an award for one of his works on electrical engineering. For his rigorous exam, he presents a design for an electrically powered crane. In 1892, he earns a degree in mechanical engineering, graduating with honors. He successfully applies his acquired knowledge of mechanical and electrical engineering in his subsequent career.

After completing his studies, he serves in the Navy. His next steps lead him to France, specifically to Paris, where he works in the design department of the electrical engineering factory Compagnie de Fives-Lille. He stays there for about a year. His next steps lead him back home to Budapest, where he works at Ganz & Co., in the electrical equipment manufacturing department. His main task is to introduce domestic production of induction motors. During several months of effort, Kálmán leverages knowledge from his studies and France.

Kálmán earns recognition for his work. This allows him to promote the idea of using electricity on railways. At his initiative, Ganz begins preparing for three-phase electric traction and builds an 800-meter-long test track next to the Ganz-MÁVAG factory in Népliget, where electric traction for trains will be tested.

In the meantime, in 1898, Kálmán becomes engaged and, a year later, marries the 11-year-younger Ilona Mária Petronella Poschová. They will have two children: a son, Kálmán, who tragically takes his own life in 1922, and a daughter, Ilona Sára.

The progress of Ganz in electric traction catches the attention of foreign countries, particularly Italy, where electrification is proceeding at a similar pace to Hungary. The Italian company Rete Adriatica commissions Ganz to electrify the track named after the Tellina Valley. On the 106 km track in challenging terrain, electric traction proves superior to steam traction. When the track is officially opened in 1902, it becomes the world's first high-voltage AC railway. Valtellina and the system developed by Kálmán become the cradle of three-phase traction, which later expands in Italy to such an extent that it is called the Italian system.

At the turn of the century, the Italian state decides to electrify its railways. The large project is awarded to the American company Westinghouse, which purchases many of Kálmán's patents. Additionally, Kálmán is appointed to lead the locomotive factory in Vado Ligure, which the company establishes in Italy.

In Italy, Kálmán develops several types of locomotives. The largest number of locomotives produced at the Vado Ligure factory are the five-coupled Giovi and Cinquanta locomotives. In 1912, the Trenta locomotive is built, reaching speeds of up to 100 km/h and a power output of 2,000 kW.

Kálmán subsequently returns to Hungary, where from 1922, he devotes himself exclusively to railway electrification. Despite the unfavorable economic conditions in post-war Hungary, from 1923, Kálmán develops electric traction on the Budapest-Nyugati-Dunakeszi-Alag (today Dunakeszi) section. His experiments are successful, causing a sensation abroad. Things move quickly from there. The peak comes in 1926 when he designs two of the most powerful European express locomotives of the time, the DC-powered (fr: 2BB2 400) for the Paris-Orléans line.

Increasing work pressure and family tragedies take their toll. They impact Kálmán's health, and on January 13, 1931, he unexpectedly dies of heart failure. Thus ends the story of the man who literally brought electricity to the railways.

Source: Vándor Vasúttörténeti Kiállítás "Megy a Gőzös";  ÓE