Paul Walter Kiefer (February 13, 1888 – September 2, 1968) was an American

mechanical engineer Mechanical may refer to: Machine * Machine (mechanical), a system of mechanisms that shape the actuator input to achieve a specific application of output forces and movement * Mechanical calculator, a device used to perform the basic operations of ...

, locomotive designer, chief engineer at

New York Central Railroad The New York Central Railroad was a railroad primarily operating in the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The railroad primarily connected greater New York and Boston in the east with Chicago and St. Louis in the Mi ...

, and inventor, who was awarded the 1947

ASME Medal The ASME Medal, created in 1920, is the highest award bestowed by the ASME (founded as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Board of Governors for "eminently distinguished engineering achievement". The award has been presented every year ...

Biography

Kiefer was born in

Delaware, Ohio Delaware is a city in and the county seat of Delaware County, Ohio, United States. Delaware was founded in 1808 and was incorporated in 1816. It is located near the center of Ohio, is about north of Columbus, and is part of the Columbus, Ohio ...

as son of Jacob Kiefer and Lena (Maler) Kiefer. After attended public schools in Delaware and Glenville, Ohio, he started his career in industry. He continued his studies at night schools at the

Cleveland Institute of Art The Cleveland Institute of Art, previously Cleveland School of Art, is a private college focused on art and design and located in Cleveland, Ohio. History The college was founded in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women, at firs ...

and in New York, where he studied locomotive and car design. Kiefer made his career in the railway industry, and became chief engineer at

. Kiefer designed several locomotives, including the Hudson, later

Mohawk Mohawk may refer to: Related to Native Americans * Mohawk people, an indigenous people of North America (Canada and New York) *Mohawk language, the language spoken by the Mohawk people * Mohawk hairstyle, from a hairstyle once thought to have been ...

designs, Niagara and the

Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad The Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad (P&LE) , also known as the "Little Giant", was formed on May 11, 1875. Company headquarters were located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The line connected Pittsburgh in the east with Youngstown, Ohio in the ...

’s

berkshire Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Ber ...

s. He retired as chief engineer of equipment from the New York Central System in 1953. In 1946 he was awarded an Honorary Degree in Mechanical Engineer,ASME> ''Mechanical Engineering.'' Vol. 90. 1968. p. 110 and in 1947 the ASME awarded him the annual

Selected publications

* Paul W. Kiefer .''A practical evaluation of railroad motive power,'' Simmons-Boardman, 1947. ;Patents, a selection *
Patent US1841480 - Cast metal hopper for railway cars
'' 1932.

References

1888 births 1968 deaths American mechanical engineers People from Delaware, Ohio ASME Medal recipients Engineers from Ohio {{US-mechanical-engineer-stub