John Wills Cloud
John Wills Cloud (1851-1936) of the Westinghouse Brake Co
1936 Obituary [1]
JOHN WILLS CLOUD had a distinguished career, covering a period of 46 years, in the service of the Westinghouse Brake Company and its associated companies.
He was born in 1851 and was educated at the Laurence Scientific School, Harvard, where he subsequently graduated. He served a five years' apprenticeship, terminating in 1880, in the Pennsylvania Railroad workshops, at Altoona. He took charge of locomotive tests at the works, and later became mechanical engineer.
In 1887 he joined the Erie Railroad as superintendent of motive power, and two years later commenced his association with the Westinghouse Brake Company.
Mr. Cloud came to London in 1899 as a vice-president of the company, and held this position until 1920, when he became chairman.
After his retirement in 1931 he remained an active director of the London company. He made outstanding contributions to air brake progress and was the inventor of the quick-acting triple valve for European service. In addition he travelled widely and played a prominent part in the development of the Westinghouse brake on the Continent.
Mr. Cloud was elected a Member of the Institution in 1902.
His death occurred on 14th January 1936, in his eighty-fifth year.