Gustav Wittfeld

Gustav Wittfeld ( born October 27, 1855 in Aachen, † September 24, 1923 in Berlin) was a German mechanical engineer and construction officer, Mr Prussian.

Childhood and education

The son of a textile manufacturer Aachen Gustav Wittfeld received a general education up to the failed examination at age 17. To prepare for his studies, he then took a job as an intern in the engineering plant A. Moser in his native city.

Study and Career

1874 Wittfeld began studying at the Royal Rhenish - Westphalian Polytechnic School at Aachen and finished his studies in 1878 with the examination as a foreman in mechanical engineering. In between Wittfeld was suitable for self-study knowledge on the then new field of electrical engineering. He then drove to three months - according to other sources until 1881 - as a stoker on a locomotive with and was then a job at the Main- Weser Railway.

1883 put Wittfeld from his Second State Examination. For his services he received a scholarship from the Prussian Minister of Public Works, with which he could travel longer study finance. The text reported to the Central Journal of Engineering Administration:

" In recognition of the presented in the financial years of 1883/84 in the second state examination in construction and machine times efficient knowledge and services are of the Minister of Public Works to our proposal the 4 -governmental builders: ( ... ) and the governmental machinery master Gustav Wittfeld been from Aachen scholarships granted each 1800 Mark to larger study tours, behufs more perfect training for their profession. "

Activity in the Royal Railway Office Berlin

1884 Wittfeld was appointed government architect ( Assessor ) and was involved in the mechanical engineering office at the construction of the Frankfurt main train station with the design and execution of mechanical equipment. In 1890 he went to Dortmund, where he worked in the central car workshop one year. Then he was transferred to the Royal Railway Directorate Berlin and appointed in January 1892 to the Royal railway inspector.

The Department for the design and procurement of locomotives Wittfeld was instrumental in the work on the Prussian Standards for locomotives.

At the suggestion of Wittfeld the railway administration and the AEG 1902 began with attempts to use one-phase instead of the then preferred three-phase current and direct current for traction purposes. This was until 1906 on the 4.1 km long suburban route Niederschoeneweide -spindle box (near Berlin ) with 6 kV and 25 Hz A Continuation found this technique then in the electrification of the Hamburg- Altona City and Suburban Railway, involved in turn also Wittfeld had.

1904 German Engineers (VDI) son arose because of a tender of the association under Witt box Lead participation in collaboration with the Chief Engineer Kuhn from the company Henschel & the two experimental steam locomotives " Altona 561 and Altona 562 " with streamlined fairing and front cab. Once these vehicles have proved to be a costly failure, Wittfeld worked again on the electric train and was there instrumental in the construction of the early Prussian electric locomotives, such as ES 1 to ES 3

In 1907 he made ​​five three-axle compartment coaches converted to Akkumulatortriebwagen, the proven in use on routes to Mainz. At the same time Wittfeld worked hard to develop the new Akkumulatortriebwagen the genus AT 3, which were later called Wittfeld - Akkumulatortriebwagen. These were most recently at the German Federal Railroad still in use until 1962.

Promotions and Awards

As a result of these efforts Wittfeld was promoted in 1908 to the Privy Oberbaurat.

1913 was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Second Class Grand Ducal Hessian Merit Order of Philip the Magnanimous Gustav Witt field from the Prussian king of the Red Eagle Order Second Class with oak leaves and the Royal Crown and in March 1917.

1917 awarded him the Institute of Technology ( Berlin ) Charlottenburg for his work on the electrification of railways and vehicles honorary doctorate ( Dr. -Ing. Eh) " in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of the electric operation for full and branch lines and to the economic utilization of fuels ".

Of 1918 promoted to Privy Oberbaurat, Gustav Witt field came in 1920 in retirement.

In poor health eventually chose Wittfeld suicide.

According to him the Wittfeld street is named in the district of Berlin- Staaken.