Born 19 Mar 1876, Denver, Col.
Died: 19 Dec 1933, Pittsburgh, Penn.

Herr began his involvement in mechanical engineering while a young man, as an apprentice machinist with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. After taking the admission examination in June 1985, he subsequently studied at the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University (Ph.B., 1899).

Through the next six years, Herr first worked as a machinist and draftsman with the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, followed by gaining further experience at several other railroads. Meanwhile, he observed the mechanical needs of the train equipment and considered their problems.

He produced two inventions in 1904. The first was a braking device suitable for controlling trains hauled by two or more locomotives. He also devised equipment to adjust the braking power on a car according to the weight of the car.

In 1906, though just 30 years old, he was appointed general superintendent at the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, and shortly afterwards had risen to become the vice-president and general manager of the Duquesne Mining & Reduction Company in Arizona.

By 1908, his talents were further applied to the design of train-control equipment, when he was recruited by George Westinghouse. Herr thus moved to Pittsburgh as general manager of the Westinghouse Machine Company and began a career there making further significant contributions to mechanical engineering, including 17 patents for the Westinghouse Air Brake Company.

Herr also produced simplified oil engine designs, their automatic starting and control. He devised a easy method for reversing two-cycle engines, and applied rotary valves to four-cycle engines.

In his work on turbines, Herr made design simplifications, increased capacity, and improved manufacturing methods, including the attachment of the turbine blades.

By 1916, he had progressed to designing effective ship control-mechanisms which provided remote-control from the bridge of a ship to its main engines. The U.S. Navy incorporated a modified version of this control on some of its major ships.

Herr stayed with Westinghouse and his career grew with the company. From 1920-30, he ran the South Philadelphia works. His death came three years later, in 1933, due to a sarcoma of the lung.