What did inventor George Westinghouse develop that greatly improved the safety and control of railway trains?

Introduction / Context:
George Westinghouse was a prominent American inventor and industrialist whose work had a major impact on transportation and electrical systems. One of his most important contributions was a device that made railway operations safer and more efficient by improving how trains were stopped. This question checks your knowledge of which specific invention by Westinghouse transformed railway safety.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question focuses on George Westinghouse and his contribution to railways.
• His invention improved safety and control of trains.
• The options include various household and electrical items as distractors.
• Only one option correctly identifies his famous railway related invention.

Concept / Approach:
George Westinghouse is best known in this context for inventing the railway air brake system. Before air brakes, train braking was slower and less reliable, often relying on manual effort from brakemen. Westinghouse system used compressed air to apply brakes simultaneously on all train cars, greatly reducing stopping distance and improving safety. Electric razors and refrigerators are associated with different inventors, and the light bulb is primarily linked with Thomas Edison and others, not Westinghouse. Therefore, the correct answer is railway air brakes.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the clue that the invention relates to the safety and control of trains.Step 2: Recall that George Westinghouse is widely credited with developing compressed air braking systems for railways.Step 3: Look at the choices and find Railway air brakes as option C.Step 4: Recognise that the electric razor and refrigerator were invented by others and are not tied to Westinghouse contributions.Step 5: Select Railway air brakes as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Books on the history of railways repeatedly mention Westinghouse air brake as a turning point in train safety. His name also appears in company names involved in rail and electrical engineering. No reliable source credits him with inventing the light bulb, electric razor or refrigerator. These items belong to the history of domestic appliances, while Westinghouse reputation is linked strongly with industrial systems such as brakes and alternating current technologies.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The electric razor was developed by inventors such as Jacob Schick, not Westinghouse. The light bulb is most famously associated with Thomas Edison and several other inventors who worked on electric lighting. The household refrigerator evolved from work by many engineers and companies but is not Westinghouse signature invention. As a result, options A, B and D are distractors that do not match the specific railway safety contribution mentioned in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may mix up famous inventors and assume that someone connected with electricity must have invented the light bulb. Others might select a random household item because they are less familiar with railway technology. To avoid this, remember that Westinghouse is linked with industrial safety devices and alternating current systems, Edison with light bulbs, and Schick with electric razors. Keeping these associations clear makes questions about inventors much easier to answer accurately.

Final Answer:
George Westinghouse developed the railway air brakes that greatly improved train safety.