Kálmán Kandó

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Statue of Kálmán Kandó in Székesfehérvár

Kálmán Kandó de Egerfarmos et Sztregova (egerfarmosi és sztregovai Kandó Kálmán) (July 10, 1869 - January 13, 1931, Budapest) was a Hungarian engineer.

He developed high-voltage three phase alternating current motors and generators for electric locomotives; he is known as the father of the electric train. His work on railway electrification was done at the Ganz electric works in Budapest. He was the first who recognised that an electric train system can only be successful if it can use the electricity from public networks. After realising that, he also provided the means to build such a rail network by inventing a rotary phase converter suitable for locomotive usage.

He was educated at the Budapest Technical University where he gained a diploma in mechanical engineering. He worked in France as a junior engineer designing and developing Tesla's induction motor.

After his achievement in designing the three-phase motor and generator he moved to Italy. He would later return to Budapest to work at the Ganz factory where he became the managing director.

Under his leadership the Ganz factory began work on three-phase hauling for railways. Based on their design, the Italian Valtellina railway line was electrified, which became Europe's first electrified main railway line.