On September 19, 1838, Ephraim Morris received a patent on a train brake, presumably to the great relief of train passengers everywhere.

Ephraim apparently was fascinated by inclined planes. because he is credited with designing the inclined planes for the Morris Canal which opened in 1831, which brought further commerce to the area and provided recreational diversion in the form of swimming in the summer and ice skating in the winter. His patent explained that brake could be used on an inclined plane of a canal or railroad.