 He was the first to suggest the use of superheated steam, universally.However, he saw superheated steam as competing with other innovations such as double expansion compound steam engines (he held a grudge against Hannver's August Borries that his pupil Richard Paul Wagner inherited) or combustion chambers.His designs were, on the one hand, simple to maintain and operate; on the other hand, he blocked innovations that every other pre-Reichsbahn state railway used successfully.