Perry T. Egbert (April 22, 1893 – July 13, 1970) was an American engineer specializing in

internal combustion engine An internal combustion engine (ICE or IC engine) is a heat engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer (usually air) in a combustion chamber that is an integral part of the working fluid flow circuit. In an internal comb ...

s, particularly

diesel engine The diesel engine, named after the German engineer Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which Combustion, ignition of diesel fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to Mechanics, mechanical Compr ...

s. Most of his career was spent at the

American Locomotive Company The American Locomotive Company (often shortened to ALCO, ALCo or Alco) was an American manufacturer that operated from 1901 to 1969, initially specializing in the production of locomotives but later diversifying and fabricating at various time ...

(ALCo), America's pre-eminent manufacturer of steam and

diesel locomotive A diesel locomotive is a type of railway locomotive in which the prime mover (locomotive), power source is a diesel engine. Several types of diesel locomotives have been developed, differing mainly in the means by which mechanical power is con ...

s for more than forty years. Egbert graduated from

Cornell University Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...

in 1915 with a degree in mechanical engineering and, after a stint in the military during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, taught engineering there in 1919 and 1920. In 1921 he became ALCo's technical representative in

East Asia East Asia is a geocultural region of Asia. It includes China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan, plus two special administrative regions of China, Hong Kong and Macau. The economies of Economy of China, China, Economy of Ja ...

, where his work included efforts to provide diesel engines for the

Peking Suiyuan Railway Beijing, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's most populous national capital city as well as China's second largest city by urban area after Shanghai. It is lo ...

. Following the acquisition of the firm of

McIntosh & Seymour McIntosh & Seymour was an American manufacturer of steam and internal combustion engines during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The company was founded in 1886, and was based in Auburn, New York. It developed and sold a wide variety of stea ...

in 1929 he was placed in charge of ALCo's diesel engine development program. He became manager of railroad diesel sales in 1934 and vice president in charge of diesel locomotive sales in 1944. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he led ALCo's shift from steam to diesel locomotive production. He became president of the company in 1952. Perry Egbert had 3 sons. Perry, Leigh and John (12/14/30- 12/08/67) . John married Marilyn Robinson. They had 3 children. Leigh (5/23/56), Perry(4/59) and Alexandra. Leigh married Lynn Pfuntner 7/2/77. They have 1 daughter Elizabeth (12/16/85). Perry has 2 daughters. Kristin and Shelby.

References

External links

Perry Egbert Papers
at

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York, United States. It was established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church but has been nonsectarian since 1920 ...

Photograph of Egbert with Pakistani Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan
in the cab of an ALCo diesel engine, Schenectady Daily Gazette American civil engineers American railroad mechanical engineers American railroad pioneers American chief executives Cornell University College of Engineering alumni Locomotive builders and designers 1893 births 1970 deaths American expatriates in China {{US-rail-transport-bio-stub