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 combus ...

s, particularly

diesel engine The diesel engine, named after Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which ignition of the fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to mechanical compression; thus, the diesel engine is a so-call ...

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 of locomotives, diesel generators, steel, and tanks that operated from 1901 to 1969. The company was formed by the merger of seven smaller locomo ...

(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 is a diesel engine. Several types of diesel locomotives have been developed, differing mainly in the means by which mechanical power is conveyed to the driving whee ...

s for more than forty years. Egbert graduated from

Cornell University Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to teach an ...

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

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

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

East Asia East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The modern states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. China, North Korea, South Korea and ...

, where his work included efforts to provide diesel engines for the Peking Suiyuan Railway. 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, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, 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. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...

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