Erie Railroad Biography - Benjamin Van Inwegan


Benjamin Van Inwegan, Port Jervis, NY
From the August, 1906 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine (Port Jervis, NY News):

Erie engineer Benjamin Van Inwegan, who was crushed to death in the accident on Sunday, July 15 (1906), was 48 years of age, and had been in Erie service for many years. He began work as a fireman when a boy, and has been an engineer for about 25 years. At one time he acted as engine dispatcher at Jersey City, and of late years has been running first-class trains. He had just brought "Second 5" into the yard with engine 2527, when a train, westbound and drawn by engine 537, ran through an open switch and caused the accident that crushed him to death. Mr. Van Inwegan leaves a widow, who resides in Paterson. He was a member of Division 53, B of LE and of Deerpark Lodge, No. 1, B of LF. Two of his brothers, Edwin and Garry, are Erie engineers.

Note: A small photo, reproduced above from a photocopy, was published along with the story (p. 281)

Back to Erie 1899 Index