From the May, 1914 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
John Steel, for over forty years a locomotive engineer in the service of the Erie Railroad, on the New York Division, and for many years a resident of Port Jervis, died at his home near Pond Eddy recently of apoplexy, after a short illness, at the age of 68 years.

He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., June 2, 1845, and was the son of John Steel and Mary Ann Burney Steel, who came to the United States from England in early life, and moved in 1852 to South Lebanon, N.Y., now known as Glen Spey.

He entered the service of the Erie Railroad in 1868 and was promoted to Engineer in 1874. He continued in this service up to the time of his death.

Mr. Steel was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Ustayantba Lodge, No. 143, I.0.0.F., both of Port Jervis, N.Y.

He had served with credit as Supervisor of the Town of Lumberland, having been in the Board in 1910 and 1911, and by the members of that body was referred to as "Uncle John." He was a hard worker, ruggedly honest, a most companionable man, as well as a kind husband and father.

On July 4, 1864, Mr. Steel was united in marriage with Miss Martha Doolittle, of Glen Spey. They looked forward to the coming summer in keen anticipation of celebrating their fiftieth, or golden, anniversary.

The surviving relatives are his widow; one daughter, Elva, wife of Homer V. Osterhoudt, of Pond Eddy; one brother, George H. Steel, and one sister, Mrs. Sarah S. Bisland, widow of John Bisland, both of Brooklyn, N.Y. The funeral was held at the late home of deceased and was in charge of the Engineers and Odd Fellows of Port Jervis. Interment was in Upper Mongaup Cemetery.

From the September 21, 1890 issue of the New York Times:
Middletown, NY, Sept. 20 -- The heavy Wells-Fargo express train on the Erie Railroad eastward bound crashed into the rear of a coal train at 12:10 this morning as a point two miles west of this city with disastrous results. The coal train had stopped while the locomotive of the train ahead was taking water, but had neglected, it is said, to send back a flagman. The express train followed into the block at moderate speed in obedience to a cautionary signal, but as the coal train was hidden by a curve and no flag appeared, the momentum of the express train made a collision inevitable.

The express train struck the coal train caboose with such force as to completely wreck it and derail four of the coal cars ahead of it. In the caboose, when the collision occurred, were four of the coal train crew, all of whom it is said were asleep. Two of them, Charles Leppert, conductor, and William H. Duffy, flagman, were instantly crushed to death. John Miller, brakeman, had both legs broken, and is perhaps fatally injured. Frank Hagerman, brakeman, was thrown up through the broken roof of the caboose and landed in the tender of the colliding engine. He marvelously escaped with some severe cuts and bruises.

All the men were residents of Port Jervis, and the dead and wounded were taken there. Conductor Leppert leaves a wife and two children and Flagman Duffy leaves a wife. Engineer John Steele of the colliding engine stuck to his post and escaped unhurt. The engine was badly damaged. It is charged that the collision was mainly due to the negligence of Conductor Leppert in failing to send back a flag.