William J. Wilgus

William John Wilgus
Born November 20, 1865(1865-11-20)[1]
Buffalo, New York
Died October 24, 1949(1949-10-24) (aged 83)[1]
Claremont, New Hampshire
Nationality American
Work
Significant projects Grand Central Terminal

William J. Wilgus (1865–1949) was an engineer. In 1902 he was responsible for the design and construction of New York City's Grand Central Station.[2] Wilgus coined the term "taking wealth from the air" from his idea to lease the area above the Park Avenue Tunnel in order to help finance the station. He is also credited with the double-stacked track design of the station, that greatly increased its capacity.[3]

Contents

Biography

He was born in Buffalo, New York in 1865 and graduated from Buffalo Central High School in 1883.[4] Afterwards, Wilgus embarked on what would soon become a prominent career in civil engineering and did not earn a formal degree until much later in life. Wilgus worked on some of the largest and most complex railroad projects during his time.

Career

After high school he was privately tutored in engineering before accepting his first position as a rodman and draughtsman for the Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad in 1885. Wilgus rose rapidly in his profession. In 1893 he began his association with the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad as an assistant engineer on its Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg line. By 1899 he became the railroads's chief engineer for construction and maintenance of way (track) and in 1903 became the vice-president in charge of construction. During these years he supervised the planning and construction of Buffalo Union Station, the Michigan Central Railway Tunnel and the Weehawken Terminal.[5]

In 1907 Wilgus left the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad to open his own consulting practice. He advised numerous railroad companies on construction and improvement projects and on the valuation of their holdings. He also worked with several states and municipalities including several concerned with the improvement of passenger and freight transportation in the New York Metropolitan area.[5]

He died in 1949.

Accomplishments

References

  1. ^ a b "William J. Wilgus, Rail Expert, Dead". The New York Times: p. 27. October 25, 1949. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40717FC355F177B93C7AB178BD95F4D8485F9. Retrieved 2011-07-31. 
  2. ^ Gray, Christopher (August 19, 2010). "Covering Its Tracks Paid Off Handsomely". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/realestate/22scapes.html. Retrieved 2010-08-21. "In 1902, William J. Wilgus, an engineer for the New York Central Railroad, came up with the concept of roofing over the yards around Grand Central and building hotels, offices and apartment houses. Among the earliest concepts were a 20-story tower over the terminal itself, and an adjacent hotel, later erected as the Biltmore, from Vanderbilt to Madison Avenue, between 43rd and 44th Streets." 
  3. ^ "Grand Central". American Experience. PBS. 2009-02-28.
  4. ^ a b c "Roll of Honor Inductee's". Western New York Railway Historical Society. http://www.trainweb.org/wnyrhs/rohinducteesFrame1Source1.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-22. 
  5. ^ a b Guide to the William J. Wilgus Papers. New York Public Library. ISBN 9996261913. http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/spe/rbk/faids/wilgus.pdf. Retrieved 2009-08-08. 
  6. ^ Cudahy, Brian (2003). A Century of Subways: Celebrating 100 Years of New York's Underground Railways. New York: Fordham University Press. p. 202. ISBN 0823222926. 
  7. ^ "Past Presidents of the ASCE Met Section". ASCE Metropolitan Section. http://www.ascemetsection.org/content/view/297/835/. Retrieved 2009-08-22.