The first construction work of any note on which Mr. Engle was engaged was the building of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, now a part of the Baltimore and Ohio System, extending from Cincinnati to St. Louis. Later, and up to 1878, he was connected with the construction of the Cincinnati Southern Railway, Cincinnati's municipally owned railway, as Division Engineer, at Ray Springs, Tenn. This work included several tunnels and other heavy work in the mountain territory.
After the completion of the Cincinnati Southern, Mr. Engle went West, and was engaged in the construction of the Santa Fé Railroad at Trinidad, Colo., in the capacity of Assistant Chief Engineer. Under his direction the Royal Gorge Hanging Bridge was built, and much other interesting work was carried out. Mr. Engle's forte was location, and in the mountainous regions of the West he found ample exercise for this faculty. From Trinidad he moved to Santa Fé, N. Mex. His name is borne by Engle, N. Mex., now a thriving Western town.
While still in the West, Mr. Engle was connected with the Mexican Central Railroad, at Chihuahua, Mexico, on construction work, and with the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. It is thus seen that he played a part in much of the important pioneer railroad development of the mountain region of the West.
In 1885, Mr. Engle began work on the location and construction of the Chicago, Burlington, and Northern Railroad, now part of the Burlington System, being located at St. Paul, Minn., as Assistant Chief Engineer of that portion of the line north of La Crosse, Wis. Later, his jurisdiction included the whole line. During 1887 and a part of 1888, he had charge of the construction of the Illinois Valley and Northern Railroad, as Chief Engineer, at La Salle, Ill. In the latter part of 1888 he conducted surveys for coal branch lines connecting with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, in the mountains of West Virginia.
Beginning in September, 1889, Mr. Engle was Resident Engineer on the construction of the Louisville and Jeffersonville Bridge over the Ohio River. During his term of service the substructure, involving several deep pneumatic foundations, was built, and parts of the approaches were erected. During his stay at Louisville Mr. Engle was selected as Arbitrator in a matter of disputed classification between the company and the contractor for the Pike's Peak Rack Railroad, and effected a satisfactory settlement. Among other things his later service included location work on the Tennessee Central Railroad, in 1892; location and construction work for the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad, in Arkansas; and construction work on the Tidewater Railroad, now the Virginian Railway, at Princeton, W. Va. At the time of his death he was employed as Engineer for the contracting firm of Carpenter and Boxley, at Johnson City, Tenn.
With the death of Robert L. Engle, the Profession loses one of those sturdy, self-made engineers, to whom the country is largely indebted for pushing railroad construction overland and through the West. In character, rugged like the mountains with which he was associated, he was still the gentlest of souls to those associated with him in subordinate capacities. The writer knew him as Chief and friend for many years, and cannot recall any departures from the lines of the highest dignity, rectitude, good habits, and good nature.
Mr. Engle was a Member of the Engineers' Club of Cincinnati from the time of its organization. He maintained his home in Cincinnati for twenty-one years, while his engagements kept him at various other places.
On February 20th, 1879, Mr. Engle married Miss Sallie McQueety, of Cincinnati, and is survived by her and their son and two daughters. His family and social relations were most happy, although his enforced absences from home kept him from much of the social contact which his qualities deserved.
Mr. Engle was elected a Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers on September 7th, 1881.