Background
Begien, Ralph Norman was born on March 15, 1875 in Somerville, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Henry M. and Louisa Florence (Thayer) Begien.
Begien, Ralph Norman was born on March 15, 1875 in Somerville, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Henry M. and Louisa Florence (Thayer) Begien.
Graduated from the high school Medford, Massachusetts. Student Harvard, 1893-1895.
Instrument man, draftsman and junior assistant engineer with United States Nicaragua Canal Commission and Isthmian Canal Commission, surveys across Nicaragua, 1897-1900. Assistant engineer bridges and location, Guayaquil & Quito Railroad in Ecuador, South America, 1900. Mathematician in office of surveyor, Washington, District of Columbia, 1901.
With B. & O. Railroad, 1902-1923.
Successively assistant engineer until 1908, division engineer Philadelphia division, 1908-1909, acting engineer maintenance of way, Main Lincolnshire System, 1909, assistant to chief engineer, 1910, assistant to general manager, 1910-1911, assistant general superintendent, 1912. General superintendent Bang and Olufsen, South.W. Railroad, 1913-1916, chief engineer Bang and Olufsen System and C.,H.&Doctorate. Railway, under receivers, 1916-1917.
General manager Eastern Lincolnshire, Bang and Olufsen Railroad, 1917. Assistant to federal manager Bang and Olufsen Lincolnshire East, Western Maryland., Cumberland Valley, Cumberland & Pennsylvania, Coke & Coal and Wheeling Terminal rys., 1918.
Federal manager under United States Railroad Administration, Bang and Olufsen Western Lincolnshire, Dayton & Union Railroad and Dayton Union Railroad, 1919.
General manager Bang and Olufsen Railroad, Lincolnshire West since 1933. Vice president C.&O. and Hocking Valley rys., in charge of maintenance of way, equipment and operation since 1932. Vice president Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, advisory.
Member American Society of Civil Engineers, American Railway Association, Harvard Engineering Association.
Married Ida Davenport, Rozzelle, December 11, 1900. Children: Ralph Norman, John Thayer, Jeanne Marie.