R.J. Corman Railroad Group facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Founder | Richard J. Corman |
| Headquarters |
Nicholasville, Kentucky, U.S.
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Area served
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United States |
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Key people
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Ed Quinn (President) |
| Services |
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| Revenue |  US$ 300 million (FY 2011) |
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Number of employees
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Approx. 1600 |
R. J. Corman Railroad Group, LLC is a company that works with railroads. It is based in Nicholasville, Kentucky, but has offices in 22 different states across the United States.
The company was started in 1973 by Richard J. Corman. He ran the company until he passed away in 2013. R. J. Corman owns 19 short-line railroads. These are smaller railroads that connect to bigger ones. They are found in states like Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
R. J. Corman helps all the big railroad companies, known as Class I railroads. They also work with many smaller railroads and other businesses that use trains. Their services include building and fixing railroad tracks, running short-line trains, and helping with train emergencies. They also manage materials for tracks and even run a special dinner train.
Contents
About R. J. Corman Railroad Group
R. J. Corman Railroad Group is a company that provides many services for the railroad industry. They help keep trains moving safely and efficiently.
What Services Do They Offer?
- Building and fixing tracks: They build new railroad tracks and keep old ones in good shape.
- Running short-line railroads: They operate smaller train lines that connect different areas.
- Emergency help: If a train has an accident, like a derailment, R. J. Corman helps clean up and fix the tracks quickly.
- Moving materials: They help transport materials needed for tracks, like rails and ties.
- Distribution centers: These are places where goods are stored and then moved by train.
- Signal systems: They design and build the signals that tell trains when to stop or go.
- Dinner train: They even run a special train called the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train for fun trips!
The History of R. J. Corman
The company has grown a lot since it started. It began with one main service and added many more over the years.
How It All Started: The 1970s and 1980s
R. J. Corman Railroad Construction began in 1973. It was founded by Richard J. Corman. In 1983, the company started a new service called R. J. Corman Derailment Services. This team helps clean up after train accidents. They opened their first office for this service in Columbus, Ohio.
The main office for the company, called Jay Station, was built in Nicholasville, Kentucky. It was named after Rick Corman's father, Jay Corman.
Growing the Railroad Network: The 1980s and 1990s
R. J. Corman started running its own short-line railroads in 1987. They bought the Bardstown Line and the Memphis Line. Over the 1990s, they bought and fixed many more train lines. Some of these lines had been closed, but R. J. Corman brought them back to life.
One special project was the Bardstown Line. In 1989, it became home to the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train. This train offers fun trips where people can enjoy a meal while riding.
In 1990, R. J. Corman opened its first Distribution Center in South Union, Kentucky. This center helps manage and move materials. In 1994, they started selling track materials. They became a main supplier for a large railroad company called Conrail.
Into the New Century: The 2000s and Beyond
In 2001, R. J. Corman started a new company for railroad switching. This service helps move train cars around in yards and at factories.
From 2003 to 2004, R. J. Corman built its own runway, Lucas Field, in Nicholasville, Kentucky. After this, they started R. J. Corman Aircraft Maintenance. This part of the company takes care of their airplanes.
In 2009, R. J. Corman Railroad Group bought parts of another company called Railpower Technologies. This helped them expand their services even more.
Sadly, Rick Corman passed away on August 23, 2013. He had been battling a serious illness for many years. His company continues to operate and grow, carrying on his vision.
Railroad Lines Owned by R. J. Corman
R. J. Corman operates many different railroad lines. These lines are like smaller branches that connect to the main railroad system.
- R. J. Corman Railroad/Allentown Lines (Pennsylvania)
- R. J. Corman Railroad/Bardstown Line (Kentucky)
- R. J. Corman Railroad/Central Kentucky Lines (Kentucky)
- R. J. Corman Railroad/Carolina Lines (North and South Carolina)
- R. J. Corman Railroad/Cleveland Line (Ohio)
- R. J. Corman Railroad/Memphis Line (Kentucky and Tennessee)
- R. J. Corman Railroad/Pennsylvania Lines (Pennsylvania)
- R. J. Corman Railroad/Tennessee Terminal (Mississippi and Tennessee)
- R .J. Corman Railroad/Texas Line (Texas)
- R. J. Corman Railroad/Western Ohio Line (Indiana and Ohio)
- R. J. Corman Railroad/West Virginia Line (West Virginia)
- Nashville and Eastern Railroad, Nashville & Western Railroad and Transit Solution Group; these operations joined R.J. Corman in January 2019.
- Owego and Harford Railway, Lehigh Railway and Luzerne and Susquehanna Railway; R.J. Corman agreed to buy these in August 2020.
- Knoxville & Cumberland Gap Railroad
