January 27, 2022
R. J. Corman Railroad Company Announces Acquisition and Establishment of the Knoxville and Cumberland Gap Railroad
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. – R. J. Corman Railroad Company is glad to announce the purchase of two railroad branches from Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and the creation of the Knoxville and Cumberland Gap Railroad, LLC (KXCG).
The newly established KXCG is comprised of two branches. First, a 59-mile branch running between Clinton, TN, and Clairfield, TN. Secondly, a branch of 72 miles operates between Beverly, TN, crossing the iconic Cumberland Gap and connecting to Middlesboro, KY. The branches, previously owned by Norfolk Southern, were historically part of the Southern Railway.
The Knoxville and Cumberland Gap Railroad will have rights between the two branches and interchange cars in Norfolk Southern’s Sevier Yard.
This acquisition will add over 130 miles to the more than 1,200 operated by the R. J. Corman Railroad Company, LLC.
“We are extremely excited about the creation of the Knoxville and Cumberland Gap Railroad,” said Ed Quinn, President, and CEO of R. J. Corman Railroad Group, LLC. “We see a lot of potential for growth, expansion, and economic development in the region, and we look forward to providing our customers with our first-class quality service with safety-first operations. We are thankful for our Class I business partner, Norfolk Southern,” continued Quinn, “and our continuing and growing partnership through the years.”
The closing is subject to customary regulatory approvals, and R. J. Corman is expected to take over operations in February 2022.
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About R. J. Corman Railroad Company
R. J. Corman Railroad Company, LLC operates 17 short line railroads in 11 states and is a subsidiary of R. J. Corman Railroad Group, LLC. Altogether, the company employs approximately 1,500 people in 22 states. In addition to short line railroad and switching operations, R. J. Corman companies provide a broad scope of services to the railroad industry, such as emergency response, track material distribution, track construction, and signal design and construction.
