RJ Corman 3802 works Clarksville, Tennessee On February 23rd, 2021 R.J. Corman (RJC) 3802 & 3804 lead the Cumberland City Turn as they work on dropping and picking up cars at Sanderson Pipe Corporation (SPC) off of International Blvd, in Clarksville, Tennessee on the Memphis Line. This train is referred to as the Cumberland City turn and departs from Guthrie, Ky weekdays, usually in the morning, runs the Memphis Line to Cumberland City, TN and then returns after working industries like this one along the way. The yellow structure to the center of the picture is what the employees of the SPC Pipe company attach their safety ropes to as they work on on unloading the cars. The Memphis Line currently covers just over 113 track miles between Bowling Green, Ky and Cumberland City, TN, servicing 47 customers along the line. It interchanges with CSX on average six days a week at Bowling Green and Guthrie, Ky. The yard office for this line is located at Guthrie. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @116mm f/4.8, 1/1600, ISO 125.

RJ Corman 3802 works Clarksville, Tennessee

On February 23rd, 2021 R.J. Corman (RJC) 3802 & 3804 lead the Cumberland City Turn as they work on dropping and picking up cars at Sanderson Pipe Corporation (SPC) off of International Blvd, in Clarksville, Tennessee on the Memphis Line.

This train is referred to as the Cumberland City turn and departs from Guthrie, Ky weekdays, usually in the morning, runs the Memphis Line to Cumberland City, TN and then returns after working industries like this one along the way.

The yellow structure to the center of the picture is what the employees of the SPC Pipe company attach their safety ropes to as they work on on unloading the cars.

The Memphis Line currently covers just over 113 track miles between Bowling Green, Ky and Cumberland City, TN, servicing 47 customers along the line. It interchanges with CSX on average six days a week at Bowling Green and Guthrie, Ky. The yard office for this line is located at Guthrie.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @116mm f/4.8, 1/1600, ISO 125.

May 8, 2020 – The power from RJ Corman’s empty sand train Z543-07 with GMTX 9059 (SD60) leading, RJC 5373 and 5409 trailing, gets tied down at Nugent Sand Company at Louisville, Kentucky after making a run to Lexington with a loaded train for central Kentucky customers. Normally this train runs during the early morning darkness, but lately it has been making daylight runs on Fridays. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, F/11, 1/800 sec, ISO 320.

RJ Corman’s empty sand train Z543-07 at Louisville, Ky

May 8, 2020 – The power from RJ Corman’s empty sand train Z543-07 with GMTX 9059 (SD60) leading, RJC 5373 and 5409 trailing, gets tied down at Nugent Sand Company at Louisville, Kentucky after making a run to Lexington with a loaded train for central Kentucky customers. Normally this train runs during the early morning darkness, but lately it has been making daylight runs on Fridays.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, F/11, 1/800 sec, ISO 320.

May 8, 2020 – RJ Corman’s empty sand train Z543-07 heads north with GMTX 9059 (SD60) leading as it passes through the area of Louisville, Kentucky known as Butchertown. It was returning to Nugent Sand Company for another load of sand for Lexington, Ky and a variety of central Kentucky customers. Normally this train runs during the early morning darkness, but lately it has been making daylight runs on Fridays. The Nugent Sand Co. takes a million tons of sand out of the Ohio River each year. Some 400,000 to 600,000 tons of that has been moved by R.J. Corman into the Lexington and surrounding markets each year since the two companies partnered in 2005. GMTX 9059 was originally built in 1986 as an EMD lease/demo unit and most recently It was running on the New York and Susquehanna & Western Railway (NYSW), Headquartered in Cooperstown, New York, where it was painted in their scheme. It was leased to them by GMTX and is now it is being run on RJC after NYSW decided it did not meet NYSW standards. RJC has a contract with GMTX to do testing and maintenance on their locomotives and are doing so with this unit currently.

RJ Corman’s empty sand train Z543-07 at Louisville, Ky

May 8, 2020 – RJ Corman’s empty sand train Z543-07 heads north with GMTX 9059 (SD60) leading as it passes through the area of Louisville, Kentucky known as Butchertown. It was returning to Nugent Sand Company for another load of sand for Lexington, Ky and a variety of central Kentucky customers. Normally this train runs during the early morning darkness, but lately it has been making daylight runs on Fridays.

The Nugent Sand Co. takes a million tons of sand out of the Ohio River each year. Some 400,000 to 600,000 tons of that has been moved by R.J. Corman into the Lexington and surrounding markets each year since the two companies partnered in 2005.

GMTX 9059 was originally built in 1986 as an EMD lease/demo unit and most recently It was running on the New York and Susquehanna & Western Railway (NYSW), Headquartered in Cooperstown, New York, where it was painted in their scheme. It was leased to them by GMTX and is now it is being run on RJC after NYSW decided it did not meet NYSW standards. RJC has a contract with GMTX to do testing and maintenance on their locomotives and are doing so with this unit currently.

December 20, 2019 - RJ Corman's Cumberland City local passes the TVA Cumberland power plant (coal delivered by barge) as it departs Cumberland City, Tennessee on its way back north on the Memphis Line, with RJC 3837 and 3801 leading, after completing its work in Cumberland City for the day.

RJ Corman’s Cumberland City local passes the TVA Cumberland power plant…

December 20, 2019 – RJ Corman’s Cumberland City local passes the TVA Cumberland power plant (coal delivered by barge) as it departs Cumberland City, Tennessee on its way back north on the Memphis Line, with RJC 3837 and 3801 leading, after completing its work in Cumberland City for the day.

December 20, 2019 - RJ Corman's Cumberland City turn local exits the bridge over the Cumberland River as it makes it's return trip northbound on the Memphis Line at Clarksville, Tennessee with RJC 3801 and 3837 leading with their long noses forward elephant style for their return trip to Guthrie, KY. It is a Swing through truss bridge and was constructed in 1891 by the Pencoyd Bridge & Construction Company for the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railway. It is still an operating bridge on the river and sees at most two trains a day, but most days only one. Trains head to Cumberland City, TN (SB) usually around 9:30am CST and return north on average about 2:30-3:30pm CST.

RJ Corman’s Cumberland City turn local…

December 20, 2019 – RJ Corman’s Cumberland City turn local exits the bridge over the Cumberland River as it makes it’s return trip northbound on the Memphis Line at Clarksville, Tennessee with RJC 3801 and 3837 leading with their long noses forward elephant style for their return trip to Guthrie, KY.

It is a Swing through truss bridge and was constructed in 1891 by the Pencoyd Bridge & Construction Company for the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railway. It is still an operating bridge on the river and sees at most two trains a day, but most days only one. Trains head to Cumberland City, TN (SB) usually around 9:30am CST and return north on average about 2:30-3:30pm CST.

December 20, 2019 - RJ Corman's Cumberland City turn local exits Palmyra Railroad Tunnel as it makes it's return trip northbound on the Memphis Line at Palmyra, Tennessee with RJC 3801 and 3837 leading with their long noses forward elephant style for their return trip to Guthrie, Ky. Palmyra is a very small town southwest of Clarksville, TN and from what I can find the tunnel is about 800-1000 ft. long. The Memphis line follows the Cumberland River between Clarksville and Cumberland City and here at Palmyra, there is a large bluff overlooking the river which required a tunnel to be blasted through it. The line was originally built by the Memphis, Clarksville & Louisville Railroad (MC& L) which eventually became part of L&N.

RJ Corman’s Cumberland City turn…

December 20, 2019 – RJ Corman’s Cumberland City turn local exits Palmyra Railroad Tunnel as it makes it’s return trip northbound on the Memphis Line at Palmyra, Tennessee with RJC 3801 and 3837 leading with their long noses forward elephant style for their return trip to Guthrie, Ky.

Palmyra is a very small town southwest of Clarksville, TN and from what I can find the tunnel is about 800-1000 ft. long.

The Memphis line follows the Cumberland River between Clarksville and Cumberland City and here at Palmyra, there is a large bluff overlooking the river which required a tunnel to be blasted through it.

The line was originally built by the Memphis, Clarksville & Louisville Railroad (MC& L) which eventually became part of L&N.

December 20, 2019 - RJ Corman's Cumberland City local passes the old L&N Railroad Station at Clarksville, Tennessee as it heads south on the Memphis Line with RJC 3837 and 3801 leading as it heads to Cumberland City to do its work for the day. According to Wikipedia: The L & N Train Station is a restored railroad station in Clarksville, Tennessee. It was opened by the Memphis, Clarksville and Louisville Railroad in 1859. It was restored in 1996 to circa 1901 AD condition and includes a diesel locomotive and caboose donated by RJ Corman railroad. It is currently home to the local farmers market and a local art society. It can also be rented out for events. The station was at first widely believed to be the one referenced in The Monkees 1966 song "Last Train to Clarksville", though this turned out to be just a coincidence.

RJ Corman’s Cumberland City local passes the old L&N Railroad Station at Clarksville, Tennessee

December 20, 2019 – RJ Corman’s Cumberland City local passes the old L&N Railroad Station at Clarksville, Tennessee as it heads south on the Memphis Line with RJC 3837 and 3801 leading as it heads to Cumberland City to do its work for the day.

According to Wikipedia: The L & N Train Station is a restored railroad station in Clarksville, Tennessee. It was opened by the Memphis, Clarksville and Louisville Railroad in 1859.

It was restored in 1996 to circa 1901 AD condition and includes a diesel locomotive and caboose donated by RJ Corman railroad. It is currently home to the local farmers market and a local art society. It can also be rented out for events.

The station was at first widely believed to be the one referenced in The Monkees 1966 song “Last Train to Clarksville”, though this turned out to be just a coincidence.

December 20, 2019 - RJ Corman's Cumberland City turn local prepares to cross the bridge over the Cumberland River as it makes it's return trip northbound on the Memphis Line at Clarksville, Tennessee with RJC 3801 and 3837 leading with their long noses forward elephant style for their return trip to Guthrie, Ky. It is a Swing through truss bridge and was constructed in 1891 by the Pencoyd Bridge & Construction Company for the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railway. It is still an operating bridge on the river and sees at most two trains a day, but most days only one. Trains head to Cumberland City, TN (SB) usually around 9:30am CST and return north on average about 2:30-3:30pm CST.

RJ Corman’s Cumberland City turn at the Cumberland River, Clarksville, TN

December 20, 2019 – RJ Corman’s Cumberland City turn local prepares to cross the bridge over the Cumberland River as it makes it’s return trip northbound on the Memphis Line at Clarksville, Tennessee with RJC 3801 and 3837 leading with their long noses forward elephant style for their return trip to Guthrie, Ky.

It is a Swing through truss bridge and was constructed in 1891 by the Pencoyd Bridge & Construction Company for the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railway. It is still an operating bridge on the river and sees at most two trains a day, but most days only one. Trains head to Cumberland City, TN (SB) usually around 9:30am CST and return north on average about 2:30-3:30pm CST.

December 20, 2019 - RJ Corman's Cumberland City turn local prepares to enter Palmyra Railroad Tunnel as it makes it's return trip northbound on the Memphis Line at Palmyra, Tennessee with RJC 3801 and 3837 leading with their long noses forward elephant style for their return trip to Guthrie, Ky. Palmyra is a very small town southwest of Clarksville, TN and from what I can find the tunnel is about 800-1000 ft. long. The Memphis line follows the Cumberland River between Clarksville and Cumberland City and here at Palmyra, there is a large bluff overlooking the river which required a tunnel to be blasted through it. The line was originally built by the Memphis, Clarksville & Louisville Railroad (MC& L) which eventually became part of L&N.

RJ Corman’s Cumberland City turn at Railroad Tunnel

December 20, 2019 – RJ Corman’s Cumberland City turn local prepares to enter Palmyra Railroad Tunnel as it makes it’s return trip northbound on the Memphis Line at Palmyra, Tennessee with RJC 3801 and 3837 leading with their long noses forward elephant style for their return trip to Guthrie, Ky.

Palmyra is a very small town southwest of Clarksville, TN and from what I can find the tunnel is about 800-1000 ft. long.

The Memphis line follows the Cumberland River between Clarksville and Cumberland City and here at Palmyra, there is a large bluff overlooking the river which required a tunnel to be blasted through it.

The line was originally built by the Memphis, Clarksville & Louisville Railroad (MC& L) which eventually became part of L&N.

December 20, 2019 - The RJ Corman Cumberland City Turn is reflected in a small pond as it crosses over Dunlop Road as it continues its move north on the Memphis Line after making a pickup at Letica Plastics in Clarksville, Tennessee.

RJ Corman Cumberland City Turn at Clarksville, TN

December 20, 2019 – The RJ Corman Cumberland City Turn is reflected in a small pond as it crosses over Dunlop Road as it continues its move north on the Memphis Line after making a pickup at Letica Plastics in Clarksville, Tennessee. A big shout out to fellow railfan Cooper Smith for showing me this line today between Guthrie, Ky and Cumberland City, TN!

WEB-06.15.19 RJC Dinner Train at station in Deatsville, Ky

RJ Corman’s (RJC) My Old Kentucky Dinner Train…

June 15, 2019 – RJ Corman’s (RJC) My Old Kentucky Dinner Train with FP7A # 1940, 1941 and a string of dinning cars, passes the old L&N Depot on the RJC Bardstown Line, at Deatsville, Kentucky.

Established in 1988, R. J. Corman’s My Old Kentucky Dinner Train provides guests with a one-of-a-kind dining experience that they won’t soon forget. Visitors are invited to enjoy a gourmet meal of their choice prepared and served on board our restored 1940s dining cars.

Guests board the train at the historic train depot in Bardstown, where they can visit the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train gift shop and enjoy a glass of bourbon from the full-service bar. The seasonal menu features several delicious dining options for guests to choose from. The meal is served during a 37-mile round trip journey through Kentucky’s scenic countryside, where visitors see views of Jim Beam distillery, Jesse James’ safe house and the Jackson Hollow Trestle in the Bernheim Forest.

WEB-06.27.19 N&E Yard at Lebabon, TN

Nashville & Eastern locomotives 8585 and 5939…

June 27, 2019 – Nashville & Eastern locomotives 8585 and 5939 sit next to RJ Corman 8572 sit outside the shops at their yard in Lebanon, Tennessee. RJ Corman purchased the line last year and took over operations the first of part of 2019. You can’t really tell much from this shot but the engine on the far right has been repainted, but the major change is on the sides of the nose where it has NRE in large letters with Nashville Eastern across the middle and the standard RJC lettering and paint.

According to their press release: R. J. Corman Railroad Company announced the finalization of an agreement to acquire the Nashville & Eastern Railroad Corp. (NERR), Nashville & Western Railroad Corp. (NWR), Transit Solutions Group, a commuter rail operation, and three related operating entities. The closing is subject to customary regulatory approvals, and R. J. Corman is expected to take over operations in January 2019.

The Nashville & Eastern family of companies were founded in 1986, marking the beginning of the restoration of the freight rail operations in central Tennessee. In that year, William Drunsic, president and founder, worked alongside his partners to lease approximately 110 miles of nearly abandoned track from the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Nashville and Eastern Railroad Authority, forming the NERR. In the years since, Mr. Drunsic has invested millions of dollars in infrastructure repairs and improvements, started up operations of the 18-mile NWR, and initiated commuter rail service on the Music City Star.

WEB-06.15.19 RJC Dinner Train 1 at Limestone Junction, Ky

RJ Corman Dinner Train at Limestone Junction, Ky…

June 15, 2019 – RJ Corman’s (RJC) My Old Kentucky Dinner Train with FP7A #1940 and 1941 pulls into Limestone Junction, Ky with a string of dining cars, on the RJC Bardstown Line. This is the turn around point for the train, where the engines run around their train before heading back to Bardstown.

According to the RJC Dinner Train brochure, Limestone Springs Junction is located at MP: 24 and is the final attraction along the route. This old-English style depot is presently owned by the Jim Beam company, but in the past it reportedly housed numerous famous and wealthy passengers on the second floor of its overnight facilities. The depot also served as a filming location for the 1981 movie “Stripes” featuring Bill Murray and John Candy.

WEB-06.15.19 RJC Dinner Train 1 at Deatsville, Ky

RJ Corman’s (RJC) My Old Kentucky Dinner Train…

June 15, 2019 – RJ Corman’s (RJC) My Old Kentucky Dinner Train with FP7A # 140 and a string of dinning cars, passes the Samuels Bourbon Rickhouses, which are used to store barrels of bourbon, on the RJC Bardstown Line at Deatsville, Kentucky. The Rickhouses store barrels of bourbon.

Established in 1988, R. J. Corman’s My Old Kentucky Dinner Train provides guests with a one-of-a-kind dining experience that they won’t soon forget. Visitors are invited to enjoy a gourmet meal of their choice prepared and served on board our restored 1940s dining cars.

Guests board the train at the historic train depot in Bardstown, where they can visit the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train gift shop and enjoy a glass of bourbon from the full-service bar. The seasonal menu features several delicious dining options for guests to choose from. The meal is served during a 37-mile round trip journey through Kentucky’s scenic countryside, where visitors see views of Jim Beam distillery, Jesse James’ safe house and the Jackson Hollow Trestle in the Bernheim Forest.