R. J. Corman seeks STB approval to acquire Carolina Southern Railroad lines

R. J. Corman Railroad Co./Carolina Lines LLC has filed a verified notice of exemption with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to acquire two lines in North and South Carolina from the Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad Co., which does business as Carolina Southern Railroad Co.

The two interconnected lines total about 75 miles in the two states. One line extends from Mullins, S.C., to Whiteville, N.C., to Chadbourn, N.C., to Conway, S.C. R. J. Corman/Carolina Lines also would acquire one mile of incidental, local trackage rights from Carolina Southern pertaining to a line near Whiteville.

In addition, R. J. Corman is seeking STB approval to continue in control of R. J. Corman/Carolina Lines after it becomes a Class III railroad. R. J. Corman/Carolina Lines expects to consummate the proposed Carolina Southern transaction on or after Feb. 11.

Representatives from both North and South Carolina have been trying to negotiate a purchase of the Carolina Southern Railroad, a 95-mile short line that ceased operations in 2012.