July 31, 2025

Future Engineers Get a Front-Row Seat to R. J. Corman’s Rail Operations

This summer, R. J. Corman welcomed students from the University of Kentucky’s Summer Engineering Exploration Kamp (SEEK), a program designed to spark curiosity among rising high school seniors. Over the course of one week, SEEK hosts three separate cohorts— 60 students in total— each exploring the fundamentals of civil engineering through immersive, hands-on learning experiences. 

As part of the program, the first cohort of students visited the construction site of the R. J. Corman Railroad Company Frankfort Transload Yard in Kentucky’s capital city. This site is a key component of the Bluegrass Multimodal Freight Improvement Project—a $12.3 million initiative supported by a federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant and an R. J. Corman match. Once completed, it will serve as a three-track rail-to-truck transload facility designed to increase freight capacity, modernize infrastructure, and reduce traffic congestion by shifting from road to rail over the coming decades. 
 

During their visit, students engaged with team members from R. J. Corman Railroad Company’s Engineering and Operations teams and contractors HDR, observed construction activity firsthand, and participated in discussions about engineering design, site development, and the future of rail transportation. 
The remaining student cohorts toured R. J. Corman Railroad Company’s Lexington yard, a central rail facility that plays a vital role in railcar switching, maintenance, and logistics support throughout the region. This visit provides students with a hands-on view of day-to-day railroad operations and how rail supports regional industry and commerce.

Dr. Sebastian Bryson, professor of civil engineering at the University of Kentucky and leader of the SEEK program, said, “SEEK is a summer camp for rising high school seniors to expose them to as much civil engineering as possible. Students go on field trips and participate in hands-on activities related to civil engineering. This year, I specifically selected R. J. Corman because l wanted to take the students to a nontraditional civil engineering construction site, and there are several alumni employed at R. J. Corman.”

The experience provided them with a valuable insight into how large-scale rail infrastructure projects are designed and constructed, and how civil engineering directly impacts the communities we serve. 

We’re proud to support programs like SEEK that inspire the next generation of engineers and provide meaningful opportunities to learn, explore, and imagine what’s possible.