History

The family's involvement in the railroad industry came long before the 1974 founding of Shelby Railroad Service, Inc. After working in the railroad industry for almost 52 years, Mr. John McGinnis (grandfather of John Tarver and Kirk Tarver) presented his rail car design to the Illinois Central Railroad Company in August of 1944. John McGinnis's interest in the railroad industry soon became a family tradition, and his innovative ways of thinking were passed to the next generations. Then it happened. Shelby Railroad Service, Inc. was founded.

First work train built at Illinois Central
Railroad's South Yard in June 1944.

Founded by John Tarver in August of 1974, Shelby Railroad Service, Inc. has been a family owned and operated company committed to providing the railroad industry with the highest quality materials and railroad track construction services in the mid-south and surrounding areas of the United States. Our company has preformed work in the following states; Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska and Tennessee. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, our company consists of administrative offices, a fabrication and repair/service shop, and ten acres of storage warehouse space with another eleven acres of land for expansion. All of our employees have had extensive training in the railroad industry insuring that customers will always have experienced and confident supervisors on site. The wealth of knowledge and attention to detail by our railroad track contractors guarantees our clients will receive the highest standard of service available. Shelby Railroad Service, Inc. believes that our client's needs are our top priority after safety, and with the problematic nature of the railroad industry, we provide 24/7 customer service and assistance.

From the first contracted work for the company in August 1974, to presently employing the largest fleet of specialized rail equipment and materials in the mid-south, Shelby Railroad Service, Inc. has provided the utmost in service and competence to some of the largest corporations in the United States. Companies such as Coors Brewing, Owens Corning, Kellogg's, Valero Refining, Kimberly Clark, and others have relied on Shelby Railroad Service, Inc. to get the job done on time, on budget, and safely.

Whether it is design, new construction, maintenance, repair, or the supply of rail materials or equipment either by purchase or rental, our railroad track contractors with Shelby Railroad Service, Inc. will continue to serve the mid-south and adjoining areas with the highest levels of quality and professionalism in the industry.

Some of the products / services we offer are railroad track construction, rail track maintenance, rail repair services, railroad spur design, railroad track inspection, railroad track maintenance, railroad track contractors, railroad service, railroad track inspection, track work, railroad repair and railroad siding. Our company has performed work in the following states; Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska and Tennessee. We are headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. Our territory covers Jackson MS, St. Louis MO, Cape Girardeau MO, Jackson TN, Little Rock AR, Ft. Smith AR, Jonesboro AR and Birmingham AL. Shelby Railroad Service, Inc is a Rail King Authorized Dealer and service company for all types of rail car movers providing rail car mover sales, service, and rentals.