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The Greenbrier Companies company history timeline

1981

Alan James and William A. Furman, two former executives of the TransPacific Financial Corporation, a Northwest-based finance and heavy equipment company, created the Greenbrier Companies as a holding company in 1981.

In 1981, Commercial Metals sold the company to Alan James and William A. Furman, the owners of James-Furman & Company and founders of The Greenbrier Companies.

1982

Many orders were cancelled and new orders plummeted; in 1982, only 25 railcars were built.

1984

_____________. Mountain Memories, II, III. South Charleston, West Virginia, Jalamap Publishing, 1984.

1985

____________. Mountain Memories, IV. South Charleston, West Virginia, Mountain Memories Books, 1985.

In 1985, MRED was acquired by The Greenbrier Companies.

1986

Lewisburg, West Virginia, Greenbrier Historical Society, 1986.

1988

Hawker Siddeley sold the Trenton Works to Lavalin Industries, then part of the Lavalin Group, in 1988.

1990

South Charleston, West Virginia, Mountain Memories Books, 1990.

The Twin-Stack became an important product, with approximately 3,000 being produced in 1990.

1991

Lavalin spun off the railroad-car manufacturing facility in 1991, which operated independently as Trenton Works, Inc. until it was purchased by The Greenbrier Companies.

In 1991, Greenbrier established its rail services division, adding to its maintenance and refurbishment capabilities.

1995

By 1995, Gunderson had built more than 85,000 railway cars.

1996

The Greenbrier Companies did receive a setback in 1996 when year-long negotiations with Conrail Inc. to manufacture and repair freight cars in Pennsylvania collapsed, apparently because neither company could guarantee enough business to make the joint venture viable.

1998

In 1998, the company acquired Polish railcar manufacturer Wagony Świdnica.

2004

In 2004, Bombardier's stake in the venture was acquired; the operation now goes by Greenbrier Sahagún.

2007

The TrentonWorks facility closed in 2007 as a result of unfavorable exchange rates and lower operating costs in Mexico.

2012

In December 2012, Carl Icahn made an offer to purchase Greenbrier for $20 a share, which represented a 5.4% premium to Greenbrier's stock price at that time.

2013

So you can imagine my delight today when The Dorothy Draper School of Decorating formally announced a one-day decorating class, scheduled for Saturday, April 20, 2013 at The Greenbrier Resort, taught by Carleton Varney himself!! The Victorian Writing Room – once called […]

2014

In 2014, Greenbrier announced a railcar maintenance joint venture company with Watco called GBW Railcar Services.

2015

In 2015, Greenbrier opened Greenbrier Tlaxcala, a wholly owned railcar manufacturing facility in Tlaxcala, Mexico.

Additionally in 2015, the Saudi Railway Company (SAR) awarded Greenbrier a contract with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) to manufacture nearly 1,200 tank wagons.

2016

In 2016, Greenbrier and Sumitomo Corporation of Americas formed a 50/50 joint venture to establish a leading axle machining facility on West Coast to support growing intermodal rail activity and create value for customers and partners.

2017

The company also acquired a 19.5% stake in Amsted-Maxion Hortolândia, a Brazilian railcar manufacturer, for US$15 million; Greenbrier took a majority interest of Greenbrier Maxion in 2017.

2018

In, 2018, Greenbrier and Watco announced the discontinuation of the joint venture to allow both companies to better capitalize on railcar maintenance demands in the North American market.

2019

In 2019, Greenbrier launched its first environmental, social and governance (ESG) report.

Also in 2019, Greenbrier acquired American Railcar Industries (ARI), a transaction valued at $400 million.

2021

In 2021, Greenbrier formed GBX Leasing, a joint venture with The Longwood Group, a Chicago-based transportation equipment advisory and asset management firm, to develop an owned portfolio of leased railcars to be built primarily by Greenbrier.

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Founded
1981
Company founded
Headquarters
Lake Oswego, OR
Company headquarter
Founders
Kelly M. Williams
Company founders
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The Greenbrier Companies history FAQs

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The Greenbrier Companies may also be known as or be related to Greenbrier Companies Inc., Greenbrier Cos., Inc., The Greenbrier Companies, The Greenbrier Companies Inc and The Greenbrier Companies, Inc.