Raymond F. Corley was born and educated in Toronto. During the Second World War he served with the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. After returning to Canada, he received the Bachelor of Applied Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Toronto. Before joining the staff of the Canadian General Electric Company he worked in the Rolling Stock and Equipment Department of the Toronto Transportation Commission. At Canadian General Electric he became Manager - Transportation Equipments (sales and engineering) an area which included streetcars, trolley coaches, subway cars, and locomotives. In 1974 he returned to the Toronto Transit Commission where he became Superintendent of Design and Development, Equipment Engineering, a position which he held until his retirement in 1989. He now serves as a consultant in this field.
Corley has carried out research in the transportation field for over fifty years. His published works include: PCC Cars in the United States and Canada (General Electric Company, 1948), The Budd RDC in Canada (Upper Canada Railway Society, 1966), Preserved Canadian Railway Equipment (Railfare Enterprises, 1971). He is the co-author with Anthony Clegg of Canadian National Steam Power (Railfare Enterprises, 1969), and with W. Edson of Railroad History 147; The GTR and Its Locomotives (Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, 1982). Corley is a member of some twenty transportation societies world-wide.
