The Association of American Railroads reported last week that, for the week ending July 27, “total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 534,498 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.4 percent compared with the same week last year.
Total carloads for the week ending July 27 were 261,706 carloads, down 3.5 percent compared with the same week in 2018, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 272,792 containers and trailers, down 5.3 percent compared to 2018. Three of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2018. They were nonmetallic minerals, up 2,381 carloads, to 38,326; miscellaneous carloads, up 880 carloads, to 10,399; and petroleum and petroleum products, up 500 carloads, to 12,642. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2018 included coal, down 6,517 carloads, to 81,255; grain, down 1,812 carloads, to 22,342; and forest products, down 1,576 carloads, to 9,490.”
On a related note, WYMT in Eastern Kentucky reports that “A CSX train engine stuck for nearly 48 hours is now on the move. Officials showed up to the site of the stalemate Wednesday afternoon to talk with miners about a compromise. During their talks, miners allowed CSX officials to take the engine but asked them to leave the train cars loaded with coal…There are now about 100 rail cars full of coal just sitting on the tracks. It is said to be worth about $1 million.”