Coal by Rail
Still one of the largest single commodities on US rails. Powder River Basin thermal coal and Appalachian met coal move in dedicated unit trains from mine to plant or port.
| Railcar | Open-top hopper or rotary-dump gondola |
| Typical net load | 110–121 tons per car |
| Bulk density | ~45–55 lb/cu ft |
| Loading constraint | Weighs out (weight-limited) |
| STCC | 11212 — look up related codes in the STCC Finder |
What it's used for
Electric generation (thermal), steelmaking coke (metallurgical), export.
How it moves
100–150 car unit trains in captive cycles; rotary couplers let gondolas dump without uncoupling. Met coal rails east to Baltimore/Hampton Roads for export.
Where it flows
Key origins and gateways for coal on the Commodity Flow Map:
- Appalachian Coal Country (Met & Thermal) — Appalachian Coal Country, WV (CSX, NS)
- Powder River Basin (Coal) — Powder River Basin, WY (BNSF, UP, NS)
- North Platte (UP Bailey Yard — World's Largest) — North Platte, NE (UP)
- Toledo (Lake Erie Coal & Iron Ore Port) — Toledo, OH (CSX, NS)
Common questions
Can coal be shipped by rail?
Yes. Coal moves regularly on the North American rail network in open-top hopper or rotary-dump gondolas. 100–150 car unit trains in captive cycles; rotary couplers let gondolas dump without uncoupling.
How many tons of coal fit in a railcar?
A typical load is 110–121 net tons per car — the car reaches its weight limit well before its cubic capacity.
What railcar does coal move in?
Open-top hopper or rotary-dump gondola. Because the commodity is dense, smaller-cube cars are common — the weight limit governs.
What is the bulk density of coal?
Roughly 45–55 lb per cubic foot, depending on grade and condition.
Related tools
- Railcar Capacity Guide — loads and cubic capacities by car type
- Railcar Selector — match a commodity to the right equipment
- Rail vs Truck Calculator — where rail wins on your lane
- Transload Directory — 2,400+ transfer facilities
Shipping coal by rail?
Run your lane through the Rail Rate Quote tool for an indicative estimate (the commodity is pre-selected for you), compare modes with Rail vs Truck, or find transfer points in the Transload Directory. We do not guarantee rates — we will talk through your lane before quoting.
Figures on this page are typical industry ranges for reference — actual loads depend on the specific car, commodity grade and railroad rules. Rate estimates are indicative only; Steel Wheel Logistics does not issue binding quotes from this page.