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.
By the numbers: state rail plan figures
How much of this commodity group moves by rail, as published in the states' own federally mandated rail plans:
Statewide rail tonnage
- Wyoming: 479.2 million tons of coal moved by rail in all directions - origin, destination, intrastate and through combined in 2011 (Wyoming State Rail Plan 2015, p. 120).
- Missouri: 135.5 million tons of bituminous coal moved by rail to, from, within and through the state in 2018 (Missouri State Rail Plan 2022, p. 50).
- Illinois: 123.1 million tons of coal handled by the state's rail network in all directions (including through traffic) in 2019 (Illinois State Rail Plan 2023, p. 267).
- Tennessee: 91.6 million tons of coal moved by rail in all directions in 2012 (Tennessee State Rail Plan 2019, p. 80).
- Iowa: 64.7 million tons of coal moved by rail in all directions across the state (including through traffic) in 2022 (Iowa State Rail Plan 2025, p. 246).
Single-direction figures
These count movement in one direction only — originated, inbound or outbound as each plan defines it — so they are not comparable with the statewide totals above.
- Kansas: 174 million tons of coal moved by rail through the state in 2007 (Kansas State Rail Plan 2011, p. 96).
- South Dakota: 78.6 million tons of coal moved through the state by rail in 2019 (South Dakota State Rail Plan 2022, p. 112).
- Oklahoma: 58 million tons of coal moved through the state by rail in 2019 (Oklahoma State Rail Plan 2021, p. 109).
Each figure is quoted from the cited state rail plan and reflects that plan's own data year, commodity grouping and methodology — figures from different plans are not directly comparable with each other. Some plans count traffic passing through the state and others exclude it; each line says which.
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.