Petroleum Coke by Rail
The bottom-of-the-barrel refinery byproduct — fuel-grade petcoke moves like coal, anode-grade feeds aluminum smelters.
| Railcar | Open-top hopper or rotary gondola |
| Typical net load | 100–115 tons per car |
| Bulk density | ~45–55 lb/cu ft |
| Loading constraint | Weighs out (weight-limited) |
| STCC | 29914 — look up related codes in the STCC Finder |
What it's used for
Cement kilns and power generation (fuel grade), aluminum anodes (calcined grade), export.
How it moves
Gulf Coast refineries to cement plants, export docks and calciners; handled with coal-style rotary dump equipment.
Where it flows
Key origins and gateways for petroleum coke 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 petroleum coke be shipped by rail?
Yes. Petroleum Coke moves regularly on the North American rail network in open-top hopper or rotary gondolas. Gulf Coast refineries to cement plants, export docks and calciners; handled with coal-style rotary dump equipment..
How many tons of petroleum coke fit in a railcar?
A typical load is 100–115 net tons per car — the car reaches its weight limit well before its cubic capacity.
What railcar does petroleum coke move in?
Open-top hopper or rotary gondola. Because the commodity is dense, smaller-cube cars are common — the weight limit governs.
What is the bulk density of petroleum coke?
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 petroleum coke 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.