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U.S. Class Is began 2013 with fewer employees than they had at 2012's end. As of mid-January, the large roads employed 162,043 people, down 0.4 percent from December's mark, according to Surface Transportation Board data. But on a year-over-year basis, the workforce increased by 1.2 percent.

Compared with December levels, three employment categories posted declines in January: transportation (train and engine), down 0.7 percent to 65,042; maintenance of way and structures, down 0.6 percent to 36,046; and executives, officials and staff assistants, down 0.3 percent to 9,848.

The number of maintenance of equipment and stores workers was flat at 30,174, while the number of professional and administrative staff increased 0.4 percent to 14,142, and transportation (other than T&E) ranks rose 0.4 percent to 6,791.

On a year-over-year basis, the only category that registered a decline was transportation (other than T&E), at 0.2 percent. The number of executives, officials and staff assistants climbed 3.5 percent; professional and administrative staff rose 2.6 percent; maintenance of equipment and stores employees increased 1.6 percent; maintenance of way and structures ranks ratcheted up 1.5 percent; and transportation (T&E) workers inched up 0.3 percent.