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October's last full week was a good one for U.S. railroads, at least in terms of carloads. During the period ending Oct. 27, the roads originated 341,396 carloads, a 0.8 percent increase compared with traffic from the same week in 2006, according to the Association of American Railroads.

However, their intermodal volume declined 4.4 percent year over year to 240,657 containers and trailers.

During 2007's first 43 weeks, U.S. railroads originated 14 million carloads, down 3 percent, and 10 million containers and trailers, down 2.1 percent compared with totals from the same 2006 week. Total estimated volume fell 1.5 percent to 1.45 trillion ton-miles.

In Canada, railroads capped off a good week on two counts. During the period ending Oct. 27, Canadian railroads originated 82,767 carloads, up 7.8 percent, and 52,104 containers and trailers, up 3.6 percent compared with totals from 2006's 43rd week.

Through 43 weeks, the roads originated carloads totaling 3.4 million units remained down 0.5 percent year over year, while intermodal volume totaling 2 million units remained up 2.9 percent.

On a combined cumulative-volume basis through 43 weeks, reporting U.S. and Canadian railroads originated 17.4 million carloads, down 2.5 percent, and 12 million containers and trailers, down 1.3 percent compared with totals from the same 2006 period.