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The U.S. Class I workforce got a tad larger in February compared with the previous month, but remained below last year's level. As of mid-February, large railroads employed 163,100 people, up 0.1 percent vs. January's total and down 2 percent from February 2007's level, according to Surface Transportation Board data.

The transportation (train and engine) workforce totaling 67,826 declined 0.1 percent from January's count and 4 percent from last year's total. Transportation (other than T&E) ranks in mid-February stood at 6,750, up 0.2 percent month over month but down 6 percent year over year.

The maintenance-of-way and structures workforce, totaling 34,284, posted the only monthly and yearly gains among employment categories, climbing 1 percent from January's level and 0.4 percent from February 2007's count.

Meanwhile, maintenance of equipment and stores ranks totaling 30,301 decreased 0.3 percent month over month but inched up 0.1 percent year over year. Professional and administrative staff in mid-February stood at 13,827, up 0.1 percent compared with January and down 0.4 percent compared with February 2007; while executives, officials and staff assistants totaled 10,112, down 0.1 percent month over month and 1 percent year over year.