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BNSF Railway Co.’s Powder River Basin (PRB) coal traffic continues to remain ahead — albeit barely — of last year’s pace.

In August, the Class I’s PRB train loadings averaged 50.3 trains per day, a 1.8 percent increase compared with August 2006’s loadings. Mine issues resulted in the loss of an average of 2.2 train-loading opportunities per day, a 56.9 percent decline compared with daily mine-related lost loading opportunities in July. Meanwhile, August joint line tonnage exceeded the prior record set in December 2006, the Class I reported.

Year-to-date through Aug. 31, BNSF loaded an average of 49.3 trains per day in the PRB – which includes Wyoming and Montana mines – a 0.4 percent bump compared loadings during the same 2006 period.