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Last month, BNSF Railway Co. loaded 25 million tons of coal — a new monthly record. The Class I also loaded 213,141 coal cars, which established a high-water mark for October.

The railroad set the records despite various mine loading issues that reduced train loadings by 104 units — or about 13,200 cars — during the month and which linger in November, BNSF said. In addition, a cold snap slowed operations in late October.

During 2006’s first 10 months, BNSF loaded 237.6 million tons of coal, up 10.6 percent compared with similar 2005 data.

In the Powder River Basin (PRB) through Oct. 29, the railroad averaged 49.4 train loadings per day, up 10 percent compared with the same 2005 period. However, PRB mine loading issues reduced daily loadings by an average of 4.7 trains during the week ending Oct. 29, BNSF said.