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In September, Union Pacific Railroad loaded 949 coal trains in the southern Powder River Basin (SPRB) compared with 1,106 trains in September 2008.

Loadings were slowed for about one day after a BNSF Railway Co. train derailed 33 loaded cars on the Joint Line Sept. 20 between Shawnee Junction and Bill, Wyo., blocking all three main tracks. One track was re-opened the afternoon of Sept. 20 and the other two tracks re-opened the next day.

In addition, UP registered 100 missed SPRB loading opportunities in September, 10 of which were attributable to the mines, 53 to utility plants and 37 to the Joint Line derailment. Missed loading opportunities were partially offset with 88 extra loadings, UP said.

In the Colorado/Utah region last month, the Class I loaded 255 coal trains compared with 302 trains in September 2008. Loadings from some mines continued to be depressed because of coal production problems and lower demand from several plants, UP said.

For the month, the railroad loaded 99 percent of National Coal Transportation Association (NCTA) demand in the SPRB and 100 percent of NCTA demand in the Colorado/Utah region.