The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroads in January 2023 was up compared to January 2022. Carloads originated increased 14 percent, from 315,610 in January 2022 to 359,701 in January 2023. Coal led gains with a 47.3 percent increase. Crushed Stone, Sand and Gravel and Nonmetallic Minerals were also up significantly, increasing 33.6 percent and 31.8 percent, respectively.
The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroads in April 2022 was up compared to April 2021. Carloads originated increased 1.7 percent, from 355,874 in April 2021 to 361,793 in April 2022. Metals and Products led gains with a 17.3 percent increase. Petroleum Products was up 16 percent, and Nonmetallic Minerals and Food and Kindred Products increased 12 and 11.5 percent respectively.
The North American rail equipment fleet maintained its total size during the first quarter of 2022. The total equipment count was 2,073,438, for a change of 0 percent. The four largest segments during the quarter were Covered Hoppers (29 percent), Tank Cars (22 percent) and Gondolas and Intermodal (10 percent). Five car groups increased from the last quarter, led by Box Cars and Gondolas, up 1.0 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively. Hoppers and Covered Hoppers led declines, both down 0.5 percent.
The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroad in October 2021 was up compared to October 2020. Carloads originated increased 6.6 percent, from 339,663 in October 2020 to 362,230 in October 2021. Nonmetallic Minerals led gains again with a 63.4 percent increase. Crushed Stone, Sand and Gravel was up 22.1 percent, and Waste and Scrap Materials and Trailer or Container increased 20.0 and 16.8 percent, respectively. Motor Vehicles and Equipment led declines again, down 19.1 percent. Grain, Petroleum Products and Coal were also down in October.
The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroad in September 2021 was up compared to September 2020. Carloads originated increased 10.0 percent, from 318,931 in September 2020 to 350,770 in September 2021. Nonmetallic Minerals led gains again with a 82.3 percent increase. Crushed Stone, Sand and Gravel was up 36.2 percent, and Waste and Scrap Materials and Metals and Products increased 28.3 and 27.2 percent, respectively. Motor Vehicles and Equipment led declines, down 26.5 percent. Grain was also down in September.
The North American rail equipment fleet decreased in total size during the third quarter of 2021. The total equipment count was 2,076,876 for a change of 0.2 percent. The four largest segments during the quarter were Covered Hoppers (29 percent), Tank Cars (22 percent) and Gondolas and Intermodal (10 percent). Five equipment groups increased from the last quarter, led by EOTs, up 3.8 percent, and IM Flats and Intermodal, up 2.7 and 0.4 percent, respectively. Hoppers and Flats led declines, down 2.1 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively.
The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroad in August 2021 was up compared to August 2020. Carloads originated increased 50.7 percent, from 335,004 in August 2020 to 504,784 in August 2021. Nonmetallic Minerals led gains with a 120.4 percent increase. Petroleum Products was up 106.5 percent, and Trailer and Container and Chemicals increased 100.8 and 82.0 percent, respectively. Grain led declines, down 11.2 percent. Motor Vehicles and Equipment was also down in August.
The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroads in May 2021 was up compared to May 2020. Carloads originated increased 29.0 percent, from 286,673 in May 2020 to 369,862 in May 2021. Virtually all carload groups were up. Motor Vehicles and Equipment led gains again with a 384.3 percent increase. Petroleum Products was up 102.8 percent and Waste and Scrap Materials and Nonmetallic Minerals increased 67.6 and 65.7 percent respectively. Pulp, Paper and Allied Products was the only decline, down 0.3 percent in May.
The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroads in April 2021 was up compared to April 2020. Carloads originated increased 18.9 percent, from 305,350 in April 2020 to 363,021 in April 2021. Virtually all carload groups were up. Motor Vehicles and Equipment led gains with a 212.0 percent increase. Nonmetallic Minerals was up 82.9 percent and Waste and Scrap Materials and Petroleum Products increased 54.9 and 50.8 percent respectively.
The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroad in February 2021 was down compared to February 2020. Carloads originated decreased 5.4 percent, from 313,089 in February 2020 to 296,027 in February 2021. Coal led gains with a 42.3 percent increase. Grain was up 23.0 percent, and Trailer and Container increased 1.4 percent. Crushed Stone, Sand and Gravel led declines, down 42.5 percent. Chemicals, Food and Kindred Products, Metals and Products, Waste and Scrap Materials, Nonmetallic Minerals, Lumber and Wood Products, Metallic Ores, Pulp, Paper and Allied Products, Petroleum Products, Stone, Clay and Glass Products, Motor Vehicles and Equipment, Grain Mill Products and Other Carloads were also down in February.
The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroad in December 2020 was up compared to December 2019. Carloads originated increased 4.5 percent, from 323,813 in December 2019 to 338,284 in December 2020. Grain led gains with a 46.4 percent increase. Grain Mill Products was up 18.0 percent, and Waste and Scrap Materials and Stone, Clay and Glass Products increased 16.3 and 10.5 percent respectively.
The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroad in September 2020 was down compared to September 2019. Carloads originated decreased 4.2 percent, from 339,519 in September 2019 to 325,145 in September 2020.
The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroad in July 2020 was down compared to July 2019. Carloads originated decreased 12.3 percent, from 356,517 in July 2019 to 318,959 in July 2020. Grain Mill Products led gains with a 11.1 percent increase. Stone, Clay and Glass Products was up 7.8 percent, and Chemicals increased 2.0 percent. Nonmetallic Minerals led declines, down 43.6 percent.
All but one car group decreased from the last quarter, the exception being Tanks, up 0.1 percent. Intermodal led declines, down 5.0 percent, followed by Hoppers, down 1.7 percent. Box Cars and Miscellaneous decreased 1.5 and 1.1 percent, respectively.
The number of carloads moved on short line and regional railroad in May 2020 was down compared to May 2019. Carloads originated decreased 21.5 percent, from 370,487 in May 2019 to 290,856 in May 2020. Stone, Clay and Glass Products was the sole gain, with a 0.7 percent increase. Motor Vehicles and Equipment led declines, down 80.9 percent.
