Maybe somebody can give me a good answer?

Question

Ok seen a train today and it had nothin but coal cars on it that was loaded ... it had like 100 cars. And it got me to thinkin' about just how much that train was worth .. what I mean is how much was the coal worth in just that one train? I would think it would be a ton of money .. get it .. a ton .. lol so anyways if anyone can tell me .. please let me know .. thanks!

Answer 1

Indeed, if you saw this train out West or in the Plains then yes, it was PRB (Powder River Basin) coal, which burns very clean compared to bituminous.  Having said that, if you live back east than you likely saw the common stuff, bituminous.   But anyway, I digress...

It's tough to say exactly what that coal drag (or unit train, if you like) is worth as I'm not sure what coal is going for per-ton right now.  But yes, given that standard open hoppers ("coal cars") today hold around 100 tons each, if you know the current price per ton, then simply do the math. :o)  Given that power plants can burn cheaper (but dirtier) bituminous much cleaner today with the latest scrubbers available (and required), coal prices have really skyrocketed with new or reopened coal mines popping up all over the place in the East, especially in the Appalachian regions.

Answer 2

It depends on the type of coal. The price per short ton can run anywhere from 9.75 to 45.75 and even as high as 100 dollars (industrial prices). Different coal has different characteristics that makes it liked or unliked by the purchaser.

Answer 3

Most likely what you saw was a "unit train". Trains like this were called such a name as they carried only one type of load. In this case, coal. I'm sure the load you saw was valued in the millions, of not billions of dollars. I'm just sorry Ican't get you a more accurate value of the load in question. Also, I hope I don't cause your train of thought to lose track! ;) Take care.

Answer 4

Well, depends on if it derails or not LOL. If you derail one of the things they act  like the world is coming to an end, otherwise just another day.

Answer 5

Yes, depends on the value of the coal.  Low ash, low sulphur, low moisture coking coal useful for making steel is worth a lot more than high sulphur, high ash, high moisture coal which is only good for power stations.  

There are lots of varieties of coal and the price is paid on ash, moisture, sulphur content, heating value, coking value and so forth.  Quality is the key to price.  

I worked in coal labs for years.

Answer 6

If you go with the price of $45 a ton, each car holds around 100-110 tons and is worth $4500-$5000 x 100 cars in the usual train and your looking at $450,000-$500,000. The largest of the coal fired electrical generating plants owned by the company I work for gets two 100 car trains a day. And people wonder why their electrical bill is so high.

Answer 7

That is one of life's great mysteries. I'm told every philosopher in the world right now is kept up at night with that one. It even beats how much gas can be kept in a gas station when it's full.

Answer 8

Hey Ding. The coal you saw most likely came from the Powder River, Wyoming mine. It goes to power plants in the eastern part of the U.S.  Each train is comprised of 100 to 110 cars, and weighs around 12,000 tons. One train is loaded every two hours. The value isn't that great - 20 to 35 dollars a ton, depending on demand (its a commodity like any fuel). But trains are the most efficient way to transport coal. Each train eliminates 240 trucks from the highways.