RE: RE: Shipping Coal (reply)... Question: How long are unit coal trains?
Answer: This depends on the route and is generally limited by grades and siding lengths. On the Colorado Joint Line and BNSF's Brush Subdivision, coal trains can be up to 130 cars in length. For the UP lines in Colorado, typical train lengths are between 100 and 110 cars on the Moffat Route and 115 to120 cars on other routes.