In Sep 2005 - I read an informative article in the "Rocky Mtn News" reviewing the
shortage of rail cars to carry the coal from the western slope of Colorado & Powder
River Basin of Wyoming to end markets. The RRs impacted were the Union Pacific
and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe. Both railroads stated they are improving their
rail lines in the areas, AND experiencing a shortage of railcars that carry the
coal to markets in the east and midwest.
My conclusion is coal is needed for electric power generation. Also, electric power
is intergal to modern American life, so all supply links are intergal. Railroads,
railcars, barges, trucks, coal mines are all supply links.
I did research and found 4 railcar cos: FreightCar America, Trininty Industries,
Greenbrier, and National Steel Car. I chose FreightCar America, sym=rail, because
it is a pure play on coal carrying rail cars in America.
In addition RAIL pioneered and builds the lighter and cheaper-to-pull aluminun railcars
while all other competitors except TRIN builds 30% heavier steel rail cars.
Trinity has railcars, barges, aggregates, engineering and other interests
throughout the world. Greenbrier manufactures and leases railcars throughout
the world. I could not find much data on Natl Steel Car. |
