Editing Unit train (section)

== Use ==
Unit trains are typically used for the transportation of bulk goods. These can be solid substances such as:
* [[Construction aggregate|Aggregate]]
* [[Coal]] from [[coal mines|mines]] to [[power stations]]
* [[Coke (fuel)|Coke]] from [[coking plant]]s to [[steel mill]]s
* [[Iron ore]] from mines to [[sea ports|ports]] or [[steel mills]]
* [[Ore]]
* [[Phosphate]] from mines to fertilizer plants
* [[Potash]]
* [[Sand]] (e.g., for [[hydraulic fracturing]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.petroleumconnection.com/blog/insights-into-the-largest-frac-sand-unit-train-on-record |title=Insights into the Largest Frac Sand Unit Train on Record |last1=Cook |first1=Pete |date=December 1, 2015 |website=Petroleum Connection |access-date=September 5, 2016 }}</ref>)
* [[Steel]]
* [[Taconite]]
* [[Track ballast]] or [[gravel]]

Bulk liquids are transported in unit trains made up of [[tank car]]s, such as:
* [[Crude oil]] from oil fields to refineries (can be [{{convert|60000|oilbbl|m3}}] of oil in a unit train of 100 tank cars)<ref name="union_pacific_oil_train">{{Cite web
 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usrail-oilshipments-idUSN1E76L18M20110722
 |title=Union Pacific sees rail oil shipments quadrupling
 |first1=Janet 
 |last1=McGurty
 |first2=Lynn
 |last2=Adler
 |first3=David
 |last3=Gregorio
 |date=2011-07-22
 |publisher=[[Reuters]]
}}</ref>

* [[Ethanol]] from ethanol plants to motor fuel blending facilities<ref name="ethanol_train">{{Cite web
 |url         = http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/pub/sep06/keep.htm
 |title       = Keep on Truckin’: Ethanol boom creates transportation challenges
 |first       = Stephen
 |last        = Thompson
 |date        = September 2006
 |publisher   = [[United States Department of Agriculture]]
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110519131941/http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/pub/sep06/keep.htm
 |archive-date = 2011-05-19
}}</ref>
* Molten [[sulfur]] (non-US:sulphur)

Food, such as:
* [[Fruit juice]]
* [[Maize|Corn]]
* [[Mineral oil]] products from the [[refineries]] to the storage facilities
* [[Refrigerated]] food
* [[Wheat]]

Other examples include:
* [[Car|Automobiles]] in [[autorack]]s
* [[Intermodal container]]s, generally between a port and a truck depot
* [[Mail]]
* [[Military technology|Military Equipment (weapons)]]
* [[TOFC]] (Trailer on [[flat car]])
* [[Waste]] (garbage), usually for [[recycling]], often metals or paper