Wyoming

Moving Wyoming's Economy. Connecting Communities.

As the number one source of coal in the United States and the nation’s ninth-largest natural gas producer, Wyoming relies on railroads to bring in the equipment to harvest energy resources and to export this Cowboy State bounty to the nation and the world.

Originating

Top Commodities Originating

Coal 223.4M Tons | 1.9M Cars

Chemicals 11.9M Tons | 109.9K Cars

Stone, Clay & Glass Products 3.1M Tons | 30.4K Cars

Crushed Stone & Sand 1.1M Tons | 10.9K Cars

Petroleum Products 0.9M Tons | 10.3K Cars

Other 4.3M Tons | 61K Cars

Received

Top Commodities Received / Terminated

Coal 9M Tons | 77.8K Cars

Crushed Stone & Sand 2.2M Tons | 19K Cars

Food Products 0.6M Tons | 6K Cars

Chemicals 0.5M Tons | 5.2K Cars

Petroleum Products 0.4M Tons | 4.1K Cars

Other 2.4M Tons | 37K Cars

WYOMING'S

State Grants

Wyoming Highway Safety Grant

Grant

WYOMING'S

Rail Heritage

Wyoming’s first territorial governor gave a railroad credit for the creation of his own job. He said organizing a government had been made necessary by the arrival of the Union Pacific Railroad, which reached Cheyenne in November 1867 and Laramie the following May as it built west toward its 1869 meeting with the Central Pacific. By 1873, Union Pacific’s holdings generated a third of the territory’s property tax revenue, and the line built Wyoming’s major towns, including Cheyenne, quickly nicknamed the “Magic City of the Plains,” while settlements bypassed by the tracks withered. That railroad-driven founding still defines Wyoming’s economy, with freight rail carrying the coal and livestock the line first made possible to move to market.

Why Freight Rail Matters

Supports Manufacturing

Rail connects manufacturers with suppliers and customers across North America, efficiently moving raw materials and finished goods.

Strengthens Agriculture

Rail helps move crops, forest products, fertilizers and other agricultural goods efficiently and affordably.

Reduces Congestion

Moving freight by rail removes trucks from highways, helping reduce traffic and wear on road infrastructure.

Protects the Environment

Freight rail is significantly more fuel efficient than moving freight by truck, helping reduce fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Rail at Work

See All

Safety

FRA Data Shows Major Rail Safety Gains in 2025

Washington, D.C. – New data from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) shows 2025 was a historic year for freight rail safety. Accident and injury rates…

Policy Issues

Rail Policy Landscape in the 117th Congress

Washington, D.C. — As the 117th Congress dives into its work—and committee assignments and leadership roles have been finalized—we now know more about the key…

Economic Impact

Three Reasons to Love America’s Freight Trains

Washington, D.C. — The allure of railroading in America is undeniable. It’s an intrinsic part of our nation’s history and identity—steel wheels on steel rail…

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