Repeatable volume
Consistent or seasonal truckload demand can create enough freight to support railcar-scale movements and inventory planning.
Ship by Rail
Move more. Reach farther. Build the rail plan around the freight.
Explore direct B&H service, Coopers Plains transload, railcar storage, equipment, commodity, location, and development options in Steuben County and across the affiliated railroad network—even when the current facility does not have a siding.
New to freight railGetting StartedUnderstand the information, commercial, equipment, facility, and service steps.→
No private sidingFind a Transload LocationUse rail for the long haul and trucks for pickup or final delivery.→
Equipment & volumeRailcar Guide & EstimatorCompare equipment and estimate railcars from the existing truck volume.→
What are you moving?Commodity SolutionsExplore handling, equipment, and planning considerations by freight type.↓
Start With the Freight
The right question is not simply, “Can this move by rail?”
A workable rail program connects the commodity, lane, annual volume, equipment, facility, loading and unloading method, service expectations, inventory strategy, and commercial arrangement.
B&H can help determine whether direct rail, Coopers Plains transload, a rail-served property, railcar storage, or a future track connection deserves a closer look.
Early information does not need to be perfect. Share the best volume, lane, payload, facility, and timing estimates currently available, then refine the plan with the railroad.
Where Rail Often Deserves a Closer Look
Rail is strongest when the freight and the operation create a repeatable opportunity.
No single factor guarantees a good fit. These conditions usually justify a more detailed lane, equipment, and facility review.
Meaningful line-haul distance
Rail becomes more relevant when the long-haul portion is substantial and truck mileage can be concentrated around the ends of the move.
Dense, bulky, or specialized freight
Heavy materials, dry bulk, liquids, dimensional products, and repeat industrial inputs often align with railcar capabilities.
Facility and inventory flexibility
Rail can support larger receipts, planned inventory, transload staging, or customer-controlled loading and unloading windows.
Three Paths to Rail
The current facility does not have to determine the long-term answer.
Select the access path that most closely matches the project today.
Direct Rail Service
Use existing B&H-served track at the shipper or receiver.
Direct service can reduce intermediate handling and give the facility more control over loading, unloading, inventory, and railcar cycle. B&H still needs to evaluate track condition, capacity, clearances, Norfolk Southern routing through Painted Post, operating fit, commodity, equipment, and service requirements.
Rail Without a Private Siding
Use rail for the long haul and truck for the local connection.
Transload can provide a practical path when the shipper, receiver, warehouse, or job site is not located on track. B&H's Coopers Plains facility offers rail-to-truck access, warehousing, storage bays, rail spurs, a certified truck scale, conveyors, and project-specific handling subject to review.
New Site, Expansion or Track Connection
Build rail access into the property and operating plan early.
A new siding or rail-served site on B&H requires coordination among transportation, engineering, operations, real estate, utilities, permitting, economic-development partners, Norfolk Southern routing, and the customer. Early railroad involvement can prevent avoidable redesign.
Site Selection SupportEvaluate Steuben County land, logistics, utilities, readiness, and B&H rail fit.→Track Design & Rail AccessDevelop the conceptual B&H connection, site layout, and operating approach.→Economic Development SupportOrganize regional partners, public benefits, project readiness, and possible funding paths.→Industrial DevelopmentConnect the site, freight, and long-term growth plan.→
Commodity Explorer
Start with what you move and how it must be handled.
Search or filter the commodity groups below. Equipment examples are general planning references; the actual car, route, handling system, and service must be confirmed for the specific product and lane.
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Commodity solution
Agriculture, Feed & Fertilizer
Grain, oilseeds, feed ingredients, pellets, meals, crop nutrients, and other dry or liquid agricultural inputs.
- Common equipment
- Covered hoppers, tank cars, boxcars
- Evaluate
- Seasonality, product integrity, storage, truck radius, unloading rate
Commodity solution
Food Ingredients & Sugar
Liquid sweeteners, edible oils, dry ingredients, packaged products, and other food-manufacturing inputs.
- Common equipment
- Tank cars, covered hoppers, boxcars
- Evaluate
- Food-grade handling, cleaning, temperature, contamination control
Commodity solution
Steel & Industrial Metals
Coils, plate, structural shapes, billets, bar, fabricated products, scrap, and dimensional industrial loads.
- Common equipment
- Gondolas, flatcars, coil cars, boxcars
- Evaluate
- Securement, crane access, weight distribution, weather protection
Commodity solution
Construction Materials
Aggregates, cement, fly ash, slag, wallboard, lumber, panels, and other high-volume building materials.
- Common equipment
- Open hoppers, covered hoppers, centerbeams, boxcars
- Evaluate
- Job timing, unloading method, staging, truck access, seasonal demand
Commodity solution
Plastics & Resins
Pellets, powders, additives, packaged resin, and other polymer or plastics-manufacturing inputs.
- Common equipment
- Covered hoppers, boxcars
- Evaluate
- Product cleanliness, pneumatic unloading, storage, inventory visibility
Commodity solution
Paper, Pulp & Packaging
Rolls, pulp, recycled fiber, linerboard, packaging materials, and finished paper products.
- Common equipment
- Boxcars, flatcars, centerbeams
- Evaluate
- Moisture protection, loading pattern, warehouse access, damage prevention
Commodity solution
Sand, Minerals & Dry Bulk
Industrial sand, specialty minerals, proppants, aggregates, and other dense bulk commodities.
- Common equipment
- Covered hoppers, open-top hoppers
- Evaluate
- Density, unloading rate, dust control, storage, project demand
Commodity solution
Energy, Chemicals & Bulk Liquids
Propane, petroleum-related products, chemicals, liquid fertilizer, and other regulated or specialized bulk liquids.
- Common equipment
- Commodity-specific tank cars
- Evaluate
- Product classification, permits, containment, transfer systems, emergency planning
No commodity groups match the current search and filter. Products not listed may still be suitable for review.
Detailed commodity guides open on the centrally maintained LA&L railroad-family website. B&H project suitability, service, routing, equipment, and handling still require railroad review.
From Freight Question to Operating Plan
A rail opportunity becomes real through coordinated commercial and operating work.
Define the freight
Commodity, origin, destination, annual volume, truck payload, frequency, timing, and current pain point.
Evaluate access
Existing siding, transload location, rail-served property, track extension, or new development site.
Confirm equipment & handling
Railcar type, expected net load, loading and unloading systems, securement, storage, and readiness.
Develop route & commercial path
Norfolk Southern interchange at Painted Post, affiliated routing options, rate structure, fuel surcharge, and accessorial terms.
Prepare for service
Agreements, credit, operating instructions, equipment supply, safety, approvals, and startup coordination.
What to Send Us
Six inputs are enough to begin a useful conversation.
Estimates are acceptable at the beginning. More detail helps the railroad narrow the route, equipment, access, and commercial questions more quickly.
01CommodityProduct description and STCC when available.
02Origin & destinationFacilities, cities, railroads, supplier, or customer locations.
03Annual volumeTons, truckloads, railcars, seasonality, and growth.
04Current truck payloadNet tons or pounds per truck and existing pattern.
05Facility & handlingTrack access, unloading, storage, utilities, and truck access.
06Timing & objectiveStartup, project status, service need, cost issue, or capacity goal.
Freight Planning Tools
Use the tools to prepare the conversation—not replace project-specific review.
Equipment & volume
Railcar Guide & Freight Estimator
Compare common equipment, understand load limits, estimate annual railcars from truck volume, and convert freight units.
Launch the Guide →
Access & locations
Properties & Transload Map
Compare facilities, rail-served sites, capabilities, highways, utilities, service territories, and market reach.
Explore Locations →4Regional railroads. One freight-development conversation.Begin with B&H in Steuben County, then evaluate affiliated LA&L, WNYP, and Ontario Midland territories when the project requires a different location or network connection.
Network & routing
Affiliated Railroads
Understand the four territories, interchange relationships, regional reach, and the role each railroad can play.
Explore the Railroad Family →Request a Freight Review
Bring us the freight question. We’ll help identify the practical rail path.
Contact the B&H business development team to discuss a lane, commodity, Coopers Plains transload opportunity, rail-served property, track connection, equipment need, storage request, expansion, or new industrial project.