Reading & Northern Buys 124 Covered Hoppers From CPKC in Largest Car Purchase

Published: August 4, 2026

Reading and Northern Railroad covered hoppers supporting anthracite traffic

Reading & Northern is expanding its covered-hopper fleet to move dried Pennsylvania anthracite to electric-arc furnace steel mills. Doug Kroll photo.

Reading & Northern Railroad (R&N) has finalized a late-July agreement to purchase 124 covered hopper cars from CPKC—a $4 million deal the Port Clinton, Pennsylvania–based short line calls the largest single rail-car purchase in its history. The cars support growing anthracite coal traffic to electric-arc furnace (EAF) steel mills across the United States and Canada, where dried anthracite typically must move in covered hoppers.

Pennsylvania holds the world’s largest known anthracite deposit, and mining has increased to meet steelmaker demand. R&N said it also agreed to buy 30 additional covered hoppers from another car owner. Together, the purchases push the railroad’s rail-car fleet to about 2,000 cars. New equipment is expected to enter service quickly; the railroad anticipates EAF-related business will rise about 10 percent this year.

“We’re extremely excited with the purchase of these rail cars and pleased that CPKC chose our bid package over many other options,” said Andy Muller Jr., owner and CEO of R&N. “We’re regularly exploring the rail-car market looking for opportunities to not only increase but upgrade our fleet. These covered hoppers are in fantastic condition and will ensure we can provide our online customers with the equipment they need to ship Pennsylvania-sourced anthracite to markets across the U.S. and abroad.”

Separately, R&N reported 19,000 carloads in the first half of 2026—a record first-half volume. The largest traffic gains were in frac sand and rock salt; forest products and anthracite led carload commodity totals (more than 5,000 and 4,000 carloads, respectively). Overall traffic is running about 20 percent ahead of last year.

R&N operates freight and steam- and diesel-powered passenger excursions over roughly 400 miles of track in eastern Pennsylvania, serving more than 80 freight customers and more than 130 communities with passenger service. For readers following the tourist and gorge products, see our Reading & Northern scenic trains 2026 guide and Lehigh Gorge fall foliage page.

Sources: Progressive Railroading, “Reading & Northern acquires hopper cars from CPKC,” August 4, 2026; Reading & Northern Railroad statements as reported.

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Reading & Northern Buys 124 Covered Hoppers From CPKC in Largest Car Purchase

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