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ICC Freight Commodity Statistics for the Boston & Maine Railroad

Index

• B&M Statistics
• Background
• Collected Statistics - Major Variations in Commodity Codes
• Commodity Code Notes, including minor commodity variations
• Changes in Data Collected for Each Commodity - National/Regional Statistics
• Changes in Data Collected for Each Commodity - Individual Railroad Statistics
• Process
• Database Data
• Database Design
• Common Abbreviations
• Copyrights of Original Data
• History of this web page

B&M Statistics

Download .XLS of B&M (also regional and national data) data here

Background

Starting in the year after it was created, the Interstate Commerce Commission collected statistics on the railroads in the United States.

Between 1888 and 1976 (possibly later, I just haven't researched beyond 1976) the ICC collected and published statistics on the railroads in the United States. Freight commodity statistics for individual railroads, including the Boston & Maine RR, was reported between 1917 and 1963. The numbers are broken down by "commodities" (a definition that changed with time - see below), and each commodity was broken down further by "direction" of traffic (again, see below).

Note after 1963 the ICC continued collecting the statistics, but they only published "regional" data, not data of individual railroad numbers.

If you wish to see the raw data, libraries in most major cities probably have the reports, typically in the "main" branch (or the branch where they store government records). Ask for:

1. United States. Interstate Commerce Commission. Bureau of Statistics. Annual report on the statistics of railways in the United States to the Interstate Commerce Commission
   Years published: The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library (New York) had 1888 - 1953. I do not know whether or not this particular report was published after 1953.
   Individual railroad commodity statistics are published in this report starting in 1917, other individual railroad statistics started earlier.
2. United States. Interstate Commerce Commission. Bureau of Statistics. Freight Commodity Statistics, Class I Steam Railways in the United States for the Year ended December 31, [year]
   (years published: 1924 - 1957)
3. United States. Interstate Commerce Commission. Bureau of Statistics. Freight Commodity Statistics, Class I Railroads in the United States for the Year ended December 31, [year]
   (years published: 1958 - 1976)

Collected Statistics - Major Variations in Commodity Codes

Over time, the data the ICC collected varied, both the commodity classifications and how each commodity was broken down. There are four major variations in commodity codes during the period when the reports listed railroads individually:

• 1917 - 1919 (although the same commodity codes were used since at least 1914, individual railroad data was not reported until 1917)
• 1920 - 1927
• 1928 - 1946
• 1947 - 1963

Starting in 1963 they changed the commodity breakdown again, and started using commodities codes compatible with the SIC - "Standard Industrial Classifications" commodity codes. These are NOT shown in the table below, as the data was not reported for individual railroads.

In the table below, I attempt to match up commodities as makes sense to me. Let me know if you think I am in error. Please note that I realize some matchings are not "exact", I tried to match as closely as possible given my [somewhat limited] knowledge (someone really needs to review the ICC documentation to see if they note how to handle the commodity changes).
Numbers in parentheses "(...)" are notes - see the list below the table.
Blue Numbers in brackets ("") are _my_ unique commodity codes (i.e. "Database Code") (something I added to make database queries a little easier - see note (8)).

Commodity Code Changes

1914 (1) - 1919		1920 - 1927		1928 - 1946		1947 - 1963
"Code" (2)	Description	"Code" (3)	Description	Code	Description	Code	Description
PRODUCTS OF ANIMALS		ANIMALS AND PRODUCTS		GROUP II: ANIMALS AND PRODUCTS (C.L.)
10	Live stock	17	Horses and mules	170	Horses, mules, ponies, and asses	201	Horses, mules, ponies, and asses
		18	Cattle and calves	180	Cattle and calves, single-deck	203	Cattle and calves, single-deck
				181	Calves, double-deck	205	Calves, double-deck
		19	Sheep and goats	190	Sheep and goats, single-deck	207	Sheep and goats, single-deck
				191	Sheep and goats, double-deck	209	Sheep and goats, double-deck
		20	Hogs	200	Hogs, single-deck	211	Swine, single-deck
				201	Hogs, double-deck	213	Swine, double-deck
11	Dressed meats	21	Fresh meats	210	Fresh meats, N.O.S.	215	Meats, fresh, N.O.S.
12	Other packing-house products	22	Other packing-house products	220	Meats, cured, dried, or smoked	217	Meats, cooked, cured, dried, and smoked
				222	Packing-house products, edible, N.O.S., not including canned meats	219	Packing-house products, edible, N.O.S.
13	Poultry, game, and fish	23	Poultry	230	Poultry, live	223	Poultry, live
				231	Poultry, dressed	225	Poultry, dressed and frozen
14	Wool	26	Wool	260	Wool	235	Wool and mohair in grease
						237	Wool and mohair, N.O.S.
15	Hides and leather	27	Hides and leather	270	Hides, green	239	Hides, skins, and pelts, N.O.S.
				271	Leather	241	Leather, N.O.S.
16	Other products of animals	24	Eggs	240	Eggs	227	Eggs
		25	Butter and cheese	250	Butter	229	Butter
				251	Cheese	231	Cheese
		28	Other animals and products	221	Butterine and margarine	221	Margarine, N.O.S.
						233	Dairy products, N.O.S.
						243	Sea food, N.O.S.
				280	Fish or sea-animal oil	245	Fish and sea animal oil
				281	Animals, live, N.O.S.	299	Animals and products, N.O.S.
				282	Animal products, N.O.S. (other than fertilizers and fertilizer materials)
17	Total products of animals	N/A	Total	810	Total animals and products	910	Total animals and products

1914 (1) - 1919		1920 - 1927		1928 - 1946		1947 - 1963
"Code" (2)	Description	"Code" (3)	Description	Code	Description	Code	Description
PRODUCTS OF MINES				GROUP III: PRODUCTS OF MINES (C.L.)
18	Anthracite coal	29	Anthracite coal	290	Anthracite coal, N.O.S.	301	Anthracite coal
						303	Anthracite coal to breakers and washeries
19	Bituminous coal	30	Bituminous coal	300	Bituminous coal	305	Bituminous coal
20	Coke	31	Coke	310	Coke	307	Coke
21	Ores	32	Iron ore	320	Iron ore	309	Iron ore
		33	Other ores and concentrates	330	Copper ore and concentrates (6)	313	Copper ore and concentrates
				331	Lead ore and concentrates (6)	315	Lead ore and concentrates
				332	Zinc ore and concentrates (6)	317	Zinc ore and concentrates
				333	Ores and concentrates, N.O.S.	311	Aluminum ore and concentrates
						319	Ores and concentrates, N.O.S.
22	Sand, stone, and other like articles	35	Clay, gravel, sand, and stone			323	Clay and bentonite
						325	Sand, industrial
				350	Gravel and sand (other than glass or molding)	327	Gravel and sand, N.O.S.
				351	Stone, broken, ground, or crushed	329	Stone and rock: Broken, ground, and crushed
						331	Fluxing stone and raw dolomite
				352	Stone, rough, N.O.S.	333	Stone, rough, N.O.S.
				353	Stone, finished, N.O.S.	335	Stone, finished, N.O.S.
23	Other products of mines	34	Base bullion and matte
		36	Crude petroleum	360	Petroleum, crude	337	Petroleum, crude
		37	Asphaltum	370	Asphalt (natural, by-product, or petroleum)	339	Asphalt
		38	Salt	380	Salt	341	Salt
		39	Other products of mines	390	Phosphate rock, crude (ground or not ground)	343	Phosphate rock
				391	Sulphur (brimstone)	345	Sulphur
				392	Products of mines, N.O.S.	321	Barytes
						399	Products of mines, N.O.S.
24	Total products of mines	N/A	Total	820	Total products of mines	920	Total products of mines

1914 (1) - 1919		1920 - 1927		1928 - 1946		1947 - 1963
"Code" (2)	Description	"Code" (3)	Description	Code	Description	Code	Description
PRODUCTS OF FORESTS				GROUP IV: PRODUCTS OF FORESTS (C.L.)
25	Lumber	43	Lumber, timber, box shooks, staves and headings	430	Lumber, shingles, and lath	411	Lumber, shingles, and lath
				431	Box, crate and cooperage materials	413	Box, crate, and cooperage materials
26	Other products of forests	40	Logs, posts, poles and cordwood	400	Logs	401	Logs, butts, and bolts
				401	Posts, poles and piling	403	Posts, poles and piling, wooden
				402	Wood (fuel)	405	Wood, fuel
		41	Ties	410	Ties, railroad	407	Ties, railroad
		42	Pulp wood	420	Pulp wood	409	Pulpwood
		44	Other products of forests	432	Veneer and built-up wood	415	Veneer, plywood, and built-up wood
				440	Rosin	417	Rosin and turpentine
				441	Turpentine
				442	Crude rubber (not reclaimed) (6)(7)	(see 523 below) (7)
				443	Products of forests, N.O.S.	499	Products of forests, N.O.S.
27	Total products of forests	N/A	Total	830	Total products of forests	930	Total products of forests

1914 (1) - 1919		1920 - 1927		1928 - 1946		1947 - 1963
"Code" (2)	Description	"Code" (3)	Description	Code	Description	Code	Description
MANUFACTURES		MANUFACTURES AND MISCELLANEOUS		GROUP V: MANUFACTURES AND MISCELLANEOUS (C.L.)
28	Petroleum and other oils	45	Refined petroleum and its products	450	Petroleum oils, refined, and all other gasolines	501	Gasoline
				451	Fuel, road, and petroleum residual oils, N.O.S.	503	Fuel, road, and petroleum residual oils, N.O.S.
				452	Lubricating oils and greases	505	Lubricating oils and greases
				453	Petroleum products, N.O.S.	507	Petroleum products, refined, N.O.S.
		46	Vegetable oils	460	Cottonseed oil	511	Cottonseed oil
				461	Linseed oil	513	Linseed oil
				462	Vegetable oils, N.O.S.	515	Soybean oil
						517	Vegetable and nut oils, N.O.S.
29	Sugar	47	Sugar, sirup, glucose, and molasses	471	Table sirups, and edible molasses	755	Syrup and molasses, refined
				472	Molasses, blackstrap, and beet residual	757	Molasses, residual
				470	Sugar (beet or cane)	759	Sugar
30	Naval Stores	48	Boats and vessel supplies
31	Iron, pig and bloom	49	Iron, pig and bloom	490	Iron, pig	573	Iron, pig
						575	Iron and steel: Billet, bloom and ingot
						579	Iron and steel, N.O.S.
32	Iron and steel rails	50	Rails and fastenings	500	Rails, fastenings, frogs, and switches	609	Rails and railway track material, iron and steel
34	Bar and sheet metal	51	Bar and sheet iron, structural iron, and iron pipe			577	Iron and steel, Bar, rod, and slab
				510	Cast iron pipe and fittings	585	Cast iron pipe and fittings
				511	Iron and steel pipe and fittings, N.O.S.	587	Iron and steel pipe and fittings, N.O.S.
		52	Other metals, pig, bar, and sheet	523	Aluminum: Ingot, pig, or slab (6)	555	Aluminum: Bar ingot, pig, and slab
						557	Aluminum, N.O.S.
				520	Copper: Ingot, matte, and pig (6)	559	Copper: Ingot, matte, and pig
				521	Copper, brass, and bronze: bar, sheet, and pipe (6)	561	Copper, brass, and bronze, N.O.S.
				522	Lead and zinc: Ingot, pig, or bar (6)	563	Lead and zinc: Bar, ingot, and pig
						565	Lead and zinc, N.O.S.
						567	Magnesium metal and alloy
						569	Alloys for steel manufacture
						571	Metals and alloys, N.O.S.
33	Other castings and machinery	53	Castings, machinery, and boilers			583	Manufactured iron and steel
						589	Tanks, N.O.S.
				530	Machinery and boilers	595	Machinery and machines, N.O.S.
						597	Machinery parts
35	Cement, brick, and lime	54	Cement	540	Cement, natural or Portland (building)	633	Cement: Natural and portland
						635	Cement, N.O.S.
		55	Brick and artificial stone	550	Brick, common	637	Brick, common
				551	Brick, N.O.S., and building tile	639	Brick, N.O.S., and building tile
						641	Refractories
				552	Artificial stone, N.O.S.	643	Artificial stone, N.O.S.
		56	Lime and plaster	560	Lime, common (quick or slaked)	645	Lime, N.O.S.
				561	Plaster (stucco or wall) and dry kalsomine	647	Plaster: Stucco and wall
		57	Sewer pipe and drain tile	570	Sewer pipe and drain tile (not metal)	649	Sewer pipe and drain tile (not metal)
36	Agricultural implements	58	Agricultural implements and vehicles other than automobiles	582	Tractors and parts
				580	Agricultural implements and parts, N.O.S.	591	Agricultural implements, N.O.S.
						593	Agricultural implement parts, N.O.S.
37	Wagons, carraiges, tools, etc.			581	Vehicles, horse drawn, and parts, N.O.S.	611	Vehicles, other than motor
		59	Automobiles and autotrucks (4)	590	Automobiles (passenger)	613	Automobiles, passenger
				591	Autotrucks	615	Automobiles, freight
						617	Vehicles, motor, N.O.S.
						619	Military vehicles, N.O.S.
				592	Automobiles and autotrucks, K.D. and parts, N.O.S.	621	Automobiles and autotrucks, K.D.
						623	Vehicle parts, N.O.S.
39	Household goods and furniture	60	Household goods and secondhand furniture
		61	Furniture (new)
				610	Furniture, metal
				611	Furniture, other than metal
						715	Furniture, N.O.S.
						717	Furniture parts
38	Wines, Liquors, and beers	62	Beverages	620	Beverages	745	Liquors, alcoholic, N.O.S.
						747	Wine
						749	Liquors, malt
						751	Beverages, N.O.S.
40	Other manufactures			512	Iron and steel: Nails and wire, not woven	581	Iron and steel nails and wire (woven and not woven), N.O.S.
				513	Iron and steel, rated 5th class in official classifications, N.O.S. (also tin and terne plate)
				491	Iron and steel, rated 6th class in official classifications, N.O.S.
		63	Ice	630	Ice	753	Ice
		64	Fertilizers (all kinds)	640	Fertilizers, N.O.S.	539	Fertilizers, N.O.S.
		65	Paper, printed matter, and books	650	Newsprint paper	657	Newsprint paper
				651	Printing paper, N.O.S.	659	Printing paper, N.O.S.
				694	Paper bags and wrapping paper	661	Wrapping paper
						663	Paper bags
						665	Paper and paper articles, N.O.S.
						667	Printed matter, N.O.S.
		66	Chemicals and explosives			527	Chemicals, N.O.S.
				661	Sulpheric acid (6)	529	Sulpheric acid
						531	Acids, N.O.S.
						533	Sodium (soda) products
				660	Alcohol, denatured or wood (6)	535	Alcohol, N.O.S.
						537	Blacks, N.O.S.
				662	Explosives, N.O.S. (6)	631	Ammunition and explosives, N.O.S.
		67	Textiles	670	Cotton cloth and cotton fabrics, N.O.S.	727	Cotton cloth and cotton fabrics, N.O.S.
						729	Cotton factory products
						731	Synthetic fibre and yarns (Rayon or Nylon)
						733	Cloth and fabrics, N.O.S.
		68	Canned good (all canned food products)	680	Canned food products, N.O.S.	763	Food products, N.O.S., in cans and packages, not frozen
						765	Food products, N.O.S., frozen
		69	Other manufactures and miscellaneous	(see 442 above) (7)		523	Rubber, crude, natural, and synthetic (7)
				691	Paints in oil and varnishes	547	Paint, paint material, putty and varnish
				583	Railway car wheels, axles, and trucks	607	Railway equipment parts
				593	Automobile and autotruck tires	627	Tires and tubes, rubber
				695	Paperboard, pulpboard, and wallboard (paper)	669	Paperboard, fibreboard, and pulpboard
						671	Wallboard
				696	Building paper and prepared roofing materials	673	Building paper and prepared roofing material
				697	Building woodwork (millwork)	677	Building woodwork and millwork
				699	Glass, flat, other than plate	693	Glass
				700	Glass: bottles, jars, and jelly glasses	697	Glass bottles, jars, and packing glasses, N.O.S.
				671	Bagging and bags, burlap, gunny, or jute	723	Bagging: Burlap, cotton, gunny, and jute, N.O.S.
						725	Bags: Burlap, cotton, gunny, and jute, N.O.S.
				698	Soap and washing compounds	769	Soap and cleaning and washing compounds
				690	Tobacco, manufactured products	775	Manufactured tobacco, N.O.S.
						777	Cigarettes
				693	Scrap iron and scrap steel	789	Scrap iron and scrap steel
				692	Furnace slag	793	Furnace slag

1914 (1) - 1919		1920 - 1927		1928 - 1946		1947 - 1963
"Code" (2)	Description	"Code" (3)	Description	Code	Description	Code	Description
	[NOS, continued from above]		[NOS, continued from above]	701	Manufactures and miscellaneous, N.O.S. (5)	509	Gases, other than petroleum, N.O.S.
						519	Oils, N.O.S.
						521	Oil foots, sediment, and tank bottoms
						525	Rubber goods, N.O.S.
						541	Insecticides and fungicides, N.O.S.
						543	Tar, pitch and creosote
						545	Tanning material, N.O.S.
						549	Plastics
						551	Cellulose articles, N.O.S.
						553	Drugs, medicines, and toilet preparations
						601	Business and office machines
						603	Railway equipment moved on own wheels
						605	Railway equipment, S.U., not moved on own wheels
						625	Airplanes, aircraft, and parts
						629	Guns, small arms, and parts
						651	Broken or ground brick, blocks, crockery, and glass
						653	Woodpulp
						655	Scrap paper and rags
						675	Insulating materials, N.O.S.
						679	Building materials, N.O.S.
						681	Buildings and houses, fabricated and portable, N.O.S.
						683	Asbestos articles, N.O.S.
						685	Electrical equipment and parts, N.O.S.
						687	Furnaces, heaters, radiators, and parts
						689	Bathroom and lavatory fixtures and sinks
						691	Hardware, N.O.S.
						695	Glassware, N.O.S.
						701	Chinaware, crockery, and earthenware
						703	Woodenware
						705	Household utensils, N.O.S.
						707	Refrigerators, freezing apparatus, and parts
						709	Laundry equipment
						711	Stoves, ranges, and parts
						713	Floor covering
						719	Tools and parts, N.O.S.
						721	Abrasives, other than crude
						735	Rope, cordage, and binder twine, N.O.S.
						737	Boots, shoes, and findings, N.O.S.
						739	Luggage and handbags, N.O.S.
						741	Athletic, gymnasium, playground, and sporting equipment, N.O.S.
						743	Games and toys
						761	Candy and confectionery
						767	Starch
						771	Matches
						773	Feed, animal and poultry, N.O.S.
						779	Containers, metal
						781	Containers, wooden
						783	Containers, fibreboard and paperboard, K.D.
						785	Containers, N.O.S.
						787	Containers, returned empty
						791	Iron and steel borings, turnings, etc.
						795	Waste materials for remelting, N.O.S.
						797	Waste materials, N.O.S.
						799	Manufactures and miscellaneous, N.O.S.
41	Total Manufactures	N/A	Total	840	Total manufactures and miscellaneous	940	Total manufactures and miscellaneous
						GROUP VI: FORWARDER TRAFFIC (C.L.)
42	Miscellaneous commodities (carload rates)
				701A	Forwarder traffic included in 701 (1939 and later only) (5)	950	Forwarder traffic (C.L.)
		N/A	GRAND TOTAL, CARLOAD TRAFFIC	850	GRAND TOTAL, CARLOAD TRAFFIC	960	GRAND TOTAL, CARLOAD TRAFFIC
				GROUP VI: L.C.L. FREIGHT		GROUP VII: L.C.L. FREIGHT
43	L.C.L. goods not distributed above	70	All L.C.L. freight	710	All L.C.L. freight	970	All L.C.L. freight
44	Grand total, all commodities	N/A	GRAND TOTAL, CARLOAD and L.C.L. TRAFFIC	860	GRAND TOTAL, CARLOAD and L.C.L. TRAFFIC	980	GRAND TOTAL, CARLOAD and L.C.L. TRAFFIC

Commodity Code Notes, including minor commodity variations

1. I only researched back as far as 1914. The dates for this scheme of classification may go back earlier than 1914, and there may be other, earlier classifications.

2. Depending on the table and year, these "Commodity Codes" may or may not have been listed in the reports.

3. Depending on the table and year, these "Commodity Codes" may or may not have been listed in the reports.
   The codes for "Total" for each group were never specified.

4. From the footnotes for this commodity:

   Includes automobiles, motor cars, autotrucks and parts (except tires and chains); chassis, tonneaus, and wheels

5. Note that in the printed reports from 1939-1946, this was included in the ICC data category 701 data.

6. In 1942 and 1943, the data for certain commodities were NOT reported individually.
   Per the "Introductory Statement" in those years' reports, these data WERE included in the totals "Grand Total, Carload Traffic" (commodity 850) and "Grand Total, Carload and L.C.L. Traffic" (commodity 860):

   ICC Code	Description	Database Code
   330	Copper ores and concentrates	3200
   331	Lead ores and concentrates	3201
   332	Zinc ores and concentrates	3202
   442	Crude rubber (not reclaimed)	4208
   520	Copper: Ingot, matte, and pig	5214
   521	Copper, brass, and bronze: bar, sheet, and pipe	5215
   522	Lead and zinc: Ingot, pig, or slab	5216
   523	Aluminum: Ingot, pig, or slab	5212
   660	Alcohol, denatured or wood	5238
   661	Sulpheric acid	5237
   662	Explosives, N.O.S.	5239

7. Starting in 1947, Rubber went from being a "Product of Forest" (442) to "Product of Manufacture" (523)
   So be aware of this if you compare the group totals for those categories across this date.

8. "Database code" - Arbitrary code number I assigned to make database easier to deal with (as the same ICC "commodity number" was sometimes used differently over the years, e.g. commodity "20" was "Coke" for 1914-1919, "Hogs" for 1920 - 1927, "Corn" for 1928-1946, and not used after 1946)

9. Note - if you compare the data from the "Annual report on the statistics of railways in the United States to the Interstate Commerce Commission" (source "1" in the list at the top of this page) and "Freight Commodity Statistics, Class I Steam Railways in the United States for the Year ended December 31, [year]" (source "2" in the list at the top of this page), there are small discrepancies in the numbers listed. For all years that the data was reported both places, I used the data from the "Freight Commodity Statistics..." (source "2") document.

Changes in Data Collected for Each Commodity - National/Regional Statistics

1917 - 1919
	Tonnage originated on road				Total freight tonnage
1920 - 1923
Revenue Freight Originated				Total Revenue Freight Carried
Number of carloads	Number of tons			Number of carloads	Number of tons
1924 - 1927
Revenue Freight Originated				Revenue Freight Carried
Carloads	Tons			Carloads	Tons
1928 - 1946
Revenue Freight Originated		Revenue Freight Terminated		Total freight traffic (including duplications)		Freight revenue (dollars)
Number of carloads	Number of tons	Number of carloads	Number of tons	Number of carloads	Number of tons
1947 - 1963
Revenue Freight Originated		Revenue Freight Terminated		Total freight traffic (including duplications)		Gross freight revenue (dollars)
Number of carloads	Number of tons	Number of carloads	Number of tons	Number of carloads	Number of tons

Changes in Data Collected for Each Commodity - Individual Railroad Statistics

1917 - 1919
	Tonnage originated on road					Total tonnage
1920 - 1923
Revenue Freight Originated					Total Revenue Freight Carried
	Tonnage originated on road					Total tonnage
1924 - 1927
Revenue Freight Originated					Total Revenue Freight Carried
Carloads	Tons				Carloads	Tons
1928 - 1934
Number of tons of revenue freight					Totals		Freight revenue (dollars)
Originating on respondent's line			Received from connecting carriers			Total tons carried
	Terminating on respondent's line	Delivered to connecting carriers	Terminating on respondent's line	Delivered to connecting carriers
1935 - 1946
Number of tons of revenue freight					Totals		Freight revenue (dollars)
Originating on respondent's line			Received from connecting carriers		Carloads	Total tons carried
	Terminating on respondent's line	Delivered to connecting carriers	Terminating on respondent's line	Delivered to connecting carriers
1947 - 1963
Number of tons of revenue freight					Total revenue freight carried		Gross freight revenue (dollars)
Originating on respondent's line			Received from connecting carriers		Number of carloads	Number of tons
	Terminating on respondent's line	Delivered to connecting carriers	Terminating on respondent's line	Delivered to connecting carriers

Notes:

1. Note how there are minor variations on what is reported for national/regional data vs. individual RR data.
   In particular, NO "carloads" data was reported for individual railroads for 1920 - 1923 and 1928 - 1934.
   And no "carloads" data was collected AT ALL for 1917 - 1919

Process

The process I used to transcribe the data is covered TODO: here.

Database Data

In order to provide the ability to search on the different "direction of traffic" figures across the different years, I have added some derived/calculated fields to the original ICC data. Any data in the original ICC reports is in black colored text in the table below.

Some of the added data (shown in blue text) are simple additions/subtractions/divisions of the data in the report, and should be reasonably valid numbers.

Some of the added data (shown in red text) are calculations based on "aggregate" numbers (e.g. tons per carload for the entire U.S.) and hence should be viewed with some suspicion. In other words, they are a "SWAG" (Scientific Wild-Ass Guess).
I include them anyway to allow some comparison of data across longer time spans (and I figure others will create this data anyhow).

Then there's the carload data for 1917 - 1919. This is VERY problematic data (even worse than a SWAG), so I show it in "fuchsia" in the table below.
There no national / regional carload data to start with. Extrapolating using the 1920 data (although this is what I used) is perilous, as this time period is the end of the transition in freight car design from the "all wood" designs of the late 1800s, thru the composite designs of the early 1900s, to the "all steel" designs starting to show up during this period. So I suspect the average "tons/car" is changing rapidly for this period (and probably changing differently for different commodities). So use at your own risk. Your milage may vary. Caveat Emptor. Contents may have settled during handling. Not more than .0001% wisdom by volume.
While I can be justly accused of "Making the data fit the database design" I feel it is still (somewhat) useful, and (again) I figure someone else will do it anyhow, so I might as well do it myself.
If someone can find better numbers for carload totals or (average tons/car) for each commodity for this time period, I would be more than glad to incorporate it into the database.

Database Data for Each Commodity

1917 - 1919
Carloads Originated (Note 1)	Tonnage originated on road			Carloads Received (Note 2)	Tons Received (Note 2)			Total Carloads (Note 3)	Total tonnage		United States average tons per carload (Note 4)	Eastern District average tons per carload (Note 5)	Total Class I carriers		Class I carriers - Eastern District
													Carloads (Note 6)	Total freight tonnage	Carloads (Note 7)	Total freight tonnage
1920 - 1923
Revenue Freight Originated				Revenue Freight Received				Total Revenue Freight Carried			United States average tons per carload (Note 11)	Eastern District average tons per carload (Note 12)	US - All districts Revenue freight originated		Eastern District Revenue freight originated
Carloads (Note 8)	Tonnage originated on road			Carloads (Note 9)	Tons (Note 9)			Carloads (Note 10)	Total tonnage				Number of Carloads	Number of tons	Number of Carloads	Number of tons
1924
Revenue Freight Originated				Revenue Freight Received				Total Revenue Freight Carried			United States average tons per carload (Note 11)	Eastern District average tons per carload (Note 12)	US - All districts Revenue freight originated		Eastern District Revenue freight originated
Carloads	Tons			Carloads (Note 9)	Tons (Note 9)			Carloads	Tons				Number of Carloads	Number of tons	Number of Carloads	Number of tons
1925 - 1927
Revenue Freight Originated				Revenue Freight Received				Total Revenue Freight Carried			United States average tons per carload (Note 11)	New England region average tons per carload (Note 13)	US - All districts Revenue freight originated		New England region Revenue freight originated
Carloads	Tons			Carloads (Note 9)	Tons (Note 9)			Carloads	Tons				Number of Carloads	Number of tons	Number of Carloads	Number of tons
1928 - 1934
Number of tons of revenue freight								Totals		Freight revenue (dollars)	United States average tons per carload (Note 11)	New England region average tons per carload (Note 13)	US - All districts Revenue freight originated		New England region Revenue freight originated
Originating on respondent's line				Received from connecting carriers				Carloads (Note 10)	Total tons carried
Carloads (Note 14)	Terminating on respondent's line	Carloads (Note 15)	Delivered to connecting carriers	Carloads (Note 16)	Terminating on respondent's line	Carloads (Note 17)	Delivered to connecting carriers						Number of Carloads	Number of tons	Number of Carloads	Number of tons
1935 - 1946
Number of tons of revenue freight								Totals		Freight revenue (dollars)	United States average tons per carload (Note 11)	New England region average tons per carload (Note 13)	US - All districts Revenue freight originated		New England region Revenue freight originated
Originating on respondent's line				Received from connecting carriers				Carloads	Total tons carried
Carloads (Note 18)	Terminating on respondent's line	Carloads (Note 19)	Delivered to connecting carriers	Carloads (Note 20)	Terminating on respondent's line	Carloads (Note 21)	Delivered to connecting carriers						Number of Carloads	Number of tons	Number of Carloads	Number of tons
1947 - 1963
Number of tons of revenue freight								Total revenue freight carried		Gross freight revenue (dollars)	United States average tons per carload (Note 11)	New England region average tons per carload (Note 13)	US - All districts Revenue freight originated		New England region Revenue freight originated
Originating on respondent's line				Received from connecting carriers				Carloads	Total tons carried
Carloads (Note 18)	Terminating on respondent's line	Carloads (Note 19)	Delivered to connecting carriers	Carloads (Note 20)	Terminating on respondent's line	Carloads (Note 21)	Delivered to connecting carriers						Number of Carloads	Number of tons	Number of Carloads	Number of tons

Notes:

1. As no other data appears to exist, 1917-1919 carloads originated calculated by dividing "Tons Originated on road" by [1920!] "Eastern district average tons per carload"
   I am hoping the Eastern district data more closely reflects loading on the B&M than does the national data.

2. 1917-1919 Carloads [or tons] received = Total Carloads [or tons] - Carloads [or tons] originated (carloads being based on 1920 data).

3. 1917-1919 total carloads calculated by dividing "Total tonnage" by [1920!] "United States average tons per carload"
   As cars could be coming from any railroad, I am hoping the national average is a better estimate of this number.

4. 1917-1919 "United States average tons per carload" is using the 1920 values.

5. 1917-1919 "Eastern district average tons per carload" is using the 1920 values.

6. 1917-1919 "Total Class 1" carloads back-calculated from 1920 "United States average tons per carload" and 1917-1919 "Total freight tonnage" for Class 1 carriers.

7. 1917-1919 Eastern District carloads back-calculated from 1920 "Eastern district average tons per carload" and 1917-1919 "Total freight tonnage" for Eastern District Class 1 carriers.

8. 1920-1923 originated carloads calculated by dividing "Tons Originated on road" by "Eastern district average tons per carload"
   I am hoping the Eastern district data more closely reflects loading on the B&M than does the national data.

9. 1920-1927 Carloads [or tons] received = Total Carloads [or tons] - Carloads [or tons] originated.

10. 1920-1923, also 1928-1934, total carloads calculated by dividing "Total tonnage" by "United States average tons per carload"
    As cars could be coming from any railroad, I am hoping the national average is a better estimate of this number.
    Note this number is a bit dubious. I tested this calculation for a few years from 1935 - 1963 (when the actual number is known) and, while most differences were smaller, I did see differences of up to ±100% (usually the largest errors were when there were only 1 or 2 cars, but none the less they are there)

11. 1920-1963 "United States average tons per carload" calculated by taking United States "Revenue freight originated" data "Number of tons" divided by "Number of carloads"
    I have done some spot checking and this calculation matches the data published in the ICC reports (the average tons per car data was published in the reports from 1930 onwards, albeit the published data is to 2 decimal places, and I used the full precision available in Excel).

12. 1920-1924 "Eastern district average tons per carload" calculated by taking Eastern District "Revenue freight originated" data "Number of tons" divided by "Number of carloads"

13. 1925-1963 "New England region average tons per carload" calculated by taking New England region "Revenue freight originated" data "Number of tons" divided by "Number of carloads"
    I have done some spot checking and this calculation matches the data published in the ICC reports (the average tons per car data was published in the reports from 1930 onwards, albeit the published data is to 2 decimal places, and I used the full precision available in Excel).

14. 1928-1934 Carloads "Originated and Terminated" calculated by dividing "Tons Originated and Terminated" by "New England average tons per carload"
    I am hoping the New England region data more closely reflects loading on the B&M than does the national data.

15. 1928-1934 Carloads "Originated and Delivered" calculated by dividing "Tons Originated and Delivered" by "New England average tons per carload"
    I am hoping the New England region data more closely reflects loading on the B&M than does the national data.

16. 1928-1934 Carloads "Received and Terminated" calculated by dividing "Tons Received and Terminated" by "United States average tons per carload"
    As cars could be coming from any railroad, I am hoping the national average is a better estimate of this number.

17. 1928-1934 Carloads "Received and Delivered" calculated by dividing "Tons Received and Delivered" by "United States average tons per carload"
    As cars could be coming from any railroad, I am hoping the national average is a better estimate of this number.

18. 1935-1963 Carloads "Originated and Terminated" calculated in a two step process.
    Calculated by dividing the "Originated and Terminated Tons" by the "New England average tons per carload"

19. 1935-1963 Carloads "Originated and Delivered".
    Calculated by dividing the "Originated and Delivered Tons" by the "New England average tons per carload"

20. 1935-1963 Carloads "Received and Terminated".
    Calculated by dividing the "Received and Terminated Tons" by the "United States tons per carload"

21. 1935-1963 Carloads "Received and Delivered".
    Calculated by dividing the "Received and Delivered Tons" by the "United States tons per carload"
22. Finally...Sometimes the carload count (based on an average tons/car) ended up 0 (less than .5) even though tons were greater than 0.
    So if that happens (if tons were more than zero, but carloads calculated to 0) I arbitrarily set the carload count to 1.

Database Tables

• Table 1 - Commodity Name

  Field	Definition / options	Notes
  Unique ID	Integer	Arbitrary number database creates when record added to the database
  Year_Min	Integer	First year this definition is valid
  Year_Max	Integer	Last year this definition is valid
  Database_Code	Integer	Unique code
  ICC Commodity Code	Integer	Code number used by ICC ("-1" if none ever assigned)
  ICC Commodity Code Suffix	1 character	For "A" of "701A"
  ICC Commodity Descr.	Text	ICC descriptive text

• Table 2 - Scope Names

  Field	Definition / options	Notes
  Unique ID	Integer	Arbitrary number database creates when record added to the database
  Scope Index	Integer	1 = National scope code 2-4 = District scope codes 10-17 = Region scope codes 100 - ? = Railroad scope codes
  Name	Text	"National", or name of district / region / railroad

• Table 3 - Traffic

  Field	Definition / options	Notes
  Unique Index	INT (primary key)	Assigned when data loaded into database
  Year	SMALLINT
  Database Code	SMALLINT
  Scope	TINYINT	One of following list:
  	4	National
  	3	District
  	2	Region
  	1	Railroad
  Scope Index	Integer	Scope Code (see above)
  Commodity Source	TINYINT	One of following list:
  	1	Listed in ICC report
  	2	"Supercode" (derived by adding ICC data together)
  	3	Not Available (1942-1943, specific commodities)
  Traffic Type	TINYINT	One of following list:
  	2	Originated
  	3	Received
  	4	Originated and Terminated On-Line
  	5	Originated and Delivered to Connecting Carrier
  	6	Received and Terminated On-Line
  	7	Received and Delivered to Connecting Carrier
  	1	Total
  Cars Source	TINYINT	One of following list: (from most to least reliable)
  	1	Data published in ICC reports.
  	2	Direct calculation based on published data
  	3	Indirect calculation based on average data
  	4	Extrapolated data
  Tons Source	TINYINT	One of same list as "Cars Source"
  No. Cars	INT UNSIGNED
  No. Tons	INT UNSIGNED
  Percent Total Carloads	DECIMAL(5,2)	Carloads for this commodity / carloads for Database Index 6100
  Percent Total Tons	DECIMAL(5,2)	Tons for this commodity / tons for Database Index 7001
  Tons per Car	DECIMAL(5,1)	Number of tons / number of cars

  Other indices based on [Year + Database code] and [Database code]

• Table 4 - Revenues

  Field	Definition / options	Notes
  Unique Index	INT (primary key)	Assigned when data loaded into database
  Year	SMALLINT
  Database Code	SMALLINT
  Scope	TINYINT	Railroad Future: National, District or Region?
  Scope Index	Integer	Scope Code (see above)
  Commodity Source	TINYINT	One of list above
  Revenue	INT UNSIGNED
  Percent Total Revenue	DECIMAL(5,1)	Revenue for this commodity / revenue for Database Index 7001

  Other indices based on [Year + Database code] and [Database code]

Common Abbreviations

• N.O.S. = "Not Otherwise Specified"
• C.L. = Carload
• L.C.L = Less than Car Load
• N/A - Not available
• K.D. = Knocked Down (?)

Copyrights

As the original data is government data, I do not think it is copyrighted.
If you want to use the data for non-commercial purposes, feel free to do so, but I would appreciate some recognition for the effort of converting "ink on paper" to numbers that can be analyzed.
Note, on the documents I used, the following years include the legend "Government Printing Office":

• 1925 - 1939 inclusive
• 1944 - 1947 inclusive
• 1949
• 1952 - 1955 inclusive
• For 1956 - 1957, in the copies I was using, the cover page that normally had the "GPO" legend on the back was glued to a manila cover, so was not able to be examined.
• 1958 - 1959 inclusive
• 1961 - 1963 inclusive

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