Freight Package Weights
These weights were commonly used, but I have seen published lists with some weights 2,3 or 5 pounds different for Bushel sizes.
Item Package Pounds
Apples, Dried Bushel 24
Ambulance Each 3 per car
Barley Bushel 48
Beans Bushel 60
Beef Barrel 333
Blankets Bale of 110 pairs 2,200
Bran Bushel 20
Bricks Each 2,500 per car
Buckwheat Bushel 52
Cartridges Box 110
Cloth, Uniform Flannel Bale of 2,500 yards 2,200
Cloth, Uniform Wool Bale of 1,400 yards 2,200
Coal Barrel 185 - 200
Coal Bushel 32 (70?)
Coal Bushel 200 to 350 per car
Coal Hogshead 1,300
Coal Car load 6 3/4 tons (R&D RR)
Coal, Stone Bushel 80
Coffee Sack/Bag 16
  Bag 150
  Bag from Will of the Wisp 223
Copper Ingot 30 or 55
Corn Sack 105 - 125
Corn was shipped at 150 bushels per car load
Corn, ears Bushel 70
Corn, on shuck Bushel 72
Corn, shelled Bushel 56
Sack (2 1/2 bu) 140
Cornmeal Bushel 50
Barrel 200
Cotton Bale 400 - 500 (average appears to have been about 440)
One railroad reported being able to carry 20-25 bales in box cars and 35 on flats
Fish, salted Barrel 200
Flax seed Bushel 58
Flour Barrel 196
Flour Sack 90
Fodder One report says that 28 bales was a car load
Bale 250 - 400
Grease, Wagon Barrel 300
Gun powder Barrel 110
Hay Bale 240 - 400
One report says that 45 bales was a car load
Hemp seed Bushel 58
Hide Each 24
Hominy Bushel 60
Horses Each 12 - 16 per car
Lard Keg 100
Lead Bar 10
Pig 100 or 72
Leather Bundle/Roll 120
Side 15
Lime Barrel 210 (76 per car)
Lime, Unsacked Bushel 80
Lumber 4,000 feet Oak 1" boards per car
5,000 feet Pine 1" boards per car
Molasses Barrel 1000 (40 gallons)
Mules Each 18 - 20 per car
Nails Keg 100
Oats Bushel 33
Onions Bushel 57
Peaches, Dried Bushel 38
Peas Bushel 60
Pork Barrel 300
Potatoes Barrel 130
Railroad Spikes Keg 150 - 200
Rice Tierce 575 - 715
Rifle Crate of 20 long Enfield 200
Rifle Crate of 24 Austrian 200
Rye Bushel 56
Salt 300 bushels per car
Salt Barrel 500
Salt Bushel 50
Salt Sack 50 or 100 or 135 or 200
Shoes Crate of 350 pairs 2,200
Straw Bale 170-200
Sugar Hogshead 1100 or 1250
Sugar Barrel 200
Sweet Potatoes Bushel 60
Tin, Block Keg 225
Tobacco Box 100
Tobacco Hogshead 1,500
Turnips Bushel 55
Wagon Each 2 per car
Wheat Bushel 60 (130 per car)
Wood 5 cords Oak per car
6 cords dry Pine per car
Wool Bale 450
A box 24 by 16 inches, 22 deep, contains 1 barrel
" 16 by 16.5 " 8 " " 1 bushel
" 8 by 8.4 " 8 " " 1 peck
" 7 by 4 " 4.8 " " 1/2 gallon
" 4 by 4 " 2.4 " " 1 quart

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