Tracks converging

Warren Buffet is on rails. The storied investor is buying up 15% of Burlington Northern Santa Fe, even though:
"U.S. freight shipments down 3.5% in the first eight months of the year, and intermodal traffic down 1.9%. Fewer housing starts have shrunk lumber shipments, and shipments of most commodities, motor vehicles and equipment are down."

While railroads are very efficient, and I'd love to see them used more, it does matter what they are carrying. The article talks about another railroad deal where the "gem in the deal was DM&E's rights to develop in the coal deposits of Wyoming's Powder River Basin." Being really efficient at bringing more coal out isn't really the best thing.