I have tried to do this off and on for years with no success. Freight brokers always promise to get great rates, but the rates they come back with are always comparable to trucking, often even higher. Calling railroads and asking has not gotten any answers.

In my situation its about 1200 miles in a straight line, palletized, non hazardous material. I use about two semi loads a week, but I could store about five times that amount.

I know my competitors ship stuff on the same route by rail, and they have less warehouse space than me, and don't have sidings on their property. They are in the same geographic area as me as well. Whatever their arrangement is, it involves sending one of their trucks at a time to a railyard.

It seems like there are some people that can move a railcar with as little effort as moving a box trailer, but I just don't understand how they do it.