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
Blankets Bale 150
Bran Bushel 20
Buckwheat Bushel 52
Coal Bushel 32
Coal, Stone Bushel 80
Corn Sack 105
Corn was shipped at 250 bushels per car load
Corn, ears Bushel 70
Corn, on shuck Bushel 72
Corn, shelled Bushel 56
Cornmeal Bushel 50
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
Hay One report says that 45 bales was a car load
Hemp seed Bushel 58
Horses Each 12 - 13 per stock car
Lard Keg 100
Lime, Unsacked Bushel 80
Mules Each 18 - 20 per car
Nails Keg 100
Onions Bushel 57
Peaches, Dried Bushel 38
Peas Bushel 60
Pork Barrel 300
Potatoes Barrel 130
Oats Bushel 32
Rice Tierce 715
Rye Bushel 56
Salt Barrel 500
Salt Bushel 50
Salt Sack 50 or 100 or 200
Sugar Hogshead 1100
Sweet Potatoes Bushel 60
Tobacco Box 100
Tobacco Hogshead 1,500
Turnips Bushel 55
Wagon Each 2 per car
Wheat Bushel 60
Wood Cord 4 - 6 per car
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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