Both BNSF and Union Pacific now require the coal mine loadouts in Powder River Basin to spray a coating on the coal after it is loaded, and before the train gets to the mainline. It seems that most of the coal dust was blowing off in the first hundred miles or so; said dust was fouling the rock ballast that is so essential for proper track alignment and drainage.
The current issue ( Dec. 2012 ) of Trains Magazine has a short news article on Australian RRs needing new locomotives to handle increased export coal and ore. A quote from the article : " Coal tonnage is also up, with Japan and China taking the majority. " A question : Is this Australian Coal as low in sulfer as Copper River Basin coal ??? How about domestic Chinese coal ???
I will agree with others here in stating that China's booming economy needs more raw materials. They're going to get it from somewhere; why not help our trade imbalance and foreign debt a little ???