TRACKING DOWN: Norfolk Southern Corp. said its railroad profits fell 27 percent to $402 million, or $1.24 per share, in the third quarter because of a sharp drop in coal demand and weakness in other shipments.

COAL CRUNCH: Coal revenue dropped 22 percent to $701 million in the quarter after export demand plummeted in September.

CHUGGING ALONG: Railroad CEO Wick Moorman predicted that coal demand will remain weak into the first half of next year, so Norfolk Southern is working to cut costs.