Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, October 24, 1995                   TAG: 9510240066
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

IN BUSINESS

A 4,500-car increase in coal loadings led a modest gain from last year for the nation's rail freight traffic in the week ending Oct. 14, according to the Association of American Railroads.

Overall, carload freight for the week increased 2.4 percent to 368,508, with loadings up 3.1 percent in the West and 1.7 percent in the East. Intermodal freight was down 3.5 percent to 168,015 trailers and containers.

Coal loadings were up 3.5 percent from last year, paper up 10 percent, chemicals up 6.3 percent and automobiles up 6.1 percent. Grain loadings, however, were down 1.6 percent, the first time since January they have shown a decrease from the comparable week last year.

- Staff report

Virginia Tech, bank plan TV classes

RICHMOND - First National Union Bank and Virginia Tech said Monday they will offer business degree classes in Richmond via television beginning next year.

The four-year course is designed for working adults. Students can earn a master's degree in business administration.

Two nights a week, students will attend classes at the Roanoke-based bank's Richmond operations center, where they will be taught through televised classes from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. Classes will start in August 1996.

Virginia Tech already teaches similar classes in Abingdon, Fredericksburg, Roanoke, South Boston, Virginia Beach and Wise.

- Associated Press