As holidays near, a nationwide rail strike is still on the table. Here's the latest

Freight cars wait to be hauled out of the Norfolk Southern Conway Terminal in Conway, Pa., on Sept. 15. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

Remember earlier this fall when the country came within hours of a nationwide rail strike?

We could soon see a repeat of that scenario. The nation's freight rail companies and some of their workers have yet to settle on a new contract after three years of negotiations.