Federal officials are trying to negotiate a contract settlement between freight railroads and unions, while making contingency plans for getting needed shipments—including drinking water and health care products—to their destinations even if the trains stop. A strike or lockout could begin as soon as 12:01am Friday, when the current cooling-off period for both sides ends, the Washington Post reports. On Wednesday, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which has 5,000 members, became the first rail union to authorize a strike when it rejected contract terms recommended by a presidential panel, per the Hill. That strike would start in two weeks. Here's the situation: