Good afternoon.
Is BNSF the only railroad that handles these trains? I have a consist but no BNSF power and was wondering if other railroads are involved in these moves.
Thank you.
Paul
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
That is a BNSF operation from Wichita, KS to Renton, WA. Thats the only route for these trains as they go from where the fuselage is made to where the plane gets assembled.
There are other parts trains that go to Boeing in Washington state, but the 737 trains only run on the BNSF between Spirit Aerosystems and Boeing.
The trains do go through Montanna Rail Link trackage if I remember correctly, but it doesn't seem that they ever switch out the motive power, and the BNSF locomotives run through instead. I tried searching for some photo evidence to the contrary, but I couldn't find anything. Also, please share your consist at that would be interesting to see.
Lots of information available through PlanesOnTrains.com.
Jim
The trains do run on the Montana Rail Link, and run over the bridge that was recently destroyed on the Yellowstone river. THe railroads involved had to set up a big transfer operation to get the planes and their special cars, around the destroyed bridge. Cranemasters had a couple of their big derailment cranes on site, as well as some other crane company. The planes, and the cars, were lifted off their wheels east of the bridge. They were placed on highway heavy haul transport trucks and moved to the west side of the bridge. They were then put back together and set on the rails for the rest of the trip west. It was a big operation that got very little coverage by any of the rail news operations.
Jeff
A reminder to keep your posts to real trains and not model trains. Thanks!
Sorry Big Boy - I posted the consist but the mods deemed it not fit for this forum and killed it. I'll get around to reposting in a different thread that is not in the real trains heading.
Paul
Ladies and gentlemen, we will be experiencing some turbulence. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts.
Attachments
Images (1)
Erik, Your photography is always spectacular, you're a genius!
@mowingman posted:The trains do run on the Montana Rail Link, and run over the bridge that was recently destroyed on the Yellowstone river. THe railroads involved had to set up a big transfer operation to get the planes and their special cars, around the destroyed bridge. Cranemasters had a couple of their big derailment cranes on site, as well as some other crane company. The planes, and the cars, were lifted off their wheels east of the bridge. They were placed on highway heavy haul transport trucks and moved to the west side of the bridge. They were then put back together and set on the rails for the rest of the trip west. It was a big operation that got very little coverage by any of the rail news operations.
It would be interesting to know why they didn't know the bridge was out until they got to it. Also it would be interesting to know why they didn't just move the train back down the track proceed via a different route. I don't know anything about the situation other than what you've mentioned, though. Obviously there must have been reasons, but it would be nice to know exactly what happened.
I believe the bridge collapsed while the train was actually crossing it. The front part of the train made it across, I believe, then it collapsed under the middle of the train.
Jeff
