Western Railroad Discussion > Boeing Ramps up 737 Production

Last month, Boeing received approval from the FAA to increase their monthly 737 production numbers from 38 to 42 planes. They have an end goal of producing 47 planes each month and with that goal comes some coordination with BNSF, especially in Seattle. As most of you know, 737 fuselages are produced by Spirit in Wichita Kansas and then transported by rail via BNSF to Seattle where they are then brought to the Boeing production facility in Renton via BNSF's famed, Renton Rocket. While the Rocket has regularly run 3x weekly, it is usually just once a week that planes are brought into Renton. 

Last week there seemed to be a bit of a supply chain build up with more than 10 737max fuselages accumulating at the now shuttered Balmer Yard. Over the weekend, BNSF operated an extra Rocket with the purpose acclimating to ramped up production numbers. They also made a run to the Boeing plant with two geometry/mobile lab passenger cars that took a rare ride over the entire Renton Branch. This is just an assumption, but possibly increased traffic on the line triggers some data collection by the FRA or internally by BNSF?

I was lucky enough to catch the Sunday regular rocket, and an extra run on Monday this week. It was a special treat to get the "varnish" at the front of Sunday's train, especially being led by an increasingly rare H1 GP.

1. After running light power from Stacy Street Yard, the Rocket has attached onto today's train consisting of a buffer car, two geometry cars and 4 737 fuselages. For Balmer being closed for almost 6 months now, it sure looks like an active terminal!

2. After crawling out of the yard, the Rocket jets past the Interbay grain facility with Magonolia Hill in the background, heading towards North Portal in Downtown Seattle.

3. Monday's extra Rocket with another 4 747 fuselages. 

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/25 15:44 by NoGrainer.

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Thanks for that interesting coverage!

Posted from iPhone

Great trio of photos, nice to see the GP40X in the last pic.  From some GoogleMaps recon - It looks like you made good use of the Elliott Bay bike/walking trail for at least 2 of the 3 shots?

Rich

Though it's just an industry spur, it carries high value irreplaceable freight. A good idea to run geocars over it to find any lurking invisible defects.


"They also made a run to the Boeing plant with two geometry/mobile lab passenger cars that took a rare ride over the entire Renton Branch. This is just an assumption, but possibly increased traffic on the line triggers some data collection by the FRA or internally by BNSF?"

Great trio! What's the older blue GP in photo #2?

If I recall, Boeing is looking at potentially increasing to 53 a month by Q4 26.

Macster Wrote:
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> If I recall, Boeing is looking at potentially
> increasing to 53 a month by Q4 26.

With an additional production line at Everett?

NoGrainer Wrote:
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> This is just an assumption,
> but possibly increased traffic on the line
> triggers some data collection by the FRA or
> internally by BNSF?

A special Technical Research & Design department project



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/11/25 16:29 by Milw_E70.

Man, that second shot is so awesome! 


SP8595 Wrote:
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> Great trio! What's the older blue GP in photo #2?

That is LDCX 2010 John

re: shot 2, Magnolia is the hillside in the background, west of the yard. The grain yard here is part of Queen Anne- great shots dude!!!

Great shots and background story, so refreshing to see a GP40X still running up the miles. SP only had 4 of them and would see them on the Coastline mostly on rock trains or the Surf Turn. One of my favorite EMD models of all time.

Awesome pics sir!!! You make us look like rockstars!

As you know, I had the J this last Monday, hauling all this stuff back east from whence it came. Nobody on board the “varnish”, they had all flown home by then.

While performing a Class 1 air test on all the Boeing cars before going east over the mountain, I found probably 6-7 brake shoes that were borderline Bad Order, and 1 that was metal on metal, the backing plate grinding into the wheel…and had to set it out at Balmer. I’m sure that Boeing is displeased, but it beats the alternative.

With the majority of car shops being closed down and fewer and fewer Carmen performing inspections…I’m sure noticing a difference in the increase of cars with worn out brake shoes.

SP8595 Wrote:
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> Great trio! What's the older blue GP in photo #2?

Ex-Northern Pacific torpedo boat GP9 #215!!!

The Louis Dreyfus grain facility uses it to move loaded grain hoppers into the dump shed.

Texican65 Wrote:
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>
> With the majority of car shops being closed down
> and fewer and fewer Carmen performing
> inspections…I’m sure noticing a difference in
> the increase of cars with worn out brake shoes.

Cutting costs is the important thing.  They don't care about safety.  

Texican65 Wrote:
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> While performing a Class 1 air test on all the
> Boeing cars before going east over the mountain, I
> found probably 6-7 brake shoes that were
> borderline Bad Order, and 1 that was metal on
> metal, the backing plate grinding into the
> wheel…and had to set it out at Balmer. I’m
> sure that Boeing is displeased, but it beats the
> alternative.

Thank you for your attentiveness.

Texican65 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Awesome pics sir!!! You make us look like
> rockstars!
>
> As you know, I had the J this last Monday, hauling
> all this stuff back east from whence it came.
> Nobody on board the “varnish”, they had all
> flown home by then.
>
> While performing a Class 1 air test on all the
> Boeing cars before going east over the mountain, I
> found probably 6-7 brake shoes that were
> borderline Bad Order, and 1 that was metal on
> metal, the backing plate grinding into the
> wheel…and had to set it out at Balmer. I’m
> sure that Boeing is displeased, but it beats the
> alternative.
>
> With the majority of car shops being closed down
> and fewer and fewer Carmen performing
> inspections…I’m sure noticing a difference in
> the increase of cars with worn out brake shoes.

Thise test cars were on that J train because Boeing was already displeased.

Nice shots!!

After talking with some other crews that handled the train before I did…they have indicated that the research and test cars on the head end were there because the fuselages have been arriving with scuffs and scratches in certain re-occurring spots on them over the last few weeks. So the test cars were there to determine “where” this is happening, by measuring clearances along the route.

Texican65 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> After talking with some other crews that handled
> the train before I did…they have indicated that
> the research and test cars on the head end were
> there because the fuselages have been arriving
> with scuffs and scratches in certain re-occurring
> spots on them over the last few weeks. So the test
> cars were there to determine “where” this is
> happening, by measuring clearances along the
> route.

Thanks for the intel! I wonder what their findings are. I believe the research car is an old business car, with kitchen and crew quarters. I noticed their trash piles out in the curb after arriving, what a job to have!

NoGrainer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Texican65 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > After talking with some other crews that
> handled
> > the train before I did…they have indicated
> that
> > the research and test cars on the head end were
> > there because the fuselages have been arriving
> > with scuffs and scratches in certain
> re-occurring
> > spots on them over the last few weeks. So the
> test
> > cars were there to determine “where” this
> is
> > happening, by measuring clearances along the
> > route.
>
> Thanks for the intel! I wonder what their findings
> are. I believe the research car is an old business
> car, with kitchen and crew quarters. I noticed
> their trash piles out in the curb after arriving,
> what a job to have!

maybe BNSF oldest BIZ car operating