Western Railroad Discussion > Oddity: Loads

I've always found these loads interesting and quite odd.

This shot shows a train just haveing exited Bozeman Tunnel on the Montana Rail Link. The wings are on the other end of the tunnel ;-) The picture was taken last September.

Whenever I leave Gallatin Field (Bozeman, MT) in a 737 I can't help but think, has this plane been on the railroad that we just crossed over below?

Tim Harris

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I'd hate to see the insurance bill if the was wrecked in a derailment. Cool shot.

nice pic!!!

Is it usual practice to ship a fuselage exposed to the elements like this? I thought they were usually shipped in sections inside special cars.

WichitaJct Wrote:
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> Is it usual practice to ship a fuselage exposed to
> the elements like this? I thought they were
> usually shipped in sections inside special cars.

Yes it is S.O.P.

-Justin

WichitaJct Wrote:
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> Is it usual practice to ship a fuselage exposed to
> the elements like this? I thought they were
> usually shipped in sections inside special cars.

The old 737 shipments used to have big blankets wrapped around most of the fuselage. When the Next Generation 737s started shipping with the fuselage completely assembled, no more blankets. Don't know why.

Very interesting shot. Not at least wrapping the fuselage is just plain STUPID!!

would like to see the picture of the wing sections.

nice shot.

The Burlington Norhtern, now MRL & BNSF, has transported hundreds of 737-700, 800, & 900's in this (open air) fassion for the last 25-30 years. They are being transported between Seattle & Wichita. As is visible in the picture, they install ice breakers in front of the car to ensure that there is no damage from tree limbs, tunnels, etc. In recent years there have also been shipments of 757's. The 757's have the same 12' 3" diameter as the 737 so they can still make it on a flat, as long as there is an idler flat trailing. I have a model of one of these in HO, verry interesting car, especially to model!

Robby F. (Mr. MRL) <-- MRL is a great RR to model, "prototypically"

As far as the wings go. I am not sure but every train has cars like these included. I suspect that the wings are carried in them.

Tim Harris

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Robby is correct.

Here is a much, much earlier shot at Livingston, MT. As you can see from this shot the planes can be broken down into shorter sections for transport.

Bob Del Grosso's "Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway 2002 Locomotive Review and Freight Car Directory" lists 81 cars used for aircraft transport, these are BNSF cars. In addition there lease cars used for this service as you can see in the reporting marks on the car in my picture above. The sizes vary from 48'6" to 89'4" flats, quite a variety.

Thanks everyone for the compiments for the pictures by the way.

Tim Harris

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Here's a shot of a unit Boeing train.

Tim Harris

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And here's a shot of the end of the trailing car. Looks like the tail sections could be carried here.

Tim Harris

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