“Turn left heading 1-2-0, descend and maintain 1 thousand, expect 3-6-0 in 3 miles…”
Ok, so I highly doubt any ATC directed these 737′s into Lynch Coulee but they didn’t get there by accident. As I indicated in my previous post BNSF has a contract to move Boeing 737 fuselages from Wichita, Kansas to Renton, Wa. for their final assembly. BNSF uses the route that passes through Lynch Coulee not only for its directness but because it has the necessary clearance for the hulls.
A 737 fuselage is is just nearly 12′ 4″ wide making it about 1′ 8″ wider than most railcars. Add in the fact that the length of the hulls can be 133′ 6″ for a 737-900 and clearance has to be watched carefully. Take note that the tail hangs over the car behind. The fuselages are mounted to the flat car in the same position as the landing gear would be on a completed aircraft. These mount points allow the tail to swing out which could possibly make the load wider than 12′ 4″ depending on the curvature of the track. Thanks to the GN the Columbia River and Scenic Subs both have easy curves and great clearances to support these loads.
Al Krug posted a couple of tales a few years ago about operating Boeing loads on the Big Horn Sub. If you want a railroader’s perspective of the Boeing loads I recommend you read both tales. Boeing Bridge and Eight Forties With Boeings
