Trains – September 2019

Hauser, Idaho. Due to the high-
and-wide nature of the cars, the
trains must be careful of clear-
ance when meeting other trains
or in sharp curvature.
The routing of these trains
normally is from Wichita to
Laurel, Mont., via BNSF Rail-
way then onto the Montana
Rail Link from Laurel to Sand-
point, Idaho, where they return
to BNSF rails. From there they
move through Spokane and
along the former Great North-
ern over Stevens Pass, then
through Seattle.
From there the 737 frames
operate to the Boeing plant in
Renton by a local switch job
called the “Renton Rocket,”
which includes unique street
running in town. Some of the
aircraft component cars are des-
tined for the large Boeing plant
at Everett, Wash., as well, which
are switched out to head north
of Seattle. Returning as a single
unit train, empty frame cars
using the same reverse routing
back to Kansas. On the BNSF
these dedicated trains are iden-
tified as “J” trains, denoting
high-and-wide dimension cars.

TrainsMag.com 31

Boeing’s 737 is, unequivocally, the best-selling

jetliner in aviation history. Since rollout in 1967,

more than 10,500 airframes have been construct-

ed in nine major variants. Enormously successful

worldwide, the 737 operates on every continent

(yes, even Antarctica!) in commercial, cargo,

governmental, military, and private roles.

The world’s largest commercial operator of

the 737 is Southwest, with a fleet numbering

greater than 750 and more on order. Other airlines

with large fleets include United, American,

Ireland’s Ryanair, Brazil’s Gol, and China’s Xiamen.

Militaries utilize 737s not only for passenger

transport, but also as a platform for maritime

patrol, submarine hunting, and airborne radar.

The 737 has long been the backbone of Boe-

ing’s commercial aviation division, providing the

steady source of revenue crucial to funding the

development of new airliner models. With more

than 4,000 on order, it promises to continue as

an important offering in the maker’s portfolio. —

David Honan

A train of Boeing fuselages rolls
west near Rivulet, Mont., on
Montana Rail Link’s Fourth
Subdivision on April 23, 2011.
Justin Franz

737: THE UBIQUITOUS AIRLINER

An Alaska Airlines 737 wearing the “Celebration of Boeing” livery lands at Seattle. David Honan

On average, the Renton facility turns out a completed 737 aircraft every 14 hours.