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Current Midwestern Flooding Causes Reroutes?

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Current Midwestern Flooding Causes Reroutes?
Posted by samfp1943 on Thursday, March 21, 2019 6:58 PM

Normally, in this Area, out of the Spirit Aviation Corps plant, the 737 aircraft fuselages are moved on BNSF; towards Kansas City( and then towards their destinations in Seattle area.   

  Today, there were a couple of them, riding Westbound towards the Southern T-con, via Wellington, Ks and west(?). First time, I've seen them going that way; I suspect that there may be flooding detours on their 'normal' routings, which because of their configurations on the cars (overwidth) could cause clearance issues enroute?   I guess, [question for MC.  or DC.Question becomes a question of what routing will they  take; out west of Wellington, Ks.  towards the Seattle destination.Whistling

 

 


 

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Posted by diningcar on Thursday, March 21, 2019 7:19 PM

Depending upon several factors, how busy is the Transcon west from Amarillo, or what is happening between Denver and Seattle, I suggest the 1st option will be Amarillo, Trinidad, Denver and then toward the Montana Rail Link and Sandpoint.

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Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, March 21, 2019 7:26 PM

diningcar

Depending upon several factors, how busy is the Transcon west from Amarillo, or what is happening between Denver and Seattle, I suggest the 1st option will be Amarillo, Trinidad, Denver and then toward the Montana Rail Link and Sandpoint.

 

A detour via Denver would be interesting--and difficult: lots of dark territory and few qualified engineers and conductors.

Johnny

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Posted by samfp1943 on Thursday, March 21, 2019 8:52 PM

Deggesty
diningcar 

Depending upon several factors, how busy is the Transcon west from Amarillo, or what is happening between Denver and Seattle, I suggest the 1st option will be Amarillo, Trinidad, Denver and then toward the Montana Rail Link and Sandpoint.

A detour via Denver would be interesting--and difficult: lots of dark territory and few qualified engineers and conductors.

Thanks, Johnny, and DC;  Interesting points, and I am sure, maybe, operational headaches for BNSF.  I am sure we'll be seening more of them, current production is something north of about 40 + a month.

I am guessing, that the current flooding in the upper midwest will hang on for a while; then move south, possibly causing problems with many of the east-west routings to be effected.

 

 


 

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, March 21, 2019 9:08 PM

Deggesty
 
diningcar

Depending upon several factors, how busy is the Transcon west from Amarillo, or what is happening between Denver and Seattle, I suggest the 1st option will be Amarillo, Trinidad, Denver and then toward the Montana Rail Link and Sandpoint. 

A detour via Denver would be interesting--and difficult: lots of dark territory and few qualified engineers and conductors.

Detours anywhere will be a issue - the manpower and physical plant for most territories these days, and especially in view of PSR, have been tailored to their normal business levels - both trains and crew bases.  In many cases a additional train or two has the ability to grid lock a subdivision.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by denveroutlaws06 on Thursday, March 21, 2019 9:57 PM

737 aircraft fuselages have gone though Colorado normally.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, March 22, 2019 3:33 PM

denveroutlaws06

737 aircraft fuselages have gone though Colorado normally.

 

It may be 737 MAX fuselages are longer than the older 737-NG ones.  If so that may restrict them to fewer routes?  Of course Boeing may be able to charter the Super Guppy type aircraft to ferry them?  That is if they are not tied up with flood relief ?..  

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Posted by caldreamer on Friday, March 22, 2019 5:17 PM

They have been seen on the joint line north of Denver from Colroado Springs up over Palmer Lake on the coninental divide.  Report comes from direct sightings reported on the JointLineRailfanning.io forum.

    Caldreamer

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Posted by samfp1943 on Friday, March 22, 2019 9:49 PM

[quote user="blue streak 1"]

denveroutlaws06

737 aircraft fuselages have gone though Colorado normally.

It may be 737 MAX fuselages are longer than the older 737-NG ones.  If so that may restrict them to fewer routes?  Of course Boeing may be able to charter the Super Guppy type aircraft to ferry them?  That is if they are not tied up with flood relief ?.. 

[/quote]   Blue Sreak 1:  The 737 Max 8&9 are noticeably longer, and wider as well. The are shipping out of Spirit Aviation, here in Wichita.   As to the 'Super Guppy's". Boeing uses a fleet[approx 10/12 aircraft(?)] of  LCA's (Large Cargo Airliner) that are built on a 747's airframe. They fly into Wichita pretty regularly, to pick up the 787 cockpits which are built here.

        Recall: Winter before last, when one failed to make it's regular landing at McConnell AFB and landed at a small commercial a/p that lays about 5 miles away on the same heading. That aircraft had to be unloaded and lightened, in order to make the takeoff at that a/p.  I think Boeing, and its pilot contractor company bought the county a new runway, after that one!.

Here's a link to a photo of one loading a cockpit here :

https://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/article3606380.html

 

 


 

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Saturday, March 23, 2019 6:58 AM

Except for the Dreamlifter, see this site for more than you ever wanted to know about Guppies:  http://allaboutguppys.com/ 

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by caldreamer on Saturday, March 23, 2019 8:16 AM

Report on the JointLineRailfanning forum, that there may be a Boeing train going over the divide tomorrow.  BNSF is still rerouting them.

    Caldreamer

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Posted by SFbrkmn on Sunday, March 24, 2019 7:07 PM

samfp1943

Normally, in this Area, out of the Spirit Aviation Corps plant, the 737 aircraft fuselages are moved on BNSF; towards Kansas City( and then towards their destinations in Seattle area.   

  Today, there were a couple of them, riding Westbound towards the Southern T-con, via Wellington, Ks and west(?). First time, I've seen them going that way; I suspect that there may be flooding detours on their 'normal' routings, which because of their configurations on the cars (overwidth) could cause clearance issues enroute?   I guess, [question for MC.  or DC.Question becomes a question of what routing will they  take; out west of Wellington, Ks.  towards the Seattle destination.Whistling

There is a NEWINB on duty this eve that is showing 3 engs to pu 12 total cars @ Spirit and take them to Wellks

 

 

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Posted by wjstix on Monday, March 25, 2019 12:49 PM

The road (Shepard Road / Warner Road) that runs between St.Paul Union Depot and the Mississippi river is currently closed due to anticipated flooding in the upcoming week. The track is elevated above road level and as far as I know the water isn't expected to be so high as to affect the track - although it has happened in the past (1952, 1965). If so, the Empire Builder may need to be detoured.

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Posted by ROBIN LUETHE on Monday, March 25, 2019 3:53 PM

Just about certain that 737MAX fusilages are not wider than NGs.  New models of planes are often longer, but never wider as I have seen.  The early 707 was 5 abreast, IIRC, and when widened was called the 720.

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Posted by rdamon on Monday, March 25, 2019 4:56 PM

The MAX-10 is about 5' longer than the 737-900.

http://www.aviatorjoe.net/go/compare/737_MAX_10/737-900/

Wider usually is a whole new model, adding a tube before and/or after the wing requires much less testing for certification since it is a modification.  

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, March 25, 2019 6:09 PM

ROBIN LUETHE

Just about certain that 737MAX fusilages are not wider than NGs.  New models of planes are often longer, but never wider as I have seen. 

correct

The early 707 was 5 abreast, IIRC, and when widened was called the 720.

incorrect 

  Sorry no cigar  the history of the 720 /707 is very detailed

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