Table of Contents
Quick Facts
| Year Founded | 1995 |
| Total Track Mileage | 32,500 |
| Total Locomotives | 8000 |
| Number of Employees | 35,000 |
| Number of States located in | 28 |
| Headquarters | Fort Worth Texas |
| Websites | https://www.bnsf.com/ https://jobs.bnsf.com/us/en |
Information/History
The BNSF Railway (reporting mark BN) was formed in 1995 with the merger of the Burlington Northern Railroad (which had been formed in 1970 by the merger of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, the Northern Pacific Railroad, the Great Northern Railroad, and the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway), and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (Santa Fe). Originally the railroad was called the “Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway,” but in 2005 the name was officially changed to simply BNSF Railway.
The railroad primarily exists west, south and southwest of Chicago.
On February 12, 2010 Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway company acquired the remaining 77.4 percent of BNSF, that it did not already own, for $44 billion, thus taking the company private.
The railroad has adopted the newer BNSF “swoop” look name/logo, as well as using an orange and green paint scheme. However there are many heritage diesel units that are still painted in the Burlington Norther green and black, and executive green and cream paint schemes. As well as heritage Santa Fe units that are painted in the red and silver “Warbonnet” theme, and the blue and yellow “blonde” paint scheme.
PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT TRESPASS UPON RAILROAD PROPERTY. NOR TRESSPEASS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE OWNER.
Riding the Line
Amtrak service travels over several portions of BNSF.
These include:
California Zephyr
Carl Sandburg
Coast Starlight
Empire Builder
Heartland Flyer
Illinois Zephyr
Lincoln Service
Pacific Surfliner
San Joaquin
Southwest Chief
Sunset Limited
Texas Eagle
Amtrak Cascades
Of these, a few names that Amtrak has adopted are directly related to some of the BNSF predecessor lines.
The California Zephyr, was run in part by CB&Q. [With partnerships with D&RGW, and WP]
The Southwest Chief was directly related to the many “Chief” trains that Santa Fe used to operate.
The Empire Builder is named after a train that the Great Northern ran.
In addition to these Amtrak trains, there are commuter trains in Chicago and Seattle area, that operate over BNSF rails.
BNSF does not have a steam locomotive program, but the railroad on occasion has allowed other operators to run their steam engines on the line. These trips are operated by groups that either operate the locomotive, like Milwaukee road 261, or are NRHS and railroad/railfan associated groups.
Click on these websites on occasion to see if there are any trips featured over BNSF:
Nrhs.org
261.com
4449.com
sbrhs.org
sps700.org
Notable Equipment
BNSF also has several streamline business/passenger cars that are based out of Topeka Kansas. These cars are heritage Santa Fe passenger cars, some of which ran on the “Chief” trains. On occasion they may operate these cars on special train movements.
Live Webcams
