BNSF Railway
- For The Railroad Industry Professional

BNSF Railway Co. is one of seven North American Class I railroads. It has the second-largest freight-rail network in the United States, operating along 32,000 route miles in 28 states as well as two Canadian provinces. BNSF Railway hauls many different commodities, including coal and grain, as well as intermodal freight. In 2014, the railroad handled 10.3 million carloads.

Formerly known as Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, BNSF Railway was created in 1995 following the merger between Burlington Northern Inc., the parent company of Burlington Northern Railroad, and Santa Fe Pacific Corp., the parent company of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. In 2005, BNSF changed its name from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway to BNSF Railway Co. and adopted a new logo to promote its forward-looking resolve and commemorate the 10th anniversary of the merger.

Along with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and Burlington Northern railroads, BNSF's predecessor railroads include the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Frisco; Great Northern; Northern Pacific; and Spokane, Portland & Seattle railroads.

BNSF Railway and its parent company, Burlington Northern Santa Fe L.L.C., have been wholly owned subsidiaries of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. since February 2010, when shareholders approved a $44 billion deal that enabled Berkshire Hathaway — which is owned by Warren Buffet — to purchase the railroad.

BNSF Railway facts and figures

BNSF Railway serves more than 40 ports and 31 intermodal terminals. The railroad owns more than 78,000 rail cars and 8,000 locomotives. BNSF Railway also maintains 13,100 bridges, 87 tunnels and 26,000 grade crossings.

Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, BNSF Railway employs about 40,000 people. Executive officers include: Kathryn Farmer, president and chief executive officer; Stevan Bobb, executive vice president and chief marketing officer; Matt Igoe, executive vice president and chief operations officer; Paul Bischler, executive vice president and chief financial officer; and Jill Mulligan, executive vice president of law and corporate affairs, and chief legal officer. In 2010, former CEO and Executive Chairman Matt Rose received Progressive Railroading's Railroad Innovator award.