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 2011, the railroad handled 9.5 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 nearly 7,000 locomotives. BNSF Railway also maintains 13,100 bridges, 87 tunnels and 26,000 grade crossings.

In 2011, BNSF Railway posted record operating earnings of $5.3 billion. The railroad generated revenue of $19.5 billion and net earnings increased from $2.5 billion in 2010 to about $3 billion.

In 2013, BNSF Railway plans to invest a record $4.1 billion in capital projects, compared with $3.6 billion in 2012.

Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, BNSF Railway employs about 40,000 people. Executive officers include: Matthew Rose, chairman and chief executive officer; Carl Ice, president and chief operating officer; Gregory Fox, executive vice president of operations; Thomas Hund, executive vice president and chief financial officer; and John Lanigan Jr., executive vice president and chief marketing officer.

In 2010, Rose received Progressive Railroading's Railroad Innovator award.