BNSF Railway facts for kids
![]() |
|
Overview | |
---|---|
Headquarters | Fort Worth, Texas |
Reporting mark | BNSF |
Locale | Midwest United States, Western United States, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Eastern United States |
Dates of operation | September 22, 1995–Present |
Predecessor |
List
|
Technical | |
Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
Length | 32,500 mi (52,300 km) |
The BNSF Railway Company is the biggest freight railroad network in North America. BNSF has 44,000 employees. They are one of ten Class I railroads. They have 32,500 miles (52,300 km) of track in 28 states. They have more than 8,000 locomotives. It has three transcontinental routes that have rail connections between the western and eastern United States.
Railyards
Large freight car hump yards are located throughout the BNSF system.
- Barstow, California - Barstow Yard
- Galesburg, Illinois - Galesburg Yard
- Kansas City, Kansas - Argentine Yard
- Memphis, Tennessee - Tennessee Yard
- Minneapolis, Minnesota - Northtown Yard
- Pasco, Washington - Pasco Yard
- Seattle, Washington - Balmer Yard
- Tulsa, Oklahoma - Cherokee Yard
- Lincoln, Nebraska - Hobson Yard
Location of major intermodal yards:
- Edgerton, Kansas - Logistics Park Kansas City (LPKC)

- Joliet, Illinois - Logistics Park Chicago
- Los Angeles, California - Los Angeles intermodal facility
Operating divisions
Region | Division | States and provinces | Headquarters | Subdivisions | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
South | California | California, Nevada, Utah | San Bernardino, CA | Bakersfield, Cajon, Lucerne Valley, Mojave, Needles, San Bernardino, San Diego, Stockton | |
South | Chicago | Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin | Chicago, IL | Aurora, Barstow, Brookfield, Chicago, Chillicothe, Marceline, Mendota, Ottumwa, Peoria, St. Croix, Thomas Hill | |
Central | Gulf (Now the Red River Division) | Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas | Spring, TX | Bay City, Conroe, Galveston, Houston, Lafayette, Lampasas, Longview, Mykawa, Silsbee | |
South | Kansas | Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas | Kansas City, KS | Arkansas City, Douglass, Emporia, Hereford, La Junta, Panhandle, Plainview, Slaton, Strong City, Topeka, Fort Scott | |
South | Los Angeles | California | Los Angeles, CA | Alameda Corridor, Harbor, San Bernardino | |
North | Montana | Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming | Billings, MT | Big Sandy, Broadview, Casper, Choteau, Circle, Cody, Colstrip, Crosby, Dickinson, Fairfield, Forsyth, Ft. Benton, Glasgow, Great Falls, Grenora, Helena, Hettinger, Hi Line, Kootenai River, Laurel, Lewistown, Milk River, Mobridge, Niobe, Sarpy Line, Sweet Grass, Valier | |
Central | Nebraska | Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska | Lincoln, NE | Bayard, Beatrice, Bellwood, Council Bluffs, Creston, Des Moines, Giltner, Hastings, Lester, Napier, Neb City, Omaha, Ottumwa, Ravenna, Sioux City, St. Joseph, Wymore | |
North | Northwest | British Columbia, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington | Seattle, WA | Bellingham, Burbank, Cherry Point, Coeur d'Alene, Columbia River, Fallbridge, Gateway, Kettle Falls, Lakeside, Newport, New Westminster, Oregon Trunk, Scenic, Seattle, Spokane, Stampede, Sumas, Yakima Valley | |
Central | Powder River | Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming | Gillette, WY | Akron, Angora, Big Horn, Black Hills, Boise City, Brush, Butte, Campbell, Canyon, Dalhart, Dutch, Front Range, Golden, Orin, Pikes Peak, Pueblo, Reno, Sand Hills, Spanish Peaks, Twin Peaks, Valley | |
South | Southwest | Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas | Belen, NM | Clovis, Coronado, Defiance, El Paso, Ennis, Gallup, Glorieta, Lee Ranch, Phoenix, Raton, Seligman, Springerville | |
Central | Springfield | Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee | Springfield, MO | Afton, Amory, Avard, Beardstown, Pensacola, Birmingham, Cherokee, Cuba, Fort Scott, Hannibal, Lead Line, River, Thayer North, Thayer South, Yates City | Includes most of the former St. Louis-San Francisco Railway |
Central | Texas (Now Red River Division) | Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas | Fort Worth, TX | BBRX, Chickasha, Creek, DFW, Ft. Worth, Madill, Red River Valley, Red Rock, Sooner, Venus, Wichita Falls | |
North | Twin Cities | Iowa, Manitoba, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin | Minneapolis, MN | Aberdeen, Allouez, Appleton, Brainerd, Browns Valley, Canton, Casco, Clifford Line, Corson, Devils Lake, Drayton, Glasston, Grand Forks, Hanley Falls, Hannah, Hib Tac, Hillsboro, Hinckley, Hunter, Jamestown, KO, Lakes, Madison, Marshall, Mayville, Midway, Mitchell, Monticello, Moorhead, Morris, Noyes, P Line, Prosper, Rolla, Staples, St. Paul, Warwick, Watertown, Wayzata, Westhope, Zap Line |
Images for kids
-
BNSF Dash 9-44CW #1041 leading a manifest freight train northwest of Shallowater, Texas, running on former ATSF railroad tracks that run parallel to U.S. Route 84 as they cross the high plains of the Llano Estacado. Immediately behind the locomotive are cars painted in the old Burlington Northern livery.
-
BNSF ES44DC 7402 leads a train of Boeing 737 fuselages at Greenwood, Nebraska in October 2014.
-
An eastbound BNSF Railway train passes some maintenance of way equipment in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, August 8, 2004. The lead unit is painted in the Heritage II scheme.
-
BNSF 880362, a DOT-111 tank car passing Glen Haven, Wisconsin, shows the new corporate logo on June 3, 2006.
-
BNSF 5696 pulling a Metrolink train in the aftermath of the 2015 Oxnard train derailment