August 2020
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August 2020 • The latest from the Pacific Northwest 
BNSF Unveils 25th Anniversary Locomotives
BNSF recently introduced the first of 10 locomotives with special paint schemes marking the railroad’s 25th anniversary. The General Electric ES44AC No. 5828 now displays a “25th Anniversary” label on the nose and side, as well as logos of predecessor railroads: Burlington Northern; Santa Fe; Great Northern; Northern Pacific; Spokane, Portland & Seattle; Colorado & Southern; and Frisco. The other nine units will be decked out with the same scheme. BNSF was created by the merger of BN and AT&SF railways in September 1995. Today's BNSF Railway is the product of nearly 400 different railroad lines that merged or were acquired over the course of 170 years. Learn more about the 25th anniversary locomotives here. 
Sandpoint Junction Connector Project Moves to the Next Phase
To meet the growing needs of the communities it serves, BNSF is building a second rail bridge over Idaho’s Lake Pend Oreille adjacent to the existing rail bridge. BNSF is also building new bridges over Sand Creek and Bridge Street in Sandpoint, ID. The upgrades will reduce congestion and help move current freight traffic and future volumes more efficiently, benefiting the products BNSF carries and the passenger trains that run on BNSF’s main line. The project has moved into the next phase as the work trestle at the north end has been completed and engineering teams are now primarily focused on permanent pile construction for the new bridge. Additional pile installations will take place this month for the new three-quarter-mile-long span adjacent to the existing bridge. Learn more about the Sandpoint Junction Connector Project here. 
Railroad Safety is a Matter of Life and Death BNSF is committed to promoting safety around tracks. Spokane BNSF deputy police chief Alan Dryer was recently featured in the Spokesman-Review with critical reminders of how dangerous trains can be when people aren’t careful. About every three hours, a person or vehicle in the U.S. is hit by a train. Dryer’s guest article highlighted important safety tips such as: 
Read the full article here.
Supporting Our Communities
Preserving Railroading Heritage A piece of railroading history is making its final journey to its new home. Built in 1958 for the Great Northern Railway, an SD9 locomotive was donated by BNSF to the Inland Northwest Rail Museum. The retired locomotive, which had resided at a rail yard in Seattle, will travel from the Puget Sound area to Eastern Washington. Devoted to preserving the railroad history of Eastern Washington and the Inland Northwest, the Inland Empire Railway Historical Society, a non-profit corporation and regional chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, operates the Inland Northwest Rail Museum in Reardan, WA.
Supporting Families in Playing and Learning Together
Greentrike Play to Learn is a free program for children and adults to play together offered at over 22 community locations throughout Pierce County. In 2019-2020, even amidst COVID-19 closures which eliminated eight weeks of remaining classes, the organization was able to serve 15,377 Play to Learn attendees through 393 classes. BNSF Railway Foundation’s $5,000 grant supports the reshaping and relaunching of Greentrike programs during the pandemic.
Unleashing the Power and Potential of Disadvantaged Students
BNSF Railway Foundation’s $3,500 contribution to Community for Youth (CfY) helped the organization serve 75 students from low-performing and high-poverty Seattle Public High Schools. CfY inspires and supports disadvantaged students to be their best selves through the creation of a connected community of youth and mentors. CfY’s program involves a year of comprehensive and in-depth mentoring, learning and support services. 
Providing Basic-Need Resources to Students and Their Families The Family Access Network (FAN) in Bend, OR received a $2,500 grant from BNSF Railway Foundation which will be used to provide 25 students and their family members at Crook County High School with basic-need resources such as nourishing food, safe shelter, clothing, health care, school supplies and much more. FAN offers assistance, possibility and hope to Central Oregon families in need by connecting them with crucial resources that will help children flourish in school and in life.
Distributing Food and Essentials to the Yakama Nation BNSF Director of Tribal Relations Quanah Spencer worked with the Peacekeepers Society in White Swan, WA to distribute food and essentials to members of the Yakama Nation. The BNSF Railway Foundation also provided a $5,000 donation to support the operations. Yakima County, and the Yakama Nation, have been particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic over the last few months.
Emergencies – Call 800-832-5452 To report a vehicle stalled on a crossing, suspicious circumstances, malfunctioning crossing gates and lights, or any other emergency, call 800-832-5452 immediately. Have a Question for Us?
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