In the northwestern corner of Idaho, there’s a lesser-known spot making a big impact—the Hauser refueling facility. For 20 years now, it has been quietly helping to keep freight moving smoothly throughout the Northwest. Since it opened two decades ago, this facility has played a key role in quickly servicing and refueling locomotives along one of the busiest parts of BNSF’s Northern Corridor, keeping trains on track as they transport goods to and from seaports, industries, and agricultural hubs.
When Hauser opened in 2004, it completely transformed how BNSF moved goods in the region. Now, unit trains carrying grain and energy products to West Coast terminals could refuel both their head-end and rear-end distributed power locomotives without having to detach them from the train. The facility also was designed with new tracks long enough to allow other trains to arrive, depart, or pass by the servicing area without interruptions.
In addition to refueling, Hauser is also a convenient spot for swapping out crews, making operations even smoother. Over the years, the facility has been upgraded with more fuel storage, the ability to handle longer trains, and increased capacity for locomotive servicing, further enhancing its role in the network. This incredible efficiency allows between 40 to 60 locomotives to pass through the facility every day.
“The fueling facility in Hauser has been an essential part of maintaining successful operations across the Northern Corridor of our network,” says Craig Morehouse, BNSF Vice President North Region Operations. “It serves as one of the main sources of fuel for our trains moving between the Pacific Northwest and the Midwest with reduced terminal time, which enables us to transport freight much more efficiently.”
