Since the early 1900s, the BNSF Salmon Bay Rail Bridge has enabled freight and passenger trains to cross the Lake Washington Ship Canal in Seattle. Commercial and recreational vessels pass under the bridge as they navigate between Lake Union and Puget Sound. Over the years, BNSF has invested millions to extend the operational life of…
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Ever wanted to get a closer look at a locomotive, a covered hopper or a centerbeam flatcar? These are just a few of the railcars that can be explored in three dimensions in BNSF’s virtual tour. Hop aboard the tour for unique views of the major types of BNSF railcars. Every day, BNSF Railway operates…
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In September, local emergency response officials coordinated with BNSF to practice deploying an oil containment boom on Lake Pend Oreille near Sandpoint, Idaho. A containment boom is a floating barrier used to contain an oil spill. Between BNSF, Montana Rail Link and Avista Utilities, approximately 24,000 feet of boom are located within two hours of…
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The BNSF Railway Foundation invests in the communities across the 28 states through which BNSF operates, and where BNSF employees live, work and volunteer. Recent donations include: Providing Critical Food and Medical Supplies BNSF Railway Foundation contributed $30,000 to the Northwest Tribal Emergency Management Council(NWTEMC) and National Tribal Emergency Management Council for critically needed food…
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Did you know that it can take more than a mile for a freight train to stop? Promoting train track safety is an essential part of BNSF’s operation and culture. That’s why BNSF actively seeks ways to educate about rail safety such as partnering with Operation Lifesaver, Inc. to observe Rail Safety Week and Operation…
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One of BNSF’s two specially equipped firefighting trains joined the nearly 1,000 firefighters and impressive array of machines in the fight against the recent Evans Canyon Fire. Each train can take firefighters to hard-to-reach hot spots, carries 30,000 gallons of water and uses hoses to shoot water up to 30 feet away. The trains are…
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From finding passage through the Rocky Mountains, to building the 7.9-mile Cascade Tunnel, to constructing the Argentine Flyover in Kansas City, BNSF’s engineers have conquered impressive challenges in order to keep trains—and customers’ goods—safely moving. These engineering marvels also played a key role in connecting the country. Without a railroad, fledgling towns in the developing…
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Recently, the 113-year-old Drano Bridge was replaced by a 360-foot-long, 2.7-million-pound steel structure constructed in Vancouver WA and floated down the Columbia River by barge. With careful planning and the help of about 50 construction workers, the newest bridge on BNSF Railway’s Columbia River Gorge line was installed within 36 hours and is now carrying…
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The BNSF Railway Foundation invests in the communities across the 28 states through which BNSF operates, and where BNSF employees live, work and volunteer. Recent donations include: Protecting Land for Recreation and Wildlife Forterra is a Washington-based nonprofit that enhances, supports, and stewards the region’s most precious resources: its communities and its ecosystems. In its 30-year…
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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 &…
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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…
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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…
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The BNSF Railway Foundation invests in the communities across the 28 states through which BNSF operates, and where BNSF employees live, work and volunteer. Recent donations include: 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…
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In June, BNSF introduced a new service between the Pacific Northwest and Northwest Ohio. Customers who originate shipments at BNSF’s South Seattle Intermodal Facility can now access some of the fastest growing industrial and consumer markets in and around northwest Ohio, including Toledo, Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Louisville and Pittsburgh. The container-only service is available…
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The Cheney Depot, once the center of the small Washington town, safely moved to its new home on private property last month. Built in 1929, the Spanish Eclectic-styled depot was saved from demolition through the coordinated efforts of BNSF and the Cheney Depot Society. In its earlier years, the Cheney Depot was the iconic starting…
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