Oregon and BNSF honor Bend, Oregon WWII Hero

The Oregon Legislature recently honored Bend resident Bob Maxwell who at 96-year-old is the oldest living recipient of the Medal of Honor and the only recipient living in Oregon. Separately, as a way to say thank you for his service, BNSF also honored Maxwell and the Bend Heroes Foundation during a special train ride aboard

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BNSF Adds Double Track in North Idaho

Starting this summer, BNSF will be adding 10 miles of double track in North Idaho. The second set of tracks will help ease congestion between Athol and Rathdrum.  Double track increases the network’s capacity by giving train dispatchers more options when directing traffic and by allowing planned maintenance to happen on one track while the

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Setting the Record Straight on Diesel Emissions

It was disappointing to read the final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) that the Washington Department of Ecology released on the Millennium Bulk Terminals project, and the subsequent public tweets from the agency concerning this document.  The FEIS makes several faulty assumptions about BNSF Railway’s operations, resulting in conclusions that overstate, in a counterproductive manner, the

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Spotlight: Idaho

For more than a century, BNSF Railway has played a leading role in North Idaho’s economy. The tradition remains strong today as trainloads of products are shipped in or out of the state on our 32,500-mile rail network. Idaho is part of the Great Northern Corridor, which spans the northern United States between the Pacific

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BNSF Supporting Firefighter Training in Bend, Oregon

Firefighters from Bend, Sun River, Crescent and other areas around Central Oregon received hazmat training from BNSF. BNSF brought a modified, training tank car to Bend so that first responders receive a better of understanding of how to respond to an incident involving the railroad. This mobile classroom on rails allowed first responders to experience

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WSDOT Project Expands Rail Capacity at Kalama and Longview

As part of a Washington State Department of Transportation project (WSDOT), the first trains are now safely operating over the new third main rail line at Longview. Prior to completion, freight rail traffic arriving and departing from the Ports of Kalama and Longview frequently blocked one main line track for extended periods of time limiting

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Lighting Upgrades Save Energy and Provide Piece of Mind

In early April, installers from the City of Spokane began replacing outdated lights with energy-efficient, Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures in under-lit railroad underpasses between Stevens and Walnut. In addition to energy efficiency, the new fixtures will emit a clearer white light, increasing visibility and providing a safer and more secure passage underneath the railroad

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Making Connections: Clinton Watkis

Clinton Watkis is a part of BNSF’s Field Sales team and plays a crucial role in serving our customers based in the Pacific Northwest. Thanks to Clinton’s efforts, Pacific Northwest businesses have access to one of the most environmentally friendly ways to move their goods on land.

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BNSF Giving Back to Our Communities

BNSF Railway Foundation donated $24,056 to North Idaho College to help them purchase new equipment for the college’s Career and Technical Education facility. BNSF Railway Foundation granted $11,671 to the Clark County Historical Museum to help with its new remodel. BNSF Railway Foundation provided a $5,000 grant to the Arts Council Of Snohomish County to support the

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First Female Engineer for ATSF Reflects on Road Less Traveled

In 1973, 19-year-old Christene Gonzales’ mother planted the seed of going to work for the railroad as a locomotive engineer. Gonzales thought, “What the heck!” She applied, interviewed and was hired. Unbeknownst to her, Gonzales was about to become the first female locomotive engineer for the Santa Fe Railway. Over the years, she developed a

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Coal Dust Update

The agreement we reached with the plaintiffs reflects BNSF’s long-term efforts to address coal dust, and it is important to note by reaching this agreement, it allows us to continue that practice without distraction of a prolonged legal battle. They originally sued BNSF for $4.6 trillion, and our settlement of $1 million, which will fund

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BNSF Moves Record Grain Volume to the PNW

Nothing we do at BNSF is more important than helping businesses move products safely to their customers.  In Washington and Oregon, those shipments support NW flour mills, dairy, poultry and beef industries. By helping farmers and producers access new and multiple markets than locally available, we are helping rural communities expand their presence. BNSF moved

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BNSF Proud to Team Up With Make-A-Wish Oregon

Make-A-Wish® Oregon, which also serves Clark County, Wash., grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Many children and their families describe the wish experience as a turning point in their fight against a life-threatening medical condition. The BNSF Railway Foundation worked with Make-A-Wish

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BNSF Railway Foundation in the Community This Winter

The BNSF Railway Foundation is providing a $50,000 grant over two years to the Port of Pasco to help with the new children’s play area at the Tri-Cities Airport. The new play area is part of the airport’s new terminal expansion project. Donated funds for the Pierce County Library System’s “On the Road with Summer Reading

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BNSF Crews Clear Snow to Restore Service in Glacier National Park

Heavy snowfall resulted in the temporary suspension of BNSF train service on the Hi Line Subdivision in Glacier National Park, Mont. BNSF employees and contractors responded with specialized equipment to safely restore service. Click on the video above to see how BNSF works to keep moving safely even in the harshest conditions.

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