Meet the Safety Employees of the Year

Each year, BNSF hosts the “Employee of the Year” program, celebrating the employees who best demonstrate BNSF’s vision and values through their commitment and leadership, as well as their focus on working safely and efficiently to meet and exceed customer expectations. This year, four employees from across our major operations teams were each awarded the

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Protecting the Environment Is in Our Nature

At BNSF, we’re proud to drive a strong economy while simultaneously reducing our impact on the environment. With track stretching across the country, it’s imperative our operations can support and coexist with healthy ecosystems. “Regardless of whether it’s a tiny toad, a bird or a bear, we want to be responsible stewards of nearby habitat,”

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Supplying Solutions: A Conversation with Ryan Kubo

Teamwork, creative problem-solving, and pride are essential to keeping trains moving through North Puget Sound and Lower British Columbia, according to Ryan Kubo, BNSF’s superintendent of operations based in Everett, Washington. “It all begins with our people,” says Kubo. “In our territory, people are constantly stepping up. They know how important their work is and

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BNSF Celebrates and Supports Its Female Workforce

Women’s History Month, observed every March (since 1987) in the United States, provides the opportunity to reflect on the contributions of women to our world. Thanks to a supportive and innovative work environment, many women have found a rewarding career track at BNSF. Women have been involved in railroading since the 1800s. Some of the

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New App Makes Getting Wind Data a Breeze

As a common carrier operating in diverse conditions across vast landscapes, BNSF is constantly monitoring all aspects of weather, including the wind. Here in the Pacific Northwest, train crews use new technologies to track the wind and ensure safe passage through the region. BNSF has a network of wind stations across the system that measure

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Snowplow Operators: BNSF’s Winter Warriors

Snowplows are a crucial piece of BNSF’s Winter Action Plans to keep trains moving and protect employee safety. Snowplow season generally starts during November, and in some higher-altitude or more northern sections of our network, can last into April. BNSF’s Jordan Spreaders, Russell snowplows or “Fliers,” and rotary snowplows have been hard at work all winter to

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Supporting Our Communities

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:   Ensuring Kids in Need Have Clothing and Hygiene Essentials Arlington Kids’ Kloset located in Arlington, WA, helps meet the clothing needs of low-income students in the Arlington, Darrington,

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Ice and Oil: BNSF Provides Hands-on Training for First Responders

Part of BNSF’s commitment to transporting freight safely involves training employees, first responders, and contractors for unlikely events that involve hazardous materials. During a recent training in Bonner County, Idaho, BNSF provided a group of 42 local first responders, and contractors with practical experience and techniques to safely respond to an incident involving oil trapped

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Leaders Count: A Conversation with Tom Williams

How is BNSF adapting to meet evolving consumer demands? What technologies is BNSF implementing to make the shipping process safer, more reliable, and cost-effective for its customers? How does BNSF rise to the challenge of supply chain congestion? Rail Talk had a conversation with Tom Williams, group vice president of Consumer Products, about what elements

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Supporting Our Communities

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: Connecting Children and Parents to Essential Services Family Access Network based in Bend, OR, offers assistance, possibility, and hope to Central Oregon families in need by connecting them

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Snow Sheds: A Cool Way to Protect Tracks

Technology first created in the late 1800s continues to be the most practical solution to nature’s extremes. Snow sheds, which are structures with sloped roofs that deflect snow over the top of long sections of track, help keep snowfall from blocking major lines and protect trains from being toppled by avalanches without warning. BNSF has

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Montana Rail Link and BNSF Announce Agreement to Terminate Lease

Montana Rail Link (MRL) and BNSF-predecessor, Burlington Northern, created a unique lease arrangement in 1987 in which MRL leases and operates the mainline track between Huntley, Montana and Sandpoint, Idaho. BNSF has entered into an agreement with MRL to terminate the existing lease and resume operations and maintenance along this corridor. MRL’s vision was to become

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Supporting Our Communities

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: Supporting Emergency Medical Response in Skamania County The Skamania County Public Hospital District, based in Stevenson, WA, serves Skamania County residents and visitors, providing quality service across its

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BNSF Employee Spotlight: Nick Dryer

BNSF was the first railroad granted authority by the Federal Aviation Administration to operate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), better known as drones. From inspecting bridges and flooded tracks to mapping projects, BNSF’s UAS has grown since its initial launch in 2013 and behind the program are expert pilots like Nick Dryer. His official title is

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Supporting Our Communities

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: Building Strong Communities Throughout the World and Close to Home United Way advances the common good in communities across the world. The organization’s focus is on education, income, and

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