The modern successor to much of the Santa Fe tradition and a major freight railroad of the American West.
Overview
BNSF Railway is a major Class I freight railroad serving the western, central, and southern United States. In Southern California, many of its most recognizable routes and facilities descend from the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway.
The modern system was formed by the 1995 merger of Burlington Northern and Santa Fe. BNSF is now part of Berkshire Hathaway.
Quick Facts
| Railroad Type | Class I freight railroad |
| Formation | 1995 merger of Burlington Northern and Santa Fe |
| Headquarters | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Parent Company | Berkshire Hathaway |
| Southern California Heritage | Primarily former Santa Fe routes |
| Principal Regional Themes | Intermodal freight; Cajon Pass; San Bernardino; Fullerton; Surf Line; Bakersfield |
Historical Background
Santa Fe Heritage
Santa Fe built many of the Southern California routes now associated with BNSF, including lines through San Bernardino, Cajon Pass, Fullerton, the Los Angeles Basin, Bakersfield, and toward San Diego.
Burlington Northern and Formation of BNSF
BNSF emerged when Burlington Northern and Santa Fe merged in 1995. The name was later shortened from Burlington Northern Santa Fe to BNSF Railway.
The Failed SPSF Merger
Before Santa Fe joined Burlington Northern, Santa Fe and Southern Pacific attempted to combine as SPSF. Their parent companies came together in 1983, but the railroads remained separate while regulators reviewed the proposal. The Interstate Commerce Commission denied the rail merger in July 1986.
Locomotives had already appeared in the proposed red-and-yellow “Kodachrome” scheme. Southern Pacific was sold to Rio Grande Industries in 1988, while Santa Fe remained with the reorganized Santa Fe Pacific Corporation. Santa Fe eventually joined Burlington Northern, and Southern Pacific became part of Union Pacific in 1996, producing the two major western systems familiar today.
BNSF in Southern California
- San Bernardino and the former Santa Fe shops
- Cajon Pass and transcontinental freight routes
- Fullerton and the busy passenger-freight corridor
- Oceanside and local freight on the Surf Line
- Pomona-North local freight on the former Santa Fe corridor
- Bakersfield, the Central Valley, and Tehachapi connections
- Los Angeles Basin intermodal facilities
Alameda Corridor and Intermodal Traffic
A major share of BNSF’s visible Southern California activity is tied to container traffic associated with the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Port trains use the Alameda Corridor to reach the Los Angeles rail network and BNSF intermodal facilities before continuing north and east toward inland destinations and national markets.
This port-to-yard-to-main-line flow helps explain the concentration of intermodal trains on BNSF routes through Fullerton, San Bernardino, and Cajon Pass. Future WRA coverage will examine the Alameda Corridor in more detail.
Freight Operations
- International and domestic intermodal
- Manifest freight
- Automotive traffic
- Agricultural products
- Industrial materials
- Bulk commodities
- Local switching and customer service
Railfan and Photography Information
- Intermodal trains
- Manifest freight
- Modern locomotive consists
- Historic Santa Fe infrastructure
- Passenger-freight interactions
- Mountain operations in Cajon Pass
- Coastal and local freight movements
- Yard and terminal activity from public locations
Related Locations
- Bakersfield
- Fullerton
- Los Angeles Union Station
- Oceanside
- Perris
- Pomona
- Riverside
- San Bernardino
- San Diego
- Temecula / Murrieta
Related Railroads
- Amtrak
- Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
- COASTER / SPRINTER
- Metrolink / Arrow
- Southern Pacific Railroad
- Union Pacific Railroad
- Western Pacific Railroad
Related Routes
- Alameda Corridor
- Cajon Pass
- Surf Line
- Tehachapi Pass
Related Museums
Gallery
Photo gallery coming soon.
- BNSF locomotives and freight trains
- Intermodal traffic
- Fullerton corridor
- San Bernardino and Cajon Pass
- Surf Line local freight
- Pomona local operations
- Bakersfield and Tehachapi connections
- Santa Fe heritage and comparisons
Western Rail Archive Notes
The final BNSF page should balance contemporary operations with Santa Fe heritage and should link heavily to location, route, depot, and museum pages across Southern California.
Archive Status
| Page Status | Category | Type | Gallery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundational Article | Railroads | Freight Railroad | In Development |