BISMARCK, N.D. — After five years in which local preservation efforts have delayed efforts to replace the structure, BNSF Railway has asked the U.S. Coast Guard to allow efforts to proceed to demolish the 138-year-old Bismarck-Mandan Rail Bridge over the Missouri River. The Bismarck Tribune reports BNSF Director of Bridge Maintenance Mike Herzog sent an […]
Initial test of Wabtec’s FLXdrive battery-electric locomotive have concluded, with both the manufacturer and testing partner BNSF Railway saying the locomotive’s revenue testing in Southern California — which covered more than 13,000 miles — indicate the promise of the technology. During Wednesday’s quarterly earnings call — as the locomotive was making its way back to […]
No injuries as BNSF intermodal train derails near Barstow About 15 cars of a BNSF Railway intermodal train derailed Thursday at Jimgray, Calif., about 24 miles northwest of Barstow on the railroad’s Mojave Subdivision. The San Bernardino County Fire Department reports on Twitter that it responded to the accident about 6 a.m., but there were […]
Scottsbluff, Neb., BNSF building sustains $3 million damage in fire A fire in the terminal building at BNSF’s facility in Alliance, Neb., is reported to have caused about $3 million in damage. The Scottsbluff Star-Herald reports the Alliance Volunteer Fire Department responded to the building Sunday about 12:20 p.m., had the fire “somewhat controlled” around […]
NTSB preliminary report outlines circumstances of March 3 fatal BNSF incident The National Transportation Safety Board will examine safety rules related to switching, close clearances in rail yards, and the effects of fatigue and medical issues on crew members as it continues its investigation into a fatal accident involving a BNSF Railway employee in Southern […]
The motive power fleet of BNSF Railway, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2020, has come a long way since Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and Burlington Northern merged in 1995. The railroad has transformed its roster from one of the most eclectic in modern times to a more refined fleet of locomotives with a […]
BNSF derailment leads to spill of denatured alcohol Some 25 to 35 cars of a BNSF train derailed Wednesday near the remote San Bernardino County, Calif., community of Ludlow, spilling “several thousand gallons” of denatured alcohol from a leaking tank car, according to a county fire department spokesman. The Victor Valley Daily Press reports the […]
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway is recovering quickly after blasts of extreme winter weather raked the system last month. BNSF has turned the corner on restoring fluidity to its network as volume recovers after the weather shocks, John Miller, the railroad’s group vice president of industrial products, told the Pacific Northwest Association of Rail Shippers […]
Additional Tuesday morning rail news: Fire damages BNSF bridge in Bemidji, Minn. A BNSF Railway bridge across the Mississippi River in Bemidji, Minn., suffered “moderate damage” in a Monday afternoon fire, the Bemidji Pioneer reports. The fire was reported about 4 p.m., with Bemidji firefighters working about two hours to extinguish the blaze. The cause […]
OMAHA, Neb. — BNSF Railway’s revenue and profits fell in 2020 due to the pandemic-related declines in traffic volume, the railroad’s corporate parent, Berkshire Hathaway, reported on Saturday. Pre-tax earnings declined 6.3%, to $6.8 billion, as revenue fell 11.3%, to $20.2 billion. The railroad’s net income fell 5.8%, to $5.2 billion. BNSF’s operating ratio for […]
OMAHA, Neb. — Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett praised BNSF Railway management for steering the company through the pandemic and touted the railroad’s role in the U.S. economy in his widely read annual letter to shareholders, which was released on Saturday. “Last year, Carl Ice, its CEO, and his number two, Katie Farmer, did an […]
Wednesday morning rail news: BNSF train in Texas derails, catches fire after hitting semi A BNSF Railway derailed and caught fire after hitting a truck in Texas on Tuesday morning, leading to a spectacular blaze and triggering an evacuation of nearby residents. The train crew and truck driver escaped injury. The accident in Cameron, Texas, […]
