BNSF Railway Company
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. created on September 22, 1995, when BN bought AT&SF’s corporate Parent. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway merged into Burlington Northern Railroad on December 31, 1996, and BN renamed Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway. Name shortened to BNSF Railway Company in 2005.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. created on September 22, 1995, when BN bought AT&SF’s corporate Parent. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway merged into Burlington Northern Railroad on December 31, 1996, and BN renamed Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway. Name shortened to BNSF Railway Company in 2005.
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
Chartered in 1859 as the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. created on September 22, 1995, when BN bought AT&SF’s corporate Parent. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway merged into Burlington Northern Railroad on December 31, 1996, and BN renamed Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway.
Chartered in 1859 as the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. created on September 22, 1995, when BN bought AT&SF’s corporate Parent. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway merged into Burlington Northern Railroad on December 31, 1996, and BN renamed Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway.
Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway
Toledo, Peoria & Western’s first ancestor, Peoria & Oquawka Eastern Extension begins construction, began construction in 1855, three years after charter. Renamed Toledo, Peoria & Western in an 1880 reorganization. Half interests bought by Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and Pennsylvania Railroad in 1960. ATSF bought PRR’s half after 1976. TP&W merged into Santa Fe on January 1, 1984. Main line sold by AT&SF on February 1, 1989 to new investors, who reused TP&W name. Acquired by RailAmerica in September 1999, still operated as TP&W.
Toledo, Peoria & Western’s first ancestor, Peoria & Oquawka Eastern Extension begins construction, began construction in 1855, three years after charter. Renamed Toledo, Peoria & Western in an 1880 reorganization. Half interests bought by Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and Pennsylvania Railroad in 1960. ATSF bought PRR’s half after 1976. TP&W merged into Santa Fe on January 1, 1984. Main line sold by AT&SF on February 1, 1989 to new investors, who reused TP&W name. Acquired by RailAmerica in September 1999, still operated as TP&W.
Burlington Northern Railroad
Created March 1, 1970 by merger of Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Great Northern; Northern Pacific; and Spokane, Portland & Seattle.
Created March 1, 1970 by merger of Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Great Northern; Northern Pacific; and Spokane, Portland & Seattle.
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway
Begun in Missouri as branch of Pacific Railroad in 1853. Name changed from Atlantic & Pacific to St. Louis-San Francisco-“Frisco” for short-as part of 1875 receivership. Acquired by Burlington Northern on November 21, 1980.
Begun in Missouri as branch of Pacific Railroad in 1853. Name changed from Atlantic & Pacific to St. Louis-San Francisco-“Frisco” for short-as part of 1875 receivership. Acquired by Burlington Northern on November 21, 1980.
Alabama, Tennessee & Northern Railroad
Carrollton Short Line Railway chartered in 1897. Name changed to Alabama, Tennessee & Northern in 1906. AT&N purchased by St. Louis-San Francisco on December 28, 1948, and merged into SLSF on January 1, 1971.
Carrollton Short Line Railway chartered in 1897. Name changed to Alabama, Tennessee & Northern in 1906. AT&N purchased by St. Louis-San Francisco on December 28, 1948, and merged into SLSF on January 1, 1971.
Colorado & Southern Railway
Colorado Central opened a standard-gauge line from Denver in 1870. Several predecessors, including Fort Worth & Denver City, consolidated as Colorado & Southern in 1898; two-thirds control of C&S-FW&DC acquired by CB&Q in 1908. FW&DC drops “City” in 1951 to become Fort Worth & Denver. C&S officially merged into Burlington Northern in 1981; FW&D merged into BN in 1982.
Colorado Central opened a standard-gauge line from Denver in 1870. Several predecessors, including Fort Worth & Denver City, consolidated as Colorado & Southern in 1898; two-thirds control of C&S-FW&DC acquired by CB&Q in 1908. FW&DC drops “City” in 1951 to become Fort Worth & Denver. C&S officially merged into Burlington Northern in 1981; FW&D merged into BN in 1982.
Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway
Incorporated by James J. Hill in 1905 as Portland & Seattle. Name changed to Spokane, Portland & Seattle in 1908. SP&S was financed and owned jointly by Hill’s GN and NP. Absorbed in March 1, 1970 Burlington Northern merger, along with Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Great Northern; and Northern Pacific.
Incorporated by James J. Hill in 1905 as Portland & Seattle. Name changed to Spokane, Portland & Seattle in 1908. SP&S was financed and owned jointly by Hill’s GN and NP. Absorbed in March 1, 1970 Burlington Northern merger, along with Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Great Northern; and Northern Pacific.
Northern Pacific Railway
Construction began in 1870, six years after charter as the land-grant Northern Pacific.
Construction began in 1870, six years after charter as the land-grant Northern Pacific.
Great Northern Railway
Minnesota & Pacific chartered in 1857. Its successor, and others, renamed by James J. Hill to Great Northern in 1881.
Minnesota & Pacific chartered in 1857. Its successor, and others, renamed by James J. Hill to Great Northern in 1881.
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
Aurora Branch chartered February 12, 1849; renamed Chicago, Burlington & Quincy on February 14, 1855. Control acquired by Great Northern and Northern Pacific in 1901.
Aurora Branch chartered February 12, 1849; renamed Chicago, Burlington & Quincy on February 14, 1855. Control acquired by Great Northern and Northern Pacific in 1901.
all the great roads that form BNSF
John Roberts, your father may well have taken the New York Central to Chicago, and then the Santa Fe west from there.
Just saw a BNSF manifest train on the webcam! Lots of hoppers!!
the greatest railroad
Your welcome
Ok thanks!
GABRIEL RICKETTS from VIRGINIA
They do not have heritage units. They only have units in CSX colors or leased locomotives. The only U.S. railroads to have heritage units are Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific.
One more question for you James, does CSX have any heritage units?
My father, a teenager, was stranded in La Junta, CO. in 1914, while relocating from Germantown, NY to Los Angeles, CA. What railway lines would have been his logical route?
Okay ! Thanks James.
Gabriel, I haven't seen any on the road other than some old BN and a few Santa Fe units still in the old pre merger paint.
Hey does BNSF have heritage units?
I like Burlington route.
Thanks for the info.
Interesting to see how roads emerged.