BNSF is one of the top transporters of the products and materials that help feed, clothe, supply and power communities throughout America and the world. BNSF moves those goods more safely and efficiently, on significantly less fuel, and with fewer emissions than the all-highway alternative. BNSF was created Sept. 22, 1995, from the merger of Burlington Northern Inc. (parent company of Burlington Northern Railroad) and Santa Fe Pacific Corporation (parent company of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway). On Feb. 12, 2010, BNSF became a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. The railway has four business units:

Agricultural Products: In 2012, BNSF hauled over 1 million carloads of agricultural commodities and the railway transports enough grain to supply 900 million people with a years supply of bread.
Coal: In 2012, BNSF hauled 2.2 million coal shipments and more than 90 percent of that coal comes from the Powder River Basin.
Consumer Products: In 2012, 4.7 million intermodal shipments (truck trailers or containers) were transported on BNSFs rail lines instead of on the nations congested highways.
Industrial Products: In 2012, BNSF hauled more than 1.7 million carloads of industrial products.

BNSFs history dates back more than 160 years to 1849, when the 12-mile Aurora Branch Railroad was founded in Illinois.BNSF was created Sept. 22, 1995, from the merger of Burlington Northern Inc. (parent company of Burlington Northern Railroad) and Santa Fe Pacific Corporation (parent company of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway). On Feb. 12, 2010, BNSF became a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.