Latest from BNSF

Long before Montana became a state, Laurel’s location made it a natural hub for exploration, trade, and—eventually—railroads. By 1884, BNSF predecessor Northern Pacific Railway had completed its first transcontinental rail line through the area, establishing Laurel as a key terminal town. The town’s population surged as railroad jobs attracted settlers looking for new opportunities, and…

Once a bustling hub for railroad passengers, the historic Northern Pacific depot in Butte, Montana, was recently brought back to life for Hollywood. BNSF partnered with Paramount+ and 101 Studios to help film a pivotal scene for the season two finale of 1923, a prequel to Yellowstone. The production transformed the depot and surrounding area…

Did you know BNSF handles more agricultural product shipments than any other U.S. railroad? And we are excited to report that BNSF Railway recorded a record-breaking harvest season, handling a 7% increase in both agricultural volume and velocity compared to last year. “We at BNSF are proud to support the American farmer and our country’s…

Gary Boone, a BNSF gang trackman, found an unexpected way to reconnect his community: through roller skating. What started as a father-daughter outing turned into a mission when Boone discovered that Livingston, Montana, no longer hosted community skate nights due to a shortage of functional roller skates. Determined to change that, he rallied volunteers from…

Horses Spirits Healing (HSH), a nonprofit in Billings, Montana, offers free equine therapy and riding lessons to veterans and their families. Since its founding in 2016, the BNSF Foundation has been a longtime supporter. The program serves as a sanctuary where veterans find peace and purpose through their connection with horses. “If a person is…

BNSF supports first responders by repurposing equipment for training opportunities. In partnership with SteeleETC, a local Great Falls company that generously donated time and equipment, we recently delivered a Montana Rail Link (MRL) tank car to Great Falls Fire Rescue to enhance their emergency response capabilities. “Acquiring this railcar will assist with getting ‘real world’…

Montana’s Marias Pass, sitting at 5,213 feet, gets hammered with snowfall—about 250 inches a year. The harsh conditions, including freezing temperatures and frequent avalanches, have made this critical rail route to the Pacific Northwest dangerous for railroaders over the past century. To keep trains moving, BNSF stations snow-fighting equipment in Essex, Montana, using flangers and…

BNSF Railway has a deep and vital connection to our nation’s agriculture industry, and maintaining that bond depends heavily on the hard work of our ombudsmen. These team members serve as a bridge between the railway, customers, producers, and shippers. Every day, they collaborate with agricultural partners to solve problems and overcome challenges that could…

Railfans come in all ages. For 11-year-old Jacob Meissner from Laurel, Montana, his love for trains started almost from day one, watching Thomas the Tank Engine and playing with his Thomas model railroads. As he grew, so did his passion—his model railroad collection grew right along with him, and he dove into train documentaries and…

The “Track to Zero” awards have been announced! The Montana Department of Transportation was one of four state Departments of Transportation to receive this special recognition for its dedication to improving grade crossing safety in communities across the state. This inaugural awards initiative, the first of its kind, aims to reduce grade crossing incidents across…

The Hampson family’s connection to the railroad spans multiple generations. Current torchbearer, Ben Hampson, began his career as an electrician with Montana Rail Link in 2004, which has since merged with BNSF to become the MRL subdivision. Growing up, Ben’s father instilled in him a passion for railroading and a commitment to safety. Their home…

Built in 1883 as part of the expansion of the Northern Pacific Railway, the Marent Gulch Trestle stands today as a historic testament to engineering brilliance. Initially a wooden structure designed by C.C. Schneider, the 797-foot-long trestle was the world’s tallest wooden trestle at 226 feet when it was completed in 1883. Fears of fire…

In a gesture of thanks to all military veterans for their service, volunteers placed memorial wreaths on the graves of U.S. military veterans on National Wreaths Across America Day, December 16. Wreaths were placed this year for the first time in Whitefish, Montana. BNSF’s Dustin Wegner, a signal electronics technician, veteran, and vice commander of…

As of the start of January, BNSF’s collaboration with Montana Rail Link (MRL) has now become the MRL Subdivision of BNSF’s Montana Division. This marks a new chapter in the longstanding partnership, which can now focus on stronger outcomes for customers, employees, and communities across Montana, Idaho, and Washington. The move aims to enhance capacity…