In Great Falls, Montana, waste products like used cooking oil and animal fats are being turned into something unexpected: fuel for airplanes. At Montana Renewables, the country’s largest producer of sustainable aviation fuel, up to 15,000 barrels a day are processed into cleaner-burning fuel that makes its way from the refinery to airports along the…
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Whitefish, Montana, grew from a rough logging camp known as “Stumptown” into a thriving railroad town after the Great Northern Railway (GN), a BNSF predecessor, made it a division point. The railroad shaped its character, from the landmark Tudor Revival depot that still serves passengers to the community parks created on former rail yard land.…
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Five state departments of transportation (DOTs) received BNSF’s “Tracking to Zero” award for their commitment to improving grade crossing safety in 2025. Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming earned the honor for the second year in a row, joined this year by Wisconsin and Illinois. According to Federal Railroad Administration data, each state averaged fewer than one…
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Having a safety mindset pays off! BNSF’s engineering team in Great Falls, Montana, recently celebrated a major milestone: 2,000 days without an injury. Led by Roadmaster Justin De La Garza, the 25‑member crew attributes their streak to a strong focus on safety in every task. “We are always preaching safety, including wearing the proper PPE,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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’…
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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…
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