(The following article by Dan Piller was posted on the Fort Worth Star-Telegram website on January 25.)
FORT WORTH, Texas — Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. said Monday that it will change the name of its railroad subsidiary to BNSF Railway, removing Burlington from the name that has been a part of the company for almost 150 years.
The Fort Worth-based railroad’s rolling stock, as well as letterhead stationery and other items will gradually reflect the new name, Matt Rose, BNSF chairman, said in a statement.
“During the 10 years since the merger that created BNSF, much has changed in the railroad landscape,” said Rose, referring to the 1995 combination of Burlington Northern with Santa Fe Pacific Co.
The railroad dates to 1851, when a line was begun from Chicago to the Mississippi River towns of Quincy, Ill., and Burlington, Iowa. Until 1970, the railroad was known as the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad.
In that year, the CB&Q merged with the Great Northern and Northern Pacific railroads, which were built in the 19th century by railroad magnate James J. Hill from Minneapolis-St. Paul west to Washington state. The newly merged railroad was renamed Burlington Northern in 1970.
In 1995, Burlington Northern merged with Santa Fe, which owned the old Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Co. The new carrier took the name Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.
That lengthy name has been informally shortened to BNSF by railroaders, the shipping community and the news media.