Burlington Northern

Major US railway system, formed in 1970 by the merger of the Northern Pacific Railroad, the Great Northern Railway, the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad, and a number of other smaller lines. The Burlington Northern has since acquired more lines, and in 1995 concluded a major takeover when it bought the Santa Fe Pacific Corporation (see Santa Fe Railroad). In December 1999, Burlington Northern Santa Fe agreed to a merger with Canadian National Railway to create North American Railways.

The Chicago and Burlington Railroad, which formed the core of the Burlington Northern network, was founded in 1850, the oldest line in Illinois. It expanded steadily throughout the late 19th century, absorbing other carriers in the Midwest and becoming widely known for its efficient transportation of agricultural produce. In the 20th century, it also developed its commuter traffic, introducing pioneering long-haul diesel-powered passenger trains (called Zephyrs) on the Chicago-Denver route from 1934 onwards. Nowadays, the vast network of the Burlington Northern extends from the Pacific Northwest east to the Great Lakes and south to the Texas coast. The new North American Railways company formed with Canadian National Railways was expected, at its formation in 1999, to become North America's largest railway system, with 50,000 mi/80,000 km of track stretching across the USA and the more populous parts of Canada.