The Friends of the Burlington Northern Railroad (FOBNR) historical society was incorporated in the state of Idaho on January 3, 1993. It was chartered to gather, preserve, and share information about the history and the current operations of the Burlington Northern Railroad. The group began with about 140 members absorbed from the Burlington Northern Historical Society, an un-incorporated interim organization interested in studying the history of the Burlington Northern Railroad. In 1996, following the merger between Burlington Northern and Santa Fe, the group voted to follow the Burlington Northern from 1970 to 1995 and the BNSF from 1995 to the present. Then in 2018 we added coverage of the Montana Rail Link.

The Group’s quarterly publication, The BN Expediter, is the voice of the organization that shares news about the group’s activities, BN historical data, and current operations of the railroad. It is currently a 30+ page all-color publication and will grow even larger as the society grows and more members contribute more information.

The society also has an annual convention at some location on the BNSF system with programs, tours, displays, a banquet with a keynote speaker, and a business meeting.

An archive has been created to preserve information about the Burlington Northern and a preservation committee has been established to position itself to preserve and store artifacts as the society acquires them. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization under the rules and regulations of the IRS. Donations to our organization may be tax-deductible.

We have members from all over the United States and several foreign countries. As with any organization, its true success is measured by its continued, sustained membership. And, to continue its endeavors, the Friends of the Burlington Northern Railroad needs member participation and support. Please consider joining or renewing your membership in the Friends of the Burlington Northern Railroad.

We occasional receive questions about employees of the companies that formed BN. Unfortunately, we don’t keep nor have access to any information about any employees associated with the Corporation. See our Genealogy page for more information.

Mission Statement

The Friends of the Burlington Northern Railroad‘s primary mission is to preserve the history and chronicle the operation of the Burlington Northern Railroad and its successors, including the Montana Rail Link. The organization strives to maintain and disseminate information and records of historical relevance from the railroad’s inception in 1970 and following the merger between Burlington Northern and Santa Fe from 1996 to the present.