The BN Expediter is our quarterly magazine and is included with membership in the Friends of the Burlington Northern Railroad.
(printed format ISSN 3067-0802, online format ISSN 3067-0810)
The January 2026 issue (32 pages) contains:
- President’s Message 2026, by Ben Hucker:
Ben overview of the past year and outlook for the next. - Two Hours at Cheney, by Tom Hillebrant:
By way of introduction, The BN Expediter‘s new managing editor recounts one of his earliest encounters the the BN at Cheney, Washington. Includes several photos circa 1980. - The FOBNR Freight Cars:
The N scale FBNX covered hopper cars visited John Percy’s Buffalo & Pittsburgh model railroad. Includes a description of his pike and several photos of the cars at various locations. - 10 Minutes…All that stood between SD70MAC 9400 being saved or scrapped, by Cody Suddeth:
A thrilling, down to the wire, history of how a few dedicated BNSF employees rescued BN’s first SD70MAC from repeated attempts to send it to the scrap heap. Includes several photos of the unit “in hiding” at Alliance, Nebraska. - BN/CRIP Joint Texas Division in North Houston 1970-2025, by Michael Spoor:
Coverage of the division from Louetta in North Houston to where it enters the Houston Belt and Terminal Railway (now UP) at Belt Junction. Includes several photos from the late 70’s, 80’s, early 2000’s and 2025. - Book Review: Mark Cane’s Against All Odds: Vol. 1-3, by Dave Poplawski:
Dave’s thoughts about the author’s three-volume, 1000+ page detailed history of intermodal at BN, a less-detailed discussion of post-merger activities, and some prognostications about its future at BNSF. - New Alignments, Spokane 1972:
A reprint of an 8-page brochure that was prepared for the December 6, 1972 official grand opening of the Latah Creek viaduct just west of downtown Spokane. - MRL Employee Newsletters:
Announcing that the entire set of MRL employee newsleters, from 1998 to 2023, are being made available on the FOBNR website, plus a copy of Issue No. 1.
Available for purchase on April 1, 2026
Purchasing Back Issues
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Contributing
Payment for articles or photos.
Information about submitting digital images
Contact the editor to contribute:
Tom Hillebrant, Managing Editor
The BN Expediter
475 Solar Circle
New Ellenton, SC 29809