-Network: (00 - Document - Document and Entity Information)

-Document and Entity Information [Abstract] {ID1}

Entity Registrant Name {ID2}

Entity Central Index Key {ID3}

Document Type {ID4}

Document Period End Date {ID5}

Amendment Flag {ID6}

Amendment Description {ID7}

Current Fiscal Year End Date {ID8}

Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer {ID9}

Entity Voluntary Filers {ID10}

Entity Current Reporting Status {ID11}

Entity Filer Category {ID12}

Entity Public Float {ID13}

Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding {ID14}

-Network: (01 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited))

-Statement Of Income [Abstract] {ID15}

-Statement [Table] {ID16}

-Statement [Line Items] {ID17}

Revenues {ID18}

-Operating expenses: {ID19}

Compensation and benefits {ID20}

Fuel {ID21}

Purchased services {ID22}

Depreciation and amortization {ID23}

Equipment rents {ID24}

Materials and other {ID25}

Total operating expenses {ID26}

Operating income {ID27}

Interest expense {ID28}

Other expense, net {ID29}

Income before income taxes {ID30}

Income tax expense {ID31}

Net income {ID32}

-Earnings per share: {ID33}

Basic earnings per share {ID34}

Diluted earnings per share {ID35}

Dividends declared per share {ID36}

-Network: (02 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited))

-Balance Sheets [Abstract] {ID37}

-Statement [Table] {ID38}

-Statement [Line Items] {ID39}

-ASSETS {ID40}

-Current assets: {ID41}

Cash and cash equivalents {ID42}

Accounts receivable, net {ID43}

Materials and supplies {ID44}

Current portion of deferred income taxes {ID45}

Other current assets {ID46}

Total current assets {ID47}

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $10,214 and $9,912, respectively {ID48}

Other assets {ID49}

Total assets {ID50}

-LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY {ID51}

-Current liabilities: {ID52}

Accounts payable and other current liabilities {ID53}

Long-term debt due within one year {ID54}

Total current liabilities {ID55}

Long-term debt {ID56}

Deferred income taxes {ID57}

Pension and retiree health and welfare liability {ID58}

Casualty and environmental liabilities {ID59}

Employee separation costs {ID60}

Other liabilities {ID61}

Total liabilities {ID62}

Commitments and contingencies {ID63}

-Stockholders' equity: {ID64}

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 600,000 shares authorized; 542,586 shares and 541,346 shares issued, respectively (shares in thousands) {ID65}

Additional paid-in capital {ID66}

Retained earnings {ID67}

Treasury stock, at cost, 202,567 shares and 202,165 shares, respectively (shares in thousands) {ID68}

Accumulated other comprehensive loss {ID69}

Total stockholders' equity {ID70}

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity {ID71}

-Network: (021 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (Unaudited))

-Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) [Abstract] {ID72}

-Statement [Table] {ID73}

-Statement [Line Items] {ID74}

Accumulated depreciation {ID75}

Common stock, par value {ID76}

Common stock, shares authorized {ID77}

Common stock, shares issued {ID78}

Treasury stock, shares {ID79}

-Network: (03 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited))

-Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] {ID80}

-Statement [Table] {ID81}

-Statement [Line Items] {ID82}

-OPERATING ACTIVITIES {ID83}

Net income {ID84}

-Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: {ID85}

Depreciation and amortization {ID86}

Deferred income taxes {ID87}

Employee separation costs paid {ID88}

Long-term casualty and environmental liabilities, net {ID89}

Other, net {ID90}

-Changes in current assets and liabilities: {ID91}

Accounts receivable, net {ID92}

Change in accounts receivables sales program {ID93}

Materials and supplies {ID94}

Other current assets {ID95}

Accounts payable and other current liabilities {ID96}

Net cash provided by operating activities {ID97}

-INVESTING ACTIVITIES {ID98}

Capital expenditures {ID99}

Construction costs for facility financing obligation {ID100}

Acquisition of equipment pending financing {ID101}

Proceeds from sale of assets financed {ID102}

Other, net {ID103}

Net cash used for investing activities {ID104}

-FINANCING ACTIVITIES {ID105}

Net increase in commercial paper and bank borrowings {ID106}

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt {ID107}

Payments on long-term debt {ID108}

Dividends paid {ID109}

Proceeds from stock options exercised {ID110}

Purchase of BNSF common stock {ID111}

Excess tax benefits from equity compensation plans {ID112}

Proceeds from facility financing obligation {ID113}

Other, net {ID114}

Net cash used for financing activities {ID115}

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents {ID116}

-Cash and cash equivalents: {ID117}

Beginning of period {ID118}

End of period {ID119}

-SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION {ID120}

Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized {ID121}

Income taxes paid, net of refunds {ID122}

Non-cash asset financing {ID123}

-Network: (04 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Equity (Unaudited))

-Statement Of Equity [Abstract] {ID124}

-Statement [Table] {ID125}

-Statement [Line Items] {ID126}

Beginning Balance {ID127}

Beginning Balance, Shares {ID128}

Common stock dividends, $0.80 per share {ID129}

Restricted stock and stock options expense {ID130}

Restricted stock activity and related tax expense of $3 {ID131}

Restricted stock activity and related tax expense of $3, shares {ID132}

Exercise of stock options and related tax benefit of $6 {ID133}

Exercise of stock options and related tax benefit of $6, shares {ID134}

Purchase of BNSF common stock {ID135}

Purchase of BNSF common stock, shares {ID136}

-Comprehensive income: {ID137}

Net income {ID138}

Change in unrecognized prior service credit and actuarial losses, net of tax expense of $4 {ID139}

Fuel/interest hedge mark-to-market and other items, net of tax expense of $147 {ID140}

Recognized loss on derivative instruments-discontinued hedges, net of tax benefit of $16 {ID141}

Total comprehensive income {ID142}

Ending Balance {ID143}

Ending Balance, Shares {ID144}

-Statement, Equity Components [Axis] {ID145}

-Equity Component [Domain] {ID146}

Unearned Compensation Member {ID147}

Prepaid Forward Repurchase of Treasury Stock Member {ID148}

Prepaid Forward Repurchases of Treasury Stock {ID149}

Common Stock [Member] {ID150}

Common Stock at Par Value [Member] {ID151}

Preferred Stock [Member] {ID152}

Preferred Stock at Par Value [Member] {ID153}

Capital Units [Member] {ID154}

Common Stock and Paid-in Capital {ID155}

Preferred Stock Including Additional Paid in Capital [Member] {ID156}

Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] {ID157}

Treasury Stock {ID158}

-Retained Earnings {ID159}

Retained Earnings, Appropriated [Member] {ID160}

Retained Earnings, Unappropriated [Member] {ID161}

Undistributed Income from Other than Gain or Loss on Sale of Properties [Member] {ID162}

Undistributed Net Realized Gain or Loss on Sale of Properties [Member] {ID163}

-Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss {ID164}

Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member] {ID165}

Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] {ID166}

Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member] {ID167}

Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] {ID168}

Comprehensive Income [Member] {ID169}

-Network: (041 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Equity (Parenthetical) (Unaudited))

-Statement Of Stockholders Equity Parenthetical [Abstract] {ID170}

-Statement [Table] {ID171}

-Statement [Line Items] {ID172}

Dividends declared per share {ID173}

Restricted stock activity, tax expense {ID174}

Exercise of stock options, tax benefit {ID175}

Change in unrecognized prior service credit and actuarial losses, tax expense {ID176}

Fuel/interest hedge mark-to-market and other items, tax expense {ID177}

Recognized loss on derivative instruments - discontinued hedges, tax benefit {ID178}

-Statement, Equity Components [Axis] {ID179}

-Equity Component [Domain] {ID180}

Unearned Compensation Member {ID181}

Prepaid Forward Repurchase of Treasury Stock Member {ID182}

Common Stock [Member] {ID183}

Common Stock at Par Value [Member] {ID184}

Preferred Stock [Member] {ID185}

Preferred Stock at Par Value [Member] {ID186}

Capital Units [Member] {ID187}

Common Stock and Paid-in Capital {ID188}

Preferred Stock Including Additional Paid in Capital [Member] {ID189}

Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] {ID190}

Treasury Stock {ID191}

-Retained Earnings {ID192}

Retained Earnings, Appropriated [Member] {ID193}

Retained Earnings, Unappropriated [Member] {ID194}

Undistributed Income from Other than Gain or Loss on Sale of Properties [Member] {ID195}

Undistributed Net Realized Gain or Loss on Sale of Properties [Member] {ID196}

-Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss {ID197}

Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member] {ID198}

Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] {ID199}

Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member] {ID200}

Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] {ID201}

Comprehensive Income [Member] {ID202}

-Network: (0601 - Disclosure - Accounting Policies and Interim Results (Unaudited))

-Accounting Policies and Interim Results [Abstract] {ID203}

Accounting Policies and Interim Results {ID204}

-Network: (0602 - Disclosure - Hedging Activities (Unaudited))

-Hedging Activities [Abstract] {ID205}

Hedging Activities {ID206}

-Network: (0603 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable, Net (Unaudited))

-Accounts Receivable Net Disclosure [Abstract] {ID207}

Accounts Receivable, Net {ID208}

-Network: (0604 - Disclosure - Debt (Unaudited))

-Debt [Abstract] {ID209}

Debt {ID210}

-Network: (0605 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Unaudited))

-Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] {ID211}

Commitments and Contingencies {ID212}

-Network: (0606 - Disclosure - Employee Separation Costs (Unaudited))

-Employee Separation Costs [Abstract] {ID213}

Employee Separation Costs {ID214}

-Network: (0607 - Disclosure - Employment Benefit Plans (Unaudited))

-Employment Benefit Plans [Abstract] {ID215}

Employment Benefit Plans {ID216}

-Network: (0608 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Unaudited))

-Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Abstract] {ID217}

Earnings Per Share {ID218}

-Network: (0609 - Disclosure - Comprehensive Income (Unaudited))

-Comprehensive Income [Abstract] {ID219}

Comprehensive Income {ID220}

-Network: (0610 - Disclosure - Accounting Pronouncements (Unaudited))

-Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract] {ID221}

Accounting Pronouncements {ID222}

-Network: (0611 - Disclosure - Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Unaudited))

-Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm [Abstract] {ID223}

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm {ID224}

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE CORP XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Networks