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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RlxQiZ503Cou3pD0XMjVklHnx+CAD34CQV2Xp6/HunB0DAM/wRuRlgOolxUXC83R
 dUPvBhVSX6pxWyzgyO9n+A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-017141.txt : 20030804
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-017141.hdr.sgml : 20030804
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030804205934
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-017141
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030801
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030804

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000934612
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RAILROADS, LINE-HAUL OPERATING [4011]
		IRS NUMBER:				411804964
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2650 LOU MENK DR
		CITY:			FT WORTH
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			76131-2830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8173526856

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2650 LOU MENK DRIVE
		CITY:			FORT WORTH
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			76131-2830

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTE FE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950913

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BNSF CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19941223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RACICOT MARC F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001200812

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11535
		FILM NUMBER:		03822074

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2650 LOU MENK DRIVE
		CITY:			FORT WORTH
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			76131
		BUSINESS PHONE:		817 352 3466

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2000 K STREET NW
		STREET 2:		SUITE 500
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20006
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd15196.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-01</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000934612</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BNI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001200812</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RACICOT MARC F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BRACEWELL &amp; PATTERSON, L.L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2000 K STREET, SUITE 500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20006-1872</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1400</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>27.65</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2400</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDer
ivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Grant of Restricted Stock Units pursuant to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Non-Employees Directors Stock Plan to vest upon the date of termination as as director, subject to the reporting person's having served on the Board of Directors for at least ten (10) years.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Marc F. Racicot, by Jeffrey T. Williams, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-04</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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