Accounting Policies and Interim Results	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Accounting Policies and Interim Results [Abstract]
Accounting Policies and Interim Results	1. Accounting Policies and Interim Results The Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, including the financial statements and notes thereto. Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC (BNSF) is a holding company that conducts no operating activities and owns no significant assets other than through its interests in its subsidiaries. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of BNSF and its majority-owned subsidiaries, all of which are separate legal entities (collectively, the Company). BNSF’s principal operating subsidiary is BNSF Railway Company (BNSF Railway). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation was incorporated in the State of Delaware on December 16, 1994. On February 12, 2010, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., a Delaware corporation (Berkshire), acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation common stock that it did not already own. The acquisition was completed through the merger (the Merger) of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation with and into R Acquisition Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire (Merger Sub), with Merger Sub continuing as the surviving entity. In connection with the Merger, Merger Sub changed its name to “Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC” and remains an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire. Berkshire’s cost of acquiring BNSF has been pushed-down to establish a new accounting basis for BNSF. Accordingly, the accompanying interim consolidated financial statements are presented for two periods, Predecessor and Successor, which relate to the accounting periods preceding and succeeding the completion of the Merger. The Predecessor and Successor periods have been separated by a vertical line on the face of the consolidated financial statements to highlight the fact that the financial information for such periods has been prepared under two different historical-cost bases of accounting. Earnings per share data has not been presented because BNSF has not issued stock or membership interests to the public. The presentation of BNSF’s Consolidated Balance Sheet was revised to combine additional paid-in capital and retained earnings into one line titled member’s equity to reflect the post-merger ownership structure. The revised financial statement presentation did not affect previously reported results of operations, cash flows or financial position. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the entire year. In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, except as disclosed) necessary for a fair statement of BNSF’s consolidated financial position as of June 30, 2011 (Successor), and the results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 (Successor), the six months ended June 30, 2011 (Successor), and the periods February 13 — June 30, 2010 (Successor) and January 1 — February 12, 2010 (Predecessor). Subsequent Event *Related Party Transaction* In July 2011, BNSF declared a distribution of $750 million to its parent company, which will be paid in August 2011.

1. Accounting Policies and Interim Results

The Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, including the financial statements and notes thereto. Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC (BNSF) is a holding company that conducts no operating activities and owns no significant assets other than through its interests in its subsidiaries. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of BNSF and its majority-owned subsidiaries, all of which are separate legal entities (collectively, the Company). BNSF’s principal operating subsidiary is BNSF Railway Company (BNSF Railway). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation was incorporated in the State of Delaware on December 16, 1994. On February 12, 2010, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., a Delaware corporation (Berkshire), acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation common stock that it did not already own. The acquisition was completed through the merger (the Merger) of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation with and into R Acquisition Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire (Merger Sub), with Merger Sub continuing as the surviving entity. In connection with the Merger, Merger Sub changed its name to “Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC” and remains an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire.

Berkshire’s cost of acquiring BNSF has been pushed-down to establish a new accounting basis for BNSF. Accordingly, the accompanying interim consolidated financial statements are presented for two periods, Predecessor and Successor, which relate to the accounting periods preceding and succeeding the completion of the Merger. The Predecessor and Successor periods have been separated by a vertical line on the face of the consolidated financial statements to highlight the fact that the financial information for such periods has been prepared under two different historical-cost bases of accounting. Earnings per share data has not been presented because BNSF has not issued stock or membership interests to the public.

The presentation of BNSF’s Consolidated Balance Sheet was revised to combine additional paid-in capital and retained earnings into one line titled member’s equity to reflect the post-merger ownership structure. The revised financial statement presentation did not affect previously reported results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the entire year. In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, except as disclosed) necessary for a fair statement of BNSF’s consolidated financial position as of June 30, 2011 (Successor), and the results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 (Successor), the six months ended June 30, 2011 (Successor), and the periods February 13 — June 30, 2010 (Successor) and January 1 — February 12, 2010 (Predecessor).

Subsequent Event

Related Party Transaction

In July 2011, BNSF declared a distribution of $750 million to its parent company, which will be paid in August 2011.