Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	May. 06, 2016
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, LLC
Entity Central Index Key	0000934612
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		0
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes