Commitments and Contingencies - Personal Injury (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,606	$ 3,015	$ 2,329	$ 2,384
BNSF Insurance Company | Bank Time Deposits and Money Market Funds
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 404		410
Unasserted Claim
Asbestos and Personal Injury [Abstract]
Percent of future unasserted asbestos claims to be filed within the next ten years	65.00%
Percent of future unasserted asbestos claims to be filed within the next fifteen years	80.00%
Percent of future unasserted asbestos claims to be filed within the next twenty-five years	95.00%
Length in years for 65 percent of future unasserted asbestos claims to be filed	10 years
Length in years for 80 percent of future unasserted asbestos claims to be filed	15 years
Length in years for 95 percent of future unasserted asbestos claims to be filed	25 years
Personal Injury
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 375	375
Accruals	33	18
Payments	(37)	(20)
Ending balance	371	$ 373
Personal Injury | Minimum [Member]
Asbestos and Personal Injury [Abstract]
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss	330
Personal Injury | Maximum [Member]
Asbestos and Personal Injury [Abstract]
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss	440
Personal Injury | Current Liabilities [Member]
Asbestos and Personal Injury [Abstract]
Accrued obligations for asbestos and other personal injury matters, current liabilities	$ 85		$ 85