<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<FilingSummary>
  <Version>3.22.2.2</Version>
  <ProcessingTime/>
  <ReportFormat>html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>122</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>149</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>27</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>4</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000001 - Document - Cover Page</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/CoverPage</Role>
      <ShortName>Cover Page</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Cover</MenuCategory>
      <Position>1</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000002 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Income</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Income</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>2</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000003 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofComprehensiveIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>3</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000004 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>4</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000005 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>5</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000006 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>6</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000007 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofChangesinEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>7</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000008 - Disclosure - Accounting Policies and Interim Results</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/AccountingPoliciesandInterimResults</Role>
      <ShortName>Accounting Policies and Interim Results</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>8</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000009 - Disclosure - Revenue from Contracts with Customers</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/RevenuefromContractswithCustomers</Role>
      <ShortName>Revenue from Contracts with Customers</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>9</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000010 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable, Net</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/AccountsReceivableNet</Role>
      <ShortName>Accounts Receivable, Net</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>10</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000011 - Disclosure - Debt</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/Debt</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>11</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000012 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/CommitmentsandContingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>12</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000013 - Disclosure - Employment Benefit Plans</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/EmploymentBenefitPlans</Role>
      <ShortName>Employment Benefit Plans</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>13</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000014 - Disclosure - Related Party Transactions</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/RelatedPartyTransactions</Role>
      <ShortName>Related Party Transactions</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>14</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000015 - Disclosure - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>15</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000016 - Disclosure - Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/RevenuefromContractswithCustomersTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.bnsf.com/role/RevenuefromContractswithCustomers</ParentRole>
      <Position>16</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000017 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/CommitmentsandContingenciesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.bnsf.com/role/CommitmentsandContingencies</ParentRole>
      <Position>17</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000018 - Disclosure - Employment Benefit Plans (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/EmploymentBenefitPlansTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Employment Benefit Plans (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.bnsf.com/role/EmploymentBenefitPlans</ParentRole>
      <Position>18</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000019 - Disclosure - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.bnsf.com/role/AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome</ParentRole>
      <Position>19</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000020 - Disclosure - Accounting Policies and Interim Results (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/AccountingPoliciesandInterimResultsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Accounting Policies and Interim Results (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>20</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000021 - Disclosure - Revenue from Contracts with Customers Disaggregation of Revenue (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/RevenuefromContractswithCustomersDisaggregationofRevenueDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Revenue from Contracts with Customers Disaggregation of Revenue (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>21</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000022 - Disclosure - Revenue from Contracts with Customers Disclosure of contract asset and liability (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/RevenuefromContractswithCustomersDisclosureofcontractassetandliabilityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Revenue from Contracts with Customers Disclosure of contract asset and liability (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>22</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000023 - Disclosure - Revenue from Contracts with Customers Remaining performance obligations (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/RevenuefromContractswithCustomersRemainingperformanceobligationsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Revenue from Contracts with Customers Remaining performance obligations (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>23</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000024 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable, Net Allowance for Credit Losses (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/AccountsReceivableNetAllowanceforCreditLossesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Accounts Receivable, Net Allowance for Credit Losses (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>24</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000025 - Disclosure - Debt Notes and Debentures (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Notes</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/DebtNotesandDebenturesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt Notes and Debentures (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>25</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000026 - Disclosure - Debt Fair Value of Debt Instruments (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/DebtFairValueofDebtInstrumentsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt Fair Value of Debt Instruments (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>26</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000027 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies Personal Injury (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/CommitmentsandContingenciesPersonalInjuryDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies Personal Injury (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>27</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000028 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies Environmental (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/CommitmentsandContingenciesEnvironmentalDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies Environmental (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>28</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000029 - Disclosure - Commitment and Contingencies Other Claims and Litigation (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/CommitmentandContingenciesOtherClaimsandLitigationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitment and Contingencies Other Claims and Litigation (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>29</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000030 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies Insurance (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/CommitmentsandContingenciesInsuranceDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies Insurance (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>30</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000031 - Disclosure - Employment Benefit Plans (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/EmploymentBenefitPlansDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Employment Benefit Plans (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.bnsf.com/role/EmploymentBenefitPlansTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>31</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000032 - Disclosure - Related Party Transactions (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/RelatedPartyTransactionsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Related Party Transactions (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.bnsf.com/role/RelatedPartyTransactions</ParentRole>
      <Position>32</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bni-20220930.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000033 - Disclosure - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income AOCI by Component (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.bnsf.com/role/AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAOCIbyComponentDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income AOCI by Component (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>33</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Warning">[ix-0514-Hidden-Fact-Eligible-For-Transform] WARN: 1 fact(s) appearing in ix:hidden were eligible for transformation: dei:EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding -  bni-20220930.htm 4</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File doctype="10-Q" original="bni-20220930.htm">bni-20220930.htm</File>
    <File>bni-20220930.xsd</File>
    <File>bni-20220930_cal.xml</File>
    <File>bni-20220930_def.xml</File>
    <File>bni-20220930_lab.xml</File>
    <File>bni-20220930_pre.xml</File>
    <File>llc93022-ex311.htm</File>
    <File>llc93022-ex312.htm</File>
    <File>llc93022-ex321.htm</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles>
    <File>bni-20220930_g1.jpg</File>
  </SupplementalFiles>
  <BaseTaxonomies>
    <BaseTaxonomy items="338">http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2022</BaseTaxonomy>
    <BaseTaxonomy items="26">http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022</BaseTaxonomy>
  </BaseTaxonomies>
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
