<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation's Consolidated Financial Statements
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                              24
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      744
<ALLOWANCES>                                        73
<INVENTORY>                                        242
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                  1292
<PP&E>                                           20943
<DEPRECIATION>                                    4426
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   18775
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                             2293
<BONDS>                                           4170
<COMMON>                                             2
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                        5481
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     18775
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                  4029
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                     3226
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 148
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    650
<INCOME-TAX>                                       252
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                398
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       398
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.63
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.58