<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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                              34
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      815
<ALLOWANCES>                                        68
<INVENTORY>                                        228
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                  1390
<PP&E>                                           21341
<DEPRECIATION>                                    4475
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   19257
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                             2354
<BONDS>                                           4243
<COMMON>                                             2
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                        5698
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     19257
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                  6061
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                     4782
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 224
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   1054
<INCOME-TAX>                                       409
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                645
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       645
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     4.25
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     4.17