<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>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                              47
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      685
<ALLOWANCES>                                        57
<INVENTORY>                                        222
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                  1248
<PP&E>                                           22123
<DEPRECIATION>                                    4490
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   19763
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                             2228
<BONDS>                                           4546
<COMMON>                                             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          2
<OTHER-SE>                                        5979
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     19763
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                  8141
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                     6393
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 301
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   1440
<INCOME-TAX>                                       551
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                889
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       889 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     5.84
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     5.74