POWER OF ATTORNEY


      WHEREAS, BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under
the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, its Annual
Report on Form    10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996; and

      WHEREAS, the undersigned serve the Company in the capacity indicated;

      NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints DENIS E.
SPRINGER and JEFFREY R. MORELAND, his attorney with full power to act for him in
his name, place and stead, to sign his name in the capacity set forth below, to
the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the fiscal year ended December
31, 1996, and to any and all amendments to such Annual Report on Form 10-K, and
hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorney may or shall lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Power of Attorney has been executed by the
undersigned this 20th day of March, 1997.


/s/ Joseph F. Alibrandi                /s/ Jack S. Blanton
- -----------------------                -------------------
Joseph F. Alibrandi, Director          Jack S. Blanton, Director


/s/ John J. Burns, Jr.                 /s/ Daniel P. Davison
- ----------------------                 ---------------------
John J. Burns, Jr., Director           Daniel P. Davison
                                       Chairman of the Board, Director


/s/ George Deukmejian                  /s/ Daniel J. Evans
- ---------------------                  -------------------
George Deukmejian, Director            Daniel J. Evans, Director


/s/ Robert D. Krebs                    /s/ Bill M. Lindig
- -------------------                    ------------------
Robert D. Krebs, President and         Bill M. Lindig, Director
Chief Executive Officer, and
Director


/s/ Ben F. Love                        /s/ Roy S. Roberts
- ---------------                        ------------------
Ben F. Love, Director                  Roy S. Roberts, Director


/s/ Marc J. Shapiro                    /s/ Arnold R. Weber
- -------------------                    -------------------
Marc J. Shapiro, Director              Arnold R. Weber, Director

 
/s/ Robert H. West                     /s/ J. Steven Whisler
- ------------------                     ---------------------
Robert H. West, Director               J. Steven Whisler, Director


/s/ Edward E. Whitacre, Jr.            /s/ Ronald B. Woodard
- ---------------------------            ---------------------
Edward E. Whitacre, Jr., Director      Ronald B. Woodard, Director


/s/ Michael B. Yanney
- ---------------------
Michael B. Yanney, Director