BNSF Naming Question

[Anonymous]

This question has without much doubt been beaten to death already, but
since I wasn't around to read it...

To me, the name "Burlington Northern - Santa Fe" sounds like a name that
was arrived at by not finding anything better. It almost sounds like the execs
said, "Da*n it! Let's just call it 'Burlington Northern - Santa Fe' and be done
with it!"

Was there a significant research effort put into naming the merged railroad?

[AltonFan]

The recognizable names in the merger were "Burlington" and "Santa Fe". Trying to cobble together a name that preserved the proud heritage (and brand recognition) of the merger partners was a daunting task. And using one name at the expense of the other would have looked like a hostile takeover.

[Anonymous]

Greetings,

Then why did Union Pacific stay with its name after taking over SP/MP/MKT???

Doesnt make sense on that one.

MArk in Texas

[edblysard]

Because UP is trying to take over the world!
And they did use half of Southern Pacific's, and Missouri Pacific's names.
And by the time they took over the MKT, the Katy had no customers left to impress, or to remember Miss Katy
Stay Frosty,
Ed[:D].

[mudchicken]

Further on Ed's comment:

You wanted a railroad name that started sounding like a flat wheel beating on a granger ?

Western-Union-Missouri-pacific-Southern+Mkt+CNW = WUMPS-M-CNW

[Anonymous]

And here I thought that BNSF stood for Buy Norfolk Southern Fast.

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rdganthracite

And here I thought that BNSF stood for Buy Norfolk Southern Fast.

I wi***hey would - I would love to see the ponies out here in the wild west!

Mook

[Wooster25]

Your all wrong, It stands for Because Norfolk Southern Failed LOL

[edblysard]

No No No,
Its the Brand New Santa Fe....

[jimmac230]

Brand New Santa Fe? sorry, believe correct name is Brought Nothing So Far........Since Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe brought in more than Burlington Northern did.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by blondjocktx

Greetings,

Then why did Union Pacific stay with its name after taking over SP/MP/MKT???

Doesnt make sense on that one.

MArk in Texas

[8D][:D] I Seen This In A Locomotive It Was An Ink Stamp
(you cant spell stUPid without the UP[:p]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by rdganthracite

And here I thought that BNSF stood for Buy Norfolk Southern Fast.

I wi***hey would - I would love to see the ponies out here in the wild west!

Mook

No More Mergers Please Its Bad Enough As It Is[;)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rdganthracite

And here I thought that BNSF stood for Buy Norfolk Southern Fast.

[:D][:D] Good OneI Like It[:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

Heres OneUnion Missouri Kansas Texas Chicago North Western & Southern Pacific
UMKTCNW&SP

Whats Wrong With This Picture

[Anonymous]

I thought Burlington was a tinker town in Vermont.. does the name "Burlington" have any more significance then that?

Or are we naming RR's now after pipsqueak villages?
If there is more significance, and Burlington isn't a pipsqueak village, i'm sorry, i'm an idiot. [:D]


I Always thoguth BNSF stood for

Because Nothing Suitable Found.. [:D]

[Trainnut484]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jimmac230

Brand New Santa Fe? sorry, believe correct name is Brought Nothing So Far........Since Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe brought in more than Burlington Northern did.

AMEN [^][^]

On the flip side of the coin I've heard Frisco fans say "Been Nothing Since Frisco."

Take care

Russell

[mudchicken]

Kevin:

RE: Burlington Brain Freeze

The great state of Iowa requests you take a remedial geography course. Also there are plenty of other 'burgs that figure in railroad names along the big muddy on Iowa's eastern border.

BNSF = Big Nasty Santa Fe -or- Busy Now Shipping freight

mc

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman

I thought Burlington was a tinker town in Vermont.. does the name "Burlington" have any more significance then that?

Or are we naming RR's now after pipsqueak villages?
If there is more significance, and Burlington isn't a pipsqueak village, i'm sorry, i'm an idiot. [:D]


I Always thoguth BNSF stood for

Because Nothing Suitable Found.. [:D]

Kev - have your girlfriend bite your tongue! BNSF is Mookie's railroad of choice - probably since we have little UP around Lincoln. But more because the BNSF absorbed the CB&Q and that was the really favorite railroad.

Apology accepted!

Mook

[AltonFan]

That's what they should have called it: the Atchison, Topeka, Quincy, and Northern!

Or else: Everywhere West!

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Road names after a merger have long been problematical. Burlington Northern Santa Fe isn't too bad except for its length and follows a practice that dates back to at least 1960 with Erie Lackawanna.
Burlington Northern was itself a second choice, the original proposed name was Great Northern Pacific & Burlington Lines.
CSX backed into its use of the initials. The original idea was that the initials were to be used for the parent company only but the public response was favorable so CSX was also used as the name of the operating company.
Union Pacific has long had a strong identity with its name so it's not too surprising that the name continued unchanged after all the mergers.