Bruce Carpenter's Burlington Northern Santa Fe is big-time modern railroading on a grand scale. Bruce and his operating crew run up to 50 trains per operating session. In those trains they move between 800 and 900 cars across the railroad. This prototype inspired bridge route allows for maximum traffic density between Chicago and Stronghurst, Illinois.

In addition to the BNSF, there is an appearance by the Belt Railway of Chicago shuttling between two of the four staging yards. Part of the operating fun is moving all trains through a four way interlocking plant. This type of crossing is common on the prototype but rarely seen on a model railroad because of the space it consumes. On the BNSF the crossing has a full time operator with his own control panel and is a great train watching spot.

The HO scale BNSF is a free-lanced railroad based on an idealized prototype with industries designed to fit the interests of Bruce and his operating group. All factories and warehouses are large with sidings capable of holding multiple cars. The car card operating system that Bruce created allows him to share the layout with 7 other layout owners.

Bruce will show you how to: use his card system, improve the operation of your diesels, add inexpensive details to your locomotives, and weather your engines with an airbrush.

The BNSF is a Great Model Railroad because Bruce has created a heavily trafficked modern railroad the way he likes it with up to date rolling stock and locomotives.