A railroad looks at next year

By Richard C. Gralson Presidcnt and Chief ErccLrtirc Olficer Burlington Northern Railroad

/lns THE na- Ftlon-s targest rail carrier of forest products in terms ol revenues and sales, Burlington Northern Railroad has a keen interest in the lumber and building materials markets.

Forest products normally account

Story at a Glance

starts in'82: 1.4 million.

developments in l.he rest of the country and to some dcgree in other countries. The West should do a little better than the resl of the nation, as ir usually does.

The West will be helped by:

A pickup in exports as conditions improve in other industrial countries; an in flow of foreign investment; immigration from other countries; and national economic policies.

Especially, tax cuts, which will benefit high-tech industries and the generally venturesome Western business climate; the relatively large share of the West, especially California in defense contracts; and some recovery in homebuilding, as inflation rates and interest rates come down nationally.

Overall, the Gross Regional Producr ol the ll We:lern states is forecast to increase 1 1.690 over 1981 . . a 3.590 gain in real terms and for about 20Vo of BN's non-coal revenues each year, and rve serve the forest centers of the Pacific Northwest and southeastern United States.

Nearly 2OVo of BN's rail car fleet is dedicated to forest products shipments. The 24,562-car fleet includes I 3,250 regular borcars; 3,950 specialized boxcars; 2,262 woodchip cars; 1,100 flatcars; 2,500 bulkhead flatcars and 1,500 specialized flatcars.

Burlington Northern reorganized its forest products marketing operation last spring in an effort to respond more effectively to customers and the changing marketplace.

All forest products acti\ ities no$ are controlled by a free-standing lo puge 52)