The Santa Fe Pacific Corporation was formed as the Santa Fe Southern Pacific Corporation in 1984 by the merger of Santa Fe Industries,which owned the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway,with Southern Pacific Company,which owned the Southern Pacific Railroad.After the Interstate Commerce Commission denied their plan to merge their railroads as the Southern Pacific Santa Fe Railroad the holding company name was shortened and the Southern Pacific Railroad sold.
The holding company retained all the non-rail interests of both predecessors (mainly real estate and natural resources,but Southern Pacific had also formed the telephone company known as Sprint,which was sold shortly before the merger).It was initially headquartered in Chicago and later in Schaumburg, Illinois,former Southern Pacific executive Robert Krebs succeeding Santa Fe head John J. Schmidt as CEO.
In September 1995 the company merged into Burlington Northern and the Santa Fe railroad became part of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe,with Krebs becoming head of the merged company until his retirement.
