[Grams A]

And here I have been blaming Buffett and the BN rr all along.

[Smokin' Joe]

Actually, Buffett and BNSF have created a situation which benefits producers in North Dakota and Montana, opening new markets for Bakken/Three Forks crude which have reduced the discounts on produced oil. The other spinoff is the drop in price for Brent Crude, because Eastern refineries have access to Bakken/Three Forks light sweet crude by rail.

Buffett makes money on the shipping, the oil companies make money because they are getting a better price per barrel, and the Eastern refinieries aren't buying as much overseas oil.

Whether that was the intent or not, it works for everyone.