The biggest investment of Warren Buffett's life has created a ripple of optimism in a country anxious about its economic future.

Those ripples should be strongest in the Oracle of Omaha's home state, which stands to benefit in a variety of ways.

Buffett described his purchase of the Burlington Northern Sante Fe Corp. as an "all-in wager on the economic future of the United States."

Across the country, analysts interpreted his move as a good omen. Typical was a comment from Ted Parrish, co-manager of the Henssler Equity Fund. "The deal is affirmation of the notion that things are getting better," Parrish told CNN.

The positive vibe was particularly evident in the railroad industry. Competitor Union Pacific, headquartered in Omaha, issued a written statement that it viewed Berkshire Hathaway's purchase of all outstanding BNSF stock as "a tremendous vote of confidence in America's freight rail industry."

As reported in the Wall Street Journal, the deal was vintage Buffett, put together in 12 days, in stark contrast with typical multibillion corporate deals that take months to negotiate. The railroad's board of directors approved the deal Monday in a meeting that lasted only three hours.

It calls for Berkshire Hathaway to invest $26 billion in stock and cash, and to acquire $10 billion in debt. Buffet already has invested $8 billion in the railroad.

Interest was intensely personal for thousands of Nebraskans whose livelihoods depend on the railroad. In Lincoln alone, 1,800 people work for BNSF at the company's Havelock freight car repair shops and in the yards and diesel shops west of downtown Lincoln. Altogether about 4,000 Nebraskans work for BNSF.

And would it be too much to hope that Buffett's acquisition of the BNSF might speed settlement of the nasty battle over coal shipping rates involving the Lincoln Electric System? The railroad was ordered last month to turn over a check for almost $120 million for overcharges and interest to LES and its partners in the Laramie River Station. BNSF has appealed to federal court on that issue and the reduction of future rates worth another $245 million.

Locals also should be interested to learn that the deal will put Berkshire Hathaway stock within reach for those of modest means. The 50-to-1 split means that price of a share of Berkshire Hathaway Class B stock will go from about $3,300 to $65. Those who failed to join the Buffett snowball years ago now have another opportunity - perhaps the last, since Buffett is 79.

Buffett's track record of success is unparalleled in the modern annals of investing. His faith in the resiliency of the American economy and, in particular, a railroad with a large local presence is another ray of sunshine in the lifting gloom.