Property and Equipment and Leases (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	$ 2,008,179,000	$ 1,747,458,000
Depreciation expense	59,700,000	44,600,000	41,300,000
Buildings and leasehold improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	19,000	259,000
Track property
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	4,158,000	15,743,000
Locomotives and rail cars
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	62,340,000	14,121,000
Bridges/tunnels/culverts
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	841,000	2,445,000
Other equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	830,000	972,000
Total construction-in-process
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	$ 68,188,000	$ 33,540,000