Debt - Components of Long-term Debt - C (Narrative) (Detail) - 6.91% Secured Equipment Notes [Member] - CAD CAD in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	6.91%	6.91%
Value of locomotive units used as collateral	CAD 115
Final repayment of principal amount	CAD 11

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant