Commitments and Contingencies	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES In the ordinary course of conducting its business, the Company becomes involved in various legal actions and other claims. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties, the outcome of individual litigated matters is not predictable with assurance, and it is reasonably possible that some of these matters may be decided unfavorably to the Company. It is the opinion of management that the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Settlement costs associated with litigation are included in Casualties and insurance on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company’s operations are subject to extensive environmental regulation. The Company records liabilities for remediation and restoration costs related to past activities when the Company’s obligation is probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Costs of ongoing compliance activities to current operations are expensed as incurred. The Company’s recorded liabilities for these issues represent its best estimate (on an undiscounted basis) of remediation and restoration costs that may be required to comply with present laws and regulations. It is the opinion of management that the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The Company is subject to claims for employee work-related and third-party injuries. Work-related injuries for employees are primarily subject to the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (“FELA”). The Company retains an independent actuarial firm to assist management in assessing the value of personal injury claims and cases. An analysis has been performed by an independent actuarial firm and is reviewed by management. The methodology used by the actuary includes a development factor to reflect growth or reduction in the value of these personal injury claims. It is based largely on the Company’s historical claims and settlement experience. Actual results may vary from estimates due to the type and severity of the injury, costs of medical treatments and uncertainties in litigation. On August 28, 2005, a railcar containing styrene located on the Company’s Indiana & Ohio Railway (“IORY”) property in Cincinnati, Ohio, began venting, due to a chemical reaction. Styrene is a potentially hazardous chemical used to make plastics, rubber and resin. In response to the incident, local public officials temporarily evacuated residents and businesses from the immediate area until public authorities confirmed that the tank car no longer posed a threat. As a result of the incident, several civil lawsuits were filed, and claims submitted, against the Company and others connected to the tank car. Motions for class action certification were filed. Settlements were achieved with what the Company believes to be all potential individual claimants. In cooperation with the Company’s insurer, the Company paid settlements to a substantial number of affected businesses, as well. All business interruption claims were resolved. Total payments exceeded the self insured retention, so the IORY’s liability for civil matters was exhausted. The incident also triggered inquiries from the Federal Railroad Administration (“FRA”) and other federal, state and local authorities charged with investigating such incidents. A settlement was reached with the FRA, requiring payment of a $50,000 fine but no admission of liability by the IORY. Because of the chemical release, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“U.S. EPA”) investigated whether criminal negligence contributed to the incident, and whether charges should be pressed. A series of conferences with the Company’s attorneys and the U.S. EPA attorneys took place through 2009 and into 2011, at which times legal theories and evidence were discussed in an effort to influence the U.S. EPA’s charging decision. The IORY submitted a proffer addendum in May 2009 analyzing its compliance under the Clean Air Act. The statute of limitations was extended by a tolling agreement as to the IORY only (the Company had been dropped from this violation) through February 27, 2011. The U.S. EPA attorneys decided not to press charges and allowed the statute of limitations to lapse resolving this matter. As a result, the Company released approximately $1.2 million previously accrued for this incident, in Casualties and insurance on the Consolidated Statements of Operations, in February 2011. *Government grants* In August 2010, the Company’s New England Central Railroad (“NECR”) was awarded a federal government grant of $50 million through the State of Vermont to improve and upgrade the track on its property. As part of the agreement, the NECR has committed to contribute up to approximately $19 million of capital funds and materials to the project. The project is expected to be completed within two years from the grant date. The Company accounts for grant liabilities as contra-assets within property, plant and equipment and they are amortized over the life of the related asset.

13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

In the ordinary course of conducting its business, the Company becomes involved in various legal actions and other claims. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties, the outcome of individual litigated matters is not predictable with assurance, and it is reasonably possible that some of these matters may be decided unfavorably to the Company. It is the opinion of management that the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Settlement costs associated with litigation are included in Casualties and insurance on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company’s operations are subject to extensive environmental regulation. The Company records liabilities for remediation and restoration costs related to past activities when the Company’s obligation is probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Costs of ongoing compliance activities to current operations are expensed as incurred. The Company’s recorded liabilities for these issues represent its best estimate (on an undiscounted basis) of remediation and restoration costs that may be required to comply with present laws and regulations. It is the opinion of management that the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company is subject to claims for employee work-related and third-party injuries. Work-related injuries for employees are primarily subject to the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (“FELA”). The Company retains an independent actuarial firm to assist management in assessing the value of personal injury claims and cases. An analysis has been performed by an independent actuarial firm and is reviewed by management. The methodology used by the actuary includes a development factor to reflect growth or reduction in the value of these personal injury claims. It is based largely on the Company’s historical claims and settlement experience. Actual results may vary from estimates due to the type and severity of the injury, costs of medical treatments and uncertainties in litigation.

On August 28, 2005, a railcar containing styrene located on the Company’s Indiana & Ohio Railway (“IORY”) property in Cincinnati, Ohio, began venting, due to a chemical reaction. Styrene is a potentially hazardous chemical used to make plastics, rubber and resin. In response to the incident, local public officials temporarily evacuated residents and businesses from the immediate area until public authorities confirmed that the tank car no longer posed a threat. As a result of the incident, several civil lawsuits were filed, and claims submitted, against the Company and others connected to the tank car. Motions for class action certification were filed. Settlements were achieved with what the Company believes to be all potential individual claimants. In cooperation with the Company’s insurer, the Company paid settlements to a substantial number of affected businesses, as well. All business interruption claims were resolved. Total payments exceeded the self insured retention, so the IORY’s liability for civil matters was exhausted. The incident also triggered inquiries from the Federal Railroad Administration (“FRA”) and other federal, state and local authorities charged with investigating such incidents. A settlement was reached with the FRA, requiring payment of a $50,000 fine but no admission of liability by the IORY. Because of the chemical release, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“U.S. EPA”) investigated whether criminal negligence contributed to the incident, and whether charges should be pressed. A series of conferences with the Company’s attorneys and the U.S. EPA attorneys took place through 2009 and into 2011, at which times legal theories and evidence were discussed in an effort to influence the U.S. EPA’s charging decision. The IORY submitted a proffer addendum in May 2009 analyzing its compliance under the Clean Air Act. The statute of limitations was extended by a tolling agreement as to the IORY only (the Company had been dropped from this violation) through February 27, 2011. The U.S. EPA attorneys decided not to press charges and allowed the statute of limitations to lapse resolving this matter. As a result, the Company released approximately $1.2 million previously accrued for this incident, in Casualties and insurance on the Consolidated Statements of Operations, in February 2011.

Government grants

In August 2010, the Company’s New England Central Railroad (“NECR”) was awarded a federal government grant of $50 million through the State of Vermont to improve and upgrade the track on its property. As part of the agreement, the NECR has committed to contribute up to approximately $19 million of capital funds and materials to the project. The project is expected to be completed within two years from the grant date. The Company accounts for grant liabilities as contra-assets within property, plant and equipment and they are amortized over the life of the related asset.