Commitments and Contingencies - Personal Injury (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended								1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Successor [Member]	Feb. 12, 2010 Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Successor [Member] Asbestos, non-malignant [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Successor [Member] Unasserted Claim	Dec. 31, 2010 Successor [Member] Personal Injury	Dec. 31, 2012 Successor [Member] Personal Injury	Dec. 31, 2011 Successor [Member] Personal Injury	Dec. 31, 2012 Successor [Member] Time Deposits, and Money Market Funds [Member] BNSF Insurance Company	Dec. 31, 2011 Successor [Member] Time Deposits, and Money Market Funds [Member] BNSF Insurance Company	Dec. 31, 2012 Successor [Member] Current Liabilities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Successor [Member] Current Liabilities [Member]	Feb. 12, 2010 Predecessor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Predecessor [Member]	Feb. 12, 2010 Predecessor [Member] Personal Injury
Asbestos and Personal Injury [Abstract]
Percent of total number of future asbestos claims					90.00%
Percent of total cost of future asbestos claims					65.00%
Reduction in expense due to settlements of personal injury liabiltiies	$ 15
Percent of future unasserted asbestos claims to be filed within the next ten years						60.00%
Percent of future unasserted asbestos claims to be filed within the next fifteen years						80.00%
Percent of future unasserted asbestos claims to be filed within the next twenty-five years						95.00%
Length in Years for 60 Percent of Future Unasserted Asbestos Claims to be Filed						10 years
Length in Years for 80 Percent of Future Unasserted Asbestos Claims to be Filed						15 years
Length in Years for 95 Percent of Future Unasserted Claims to be Filed						25 years
Accrued obligations for asbestos and other personal injury matters, current liabilities												105	125
Future costs to settle personal injury claims, minimum								415
Future costs to settle personal injury claims, maximum								530
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	205						664	540	575							632
Accruals							21	58	77							10
Payments							(110)	(136)	(112)							(9)
Ending balance	170						575	462	540							633
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,794	$ 1,960	$ 2,087	$ 971						$ 485	$ 500			$ 971	$ 1,269