Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
INCOME TAXES [Abstract]
Income Taxes	INCOME TAXES: The Company’s effective income tax rate in the three months ended September 30, 2011, was 27.2% compared with 35.4% in the three months ended September 30, 2010. The Company's effective income tax rate in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, was 27.2% compared with 36.5% in the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, was primarily attributable to the extension of the Short Line Tax Credit. The Short Line Tax Credit, which had been in existence from 2005 through 2009, expired on December 31, 2009, but was retroactively extended for 2010 on December 17, 2010. Unless it is further extended, the Short Line Tax Credit expires on January 1, 2012. The Short Line Tax Credit provides for Class II and Class III railroads to reduce their federal income tax based on 50% of qualified railroad track maintenance expenditures during each year, subject to a limitation of $3,500 per track mile owned or leased at the end of the year. Historically, the Company incurred sufficient spending to meet the limitation.

Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

INCOME TAXES:

The Company’s effective income tax rate in the three months ended September 30, 2011, was 27.2% compared with 35.4% in the three months ended September 30, 2010. The Company's effective income tax rate in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, was 27.2% compared with 36.5% in the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, was primarily attributable to the extension of the Short Line Tax Credit.

The Short Line Tax Credit, which had been in existence from 2005 through 2009, expired on December 31, 2009, but was retroactively extended for 2010 on December 17, 2010. Unless it is further extended, the Short Line Tax Credit expires on January 1, 2012. The Short Line Tax Credit provides for Class II and Class III railroads to reduce their federal income tax based on 50% of qualified railroad track maintenance expenditures during each year, subject to a limitation of $3,500 per track mile owned or leased at the end of the year. Historically, the Company incurred sufficient spending to meet the limitation.