Changes in Operations (Details1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 RailAmerica [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 RailAmerica [Member]	Jul. 23, 2012 RailAmerica [Member] railroads track_miles states provinces	Jul. 17, 2012 The Carlyle Group [Member] Series A-1 Preferred Stock [Member] RailAmerica [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Contingent forward sale contract [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Contingent forward sale contract [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Contingent forward sale contract [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Contingent forward sale contract [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Contingent forward sale contract [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Contingent forward sale contract [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase price per share								$ 27.50
Number of railroads								45
Track miles acquired								7,500
Number of U.S states in which entity operates								28
Canadian provinces operated in								3
Contingent forward sale contract mark-to-market expense	$ 50,106,000	$ 0	$ 50,106,000	$ 0						$ 50,106,000	$ 0	$ 50,106,000	$ 0
Contingent forward sale contract														50,106,000	0
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock									350,000,000
Acquisition-related costs						5,200,000	6,000,000
CONTINGENT FORWARD SALE CONTRACT	$ 50,106,000		$ 50,106,000		$ 0