Property and Equipment and Leases Useful Lives (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017
Buildings and leasehold improvements | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life	2 years
Buildings and leasehold improvements | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life	40 years
Bridges/tunnels/culverts | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life	20 years
Bridges/tunnels/culverts | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life	50 years
Track property | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life	3 years
Track property | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life	50 years
Computer equipment | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life	2 years
Computer equipment | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life	10 years
Locomotives and railcars | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life	2 years
Locomotives and railcars | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life	30 years
Vehicles and mobile equipment | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life	2 years
Vehicles and mobile equipment | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life	15 years
Signals and crossing equipment | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life	5 years
Signals and crossing equipment | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life	20 years
Track equipment | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life	2 years
Track equipment | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life	20 years
Other equipment | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life	2 years
Other equipment | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life	20 years