Income Taxes (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment and railcar assets leased to others	$ (72,997)	$ (64,392)
Prepaid employee benefits	(15,419)	(12,724)
Investments	(23,262)	(20,242)
Other	(3,205)	(3,877)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(114,883)	(101,235)
Deferred tax assets:
Employee benefits	42,482	32,463
Accounts and notes receivable	1,909	2,212
Inventory	6,326	7,056
Deferred expenses	16,022	10,036
Net operating loss carryforwards	1,299	1,207
Other	3,688	2,425
Total deferred tax assets	71,726	55,399
Valuation allowance
Net deferred tax assets	71,726	55,399
Net deferred tax liabilities	$ (43,157)	$ (45,836)

Deferred tax assets accounts and notes receivable.

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The sum of the tax effects as of the balance sheet date of the amounts of all future tax deductions arising from temporary differences between tax basis and generally accepted accounting principles basis recognition of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when permitted under enacted tax laws ( before the valuation allowance, if any, to reduce such sum amount to net realizable value). Includes any tax benefit realized in deferred tax assets for significant impacts of tax planning strategies.

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The tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of the estimated future tax deductions attributable to inventory related items which can only be realized if sufficient taxable income is generated in future periods to enable the deduction to be taken.

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For entities that net deferred tax assets and tax liabilities, represents the unclassified net amount of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date, which result from applying the applicable enacted tax rate to net temporary differences and carryforwards pertaining to assets or liabilities. A temporary difference is a difference between the tax basis of an asset or liability and its carrying amount in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that will reverse in ensuing periods.

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The aggregate tax effects as of the balance sheet date of all future tax deductions arising from temporary differences between tax basis and generally accepted accounting principles basis recognition of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when permitted under enacted tax laws; net of deducting the allocated valuation allowance, if any, to reduce such amount to net realizable value.

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The sum of the tax effects as of the balance sheet date of the amount of excesses of tax deductions over gross income in a year which cannot be used on the tax returns in the current year but can be carried forward to reduce taxable income or income taxes payable in a future year, for which there must be sufficient tax-basis income to utilize a portion or all of the carryforward amount to realize the deferred tax asset.

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The tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of estimated future tax deductions arising from other temporary differences not otherwise specified in the taxonomy.

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The tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of the estimated future tax deductions arising from currently nondeductible expenses pertaining to increases in liabilities and loss reserves, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when such expenses are actually incurred, and which can only be realized if sufficient tax-basis income is generated in future periods to enable the deduction to be taken.

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The tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of the estimated future tax deductions arising from employee benefit costs not otherwise specified in the taxonomy, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when actual costs are incurred, and which can only be realized if sufficient tax-basis income is generated in future periods to enable the deduction to be taken.

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The allocated portion as of the balance sheet date of a valuation allowance pertaining to a deferred tax asset classified as noncurrent for which, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not, such asset will not be fully realized through future reductions of tax-based income.

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The cumulative amount of all deferred tax liabilities, which result from applying the applicable tax rate to net taxable temporary differences pertaining to each jurisdiction to which the entity is obligated to pay income tax. A taxable temporary difference is a difference between the tax basis and the carrying amount of an asset or liability in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that will result in taxable amounts in one or more future periods.

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The amount as of the balance sheet date of the estimated future tax effects attributable to investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and investments in other affiliates which are not controlled and therefore not consolidated.

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The amount as of the balance sheet date of the estimated future tax effects attributable to differences between the methods used to account for leasing arrangements for tax purposes and under generally accepted accounting principles which will increase future taxable income when such differences reverse.

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The cumulative amount of the estimated future tax effects attributable to other temporary differences not otherwise specified in this taxonomy that were expensed for tax purposes but capitalized in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, or which were recognized as revenue under GAAP but not for tax purposes, which will reverse in future periods.

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The amount as of the balance sheet date of the estimated future tax effects attributable to the difference between the tax basis of pension liabilities funded in advance and the basis of a prepaid pension asset determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The difference in basis of such costs will increase future taxable income when such basis difference reverses. (Prepaid pension costs represented the cumulative employer's contributions in excess of net pension cost recognized, before the adoption of the recognition provisions of FAS 158. Under FAS 158, prepaid pension costs are no longer recognized in the statement of financial position.)

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