<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-10-23</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000923120</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GREENBRIER COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GBX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001330840</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Teramoto Wendy L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE CENTERPOINTE DRIVE, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAKE OSWEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97035</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Kim Moore, Attorney-In-Fact For: Wendy L. Teramoto</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-10-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
