Fair Value Accounting (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Less: unamortized discount	$ (90.7)	[1]	$ (99.8)
Notes payable	1,646.9	[1]	1,616.0
Total debt	2,978.1	[1]	2,974.9
Manufacturing/Corporate
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	364.4		354.4
Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	1,744.8		1,719.3
TRIP Holdings | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	868.9		901.2
Recourse
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Less: unamortized discount	(90.7)		(99.8)
Total debt	462.3		457.7
Recourse | Manufacturing/Corporate
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Less: unamortized discount			(99.8)
Total debt	364.4		354.4
Recourse | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Less: unamortized discount	0		0
Total debt	97.9		103.3
Recourse | TRIP Holdings | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Less: unamortized discount	0		0
Total debt	0		0
Carrying Value
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	2,978.1		2,974.9
Carrying Value | Recourse
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	462.3		457.7
Carrying Value | Recourse | Manufacturing/Corporate
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Convertible subordinated notes	450.0		450.0
Less: unamortized discount	(90.7)		(99.8)
Convertible subordinated notes, total	359.3		350.2
Other	5.1		4.2
Total debt	364.4		354.4
Carrying Value | Recourse | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	97.9		103.3
Carrying Value | Recourse | Capital lease obligations | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Capital lease obligations	46.5		48.6
Carrying Value | Recourse | Term loan | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Loans payable	51.4		54.7
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	2,515.8		2,517.2
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | 2006 secured railcar equipment notes | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	259.1		269.3
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | Promissory notes | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	445.5		465.5
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | 2009 secured railcar equipment notes | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	211.6		218.4
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | 2010 secured railcar equipment notes | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	345.0		354.3
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | TILC warehouse facility | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Loans payable	385.7		308.5
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | TRIP Holdings senior secured notes | TRIP Holdings | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
TRIP Holdings senior secured notes	61.2		61.2
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | TRIP Master Funding secured railcar equipment notes | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	807.7		840.0
Estimated Fair Value
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	3,275.5		3,041.7
Estimated Fair Value | Recourse
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	571.8		547.9
Estimated Fair Value | Recourse | Manufacturing/Corporate
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Convertible subordinated notes	465.7		439.4
Other	5.1		4.2
Estimated Fair Value | Recourse | Capital lease obligations | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Capital lease obligations	46.5		48.6
Estimated Fair Value | Recourse | Term loan | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Loans payable	54.5		55.7
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	2,703.7		2,493.8
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | 2006 secured railcar equipment notes | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	287.2		278.5
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | Promissory notes | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	431.2		448.6
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | 2009 secured railcar equipment notes | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	251.8		228.6
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | 2010 secured railcar equipment notes | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	371.6		333.1
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | TILC warehouse facility | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Loans payable	385.7		308.5
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | TRIP Holdings senior secured notes | TRIP Holdings | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
TRIP Holdings senior secured notes	62.5		61.6
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | TRIP Master Funding secured railcar equipment notes | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	$ 913.7		$ 834.9

[1] (unaudited)