Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External	$ 937.5	$ 791.1	$ 2,891.2	$ 2,133.6
Revenues - Intersegment	0	0	0	0
Revenues - Total	937.5	791.1	2,891.2	2,133.6
Operating Profit (Loss)	141.9	105.4	419.2	286.3
Rail Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External	328.3	227.7	1,049.7	556.0
Revenues - Intersegment	129.6	93.2	392.2	265.4
Revenues - Total	457.9	320.9	1,441.9	821.4
Operating Profit (Loss)	35.2	18.2	128.3	42.9
Construction Products Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External	148.2	161.1	449.4	439.2
Revenues - Intersegment	6.1	3.7	16.7	8.5
Revenues - Total	154.3	164.8	466.1	447.7
Operating Profit (Loss)	12.7	17.8	38.7	42.2
Inland Barge Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External	166.5	143.2	509.8	398.9
Revenues - Intersegment	0	0	0	0
Revenues - Total	166.5	143.2	509.8	398.9
Operating Profit (Loss)	26.9	26.0	93.5	66.8
Energy Equipment Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External	131.0	107.3	377.7	335.6
Revenues - Intersegment	4.6	4.3	13.6	12.2
Revenues - Total	135.6	111.6	391.3	347.8
Operating Profit (Loss)	9.5	(1.9)	9.7	9.8
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External	159.3	147.4	493.7	395.4
Revenues - Intersegment	0.6	0	2.7	0
Revenues - Total	159.9	147.4	496.4	395.4
Operating Profit (Loss)	85.1	64.2	228.0	178.6
All Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External	4.2	4.4	10.9	8.5
Revenues - Intersegment	20.4	13.6	50.2	36.9
Revenues - Total	24.6	18.0	61.1	45.4
Operating Profit (Loss)	(2.0)	(0.3)	(7.1)	(0.8)
Corporate
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External	0	0	0	0
Revenues - Intersegment	0	0	0	0
Revenues - Total	0	0	0	0
Operating Profit (Loss)	(12.4)	(11.5)	(33.6)	(30.6)
Eliminations - Lease subsidiary
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External	0	0	0	0
Revenues - Intersegment	(125.9)	(87.9)	(380.8)	(252.8)
Revenues - Total	(125.9)	(87.9)	(380.8)	(252.8)
Operating Profit (Loss)	(14.1)	(8.1)	(37.2)	(23.3)
Eliminations - Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues - External	0	0	0	0
Revenues - Intersegment	(35.4)	(26.9)	(94.6)	(70.2)
Revenues - Total	(35.4)	(26.9)	(94.6)	(70.2)
Operating Profit (Loss)	$ 1.0	$ 1.0	$ (1.1)	$ 0.7