Debt (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
2013	$ 138.9
2014	302.9
2015	179.2
2016	477.3
2017	82.4
Thereafter	1,961.8
Recourse | Manufacturing/Corporate
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
2013	0.2
2014	0.2
2015	0.2
2016	0.2
2017	0.4
Thereafter	450.0
Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | Capital lease obligations
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
2013	2.9
2014	3.1
2015	3.3
2016	3.5
2017	3.7
Thereafter	29.3
Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | Term loan
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
2013	3.0
2014	3.3
2015	3.5
2016	38.8
2017	0
Thereafter	0
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | 2006 secured railcar equipment notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
2013	15.1
2014	16.9
2015	18.6
2016	21.9
2017	24.1
Thereafter	159.2
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | Promissory notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
2013	28.9
2014	25.8
2015	23.2
2016	346.2
2017	0
Thereafter	0
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | 2009 secured railcar equipment notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
2013	10.2
2014	9.9
2015	9.6
2016	6.5
2017	6.3
Thereafter	166.7
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | 2010 secured railcar equipment notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
2013	14.6
2014	14.0
2015	15.3
2016	15.0
2017	13.7
Thereafter	268.9
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | 2012 secured railcar equipment notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
2013	15.3
2014	16.6
2015	15.7
2016	15.9
2017	13.8
Thereafter	256.5
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | TILC warehouse facility
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
2013	7.7
2014	4.7
2015	0.5
2016	0
2017	0
Thereafter	0
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | TRIP Holdings senior secured notes, total outstanding
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
2013	0
2014	170.0
2015	0
2016	0
2017	0
Thereafter	0
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | TRIP Holdings senior secured notes - owned by Trinity
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
2013	0
2014	(108.8)
2015	0
2016	0
2017	0
Thereafter	0
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | TRIP Holdings senior secured notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
2014	61.2
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | TRIP Master Funding secured railcar equipment notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
2013	41.0
2014	40.1
2015	35.7
2016	29.3
2017	20.4
Thereafter	631.2
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | Facility termination payments - TILC warehouse facility
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
2013	0
2014	107.1
2015	53.6
2016	0
2017	0
Thereafter	$ 0