Fair Value Accounting (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Less: unamortized discount	$ (63.7)	[1]	$ (74.1)
Notes payable	1,230.7	[1]	1,314.7
Total debt	3,595.6	[1]	2,989.8
Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	1,270.5		1,356.9
Partially-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	1,538.6		1,256.1
Recourse
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Less: unamortized discount	(63.7)		(74.1)
Total debt	826.3		419.0
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	39.8		42.2
Recourse | Partially-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	0		0
Non-recourse
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	2,769.3		2,570.8
Non-recourse | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	1,230.7		1,314.7
Non-recourse | Partially-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	1,538.6		1,256.1
Non-recourse | TILC warehouse facility | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Revolving credit facility	121.8
Carrying Value
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	3,595.6		2,989.8
Carrying Value | Recourse
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	826.3		419.0
Carrying Value | Recourse | Corporate
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Other	0.7		0.9
Total debt	786.5		376.8
Carrying Value | Recourse | Senior notes due 2024 | Corporate
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Senior notes due 2024	399.6		0
Less: unamortized discount	(0.4)		0
Carrying Value | Recourse | Convertible subordinated notes | Corporate
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Convertible subordinated notes	449.5		450.0
Less: unamortized discount	(63.3)		(74.1)
Convertible subordinated notes, net	386.2		375.9
Carrying Value | Recourse | Capital lease obligations | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Capital lease obligations	39.8		42.2
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	2,769.3		2,570.8
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	1,230.7		1,314.7
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | Partially-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	1,538.6		1,256.1
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	228.1		240.7
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	374.3		396.1
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	191.3		199.0
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	315.2		326.9
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
Revolving credit facility	121.8		152.0
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | TRL 2012 secured railcar equipment notes - RIV 2013 | Partially-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	480.4		499.3
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | TRIP Master Funding secured railcar equipment notes | Partially-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	1,058.2		756.8
Estimated Fair Value
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	4,255.2		3,312.7
Estimated Fair Value | Recourse
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	1,315.3		636.5
Estimated Fair Value | Recourse | Corporate
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Convertible subordinated notes	874.1		593.4
Other	0.7		0.9
Estimated Fair Value | Recourse | Senior notes due 2024 | Corporate
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Senior notes due 2024	400.7		0
Estimated Fair Value | Recourse | Capital lease obligations | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Capital lease obligations	39.8		42.2
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	2,939.9		2,676.2
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	251.4		259.2
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	371.3		389.6
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	230.3		229.5
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	347.1		342.7
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
Revolving credit facility	121.8		152.0
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | TRL 2012 secured railcar equipment notes - RIV 2013 | Partially-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	479.2		483.4
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | TRIP Master Funding secured railcar equipment notes | Partially-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	$ 1,138.8		$ 819.8

[1] (unaudited)