Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	$ 1,562.8	$ 1,110.3	$ 4,508.6	$ 3,109.3
Operating Profit (Loss)	281.2	205.6	974.5	548.5
Rail Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	802.3	541.5	2,164.1	1,439.2
Operating Profit (Loss)	186.4	121.5	529.9	332.3
Construction Products Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	168.4	145.8	430.5	393.1
Operating Profit (Loss)	21.6	18.6	65.7	45.3
Inland Barge Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	168.4	136.4	470.7	433.8
Operating Profit (Loss)	31.0	23.8	88.6	69.0
Energy Equipment Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	219.0	135.0	569.2	384.9
Operating Profit (Loss)	30.0	15.0	81.2	44.2
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	203.0	150.6	870.6	454.6
Operating Profit (Loss)	87.0	74.0	419.7	211.3
All Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	1.7	1.0	3.5	3.7
Operating Profit (Loss)	(3.3)	(1.6)	(11.3)	(8.0)
Segment Totals before Eliminations and Corporate Expenses
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	1,562.8	1,110.3	4,508.6	3,109.3
Operating Profit (Loss)	352.7	251.3	1,173.8	694.1
Corporate
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Profit (Loss)	(36.7)	(17.8)	(89.5)	(49.9)
Eliminations – Lease subsidiary
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Profit (Loss)	(34.3)	(28.3)	(110.5)	(95.4)
Eliminations – Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Profit (Loss)	(0.5)	0.4	0.7	(0.3)
Total
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	1,562.8	1,110.3	4,508.6	3,109.3
Total | Rail Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	996.4	718.5	2,749.4	2,012.0
Total | Construction Products Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	170.4	149.2	435.2	407.5
Total | Inland Barge Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	168.4	136.4	470.7	433.8
Total | Energy Equipment Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	269.7	169.7	707.9	476.9
Total | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	205.7	150.6	880.3	454.6
Operating Profit (Loss)	87.0	74.0	419.7	211.3
Total | All Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	28.9	22.0	80.2	63.0
Total | Segment Totals before Eliminations and Corporate Expenses
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	1,839.5	1,346.4	5,323.7	3,847.8
Total | Corporate
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Total | Eliminations – Lease subsidiary
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	(186.5)	(173.0)	(564.2)	(560.5)
Total | Eliminations – Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	(90.2)	(63.1)	(250.9)	(178.0)
Intersegment
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Intersegment | Rail Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	194.1	177.0	585.3	572.8
Intersegment | Construction Products Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	2.0	3.4	4.7	14.4
Intersegment | Inland Barge Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Intersegment | Energy Equipment Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	50.7	34.7	138.7	92.0
Intersegment | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	2.7	0	9.7	0
Intersegment | All Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	27.2	21.0	76.7	59.3
Intersegment | Segment Totals before Eliminations and Corporate Expenses
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	276.7	236.1	815.1	738.5
Intersegment | Corporate
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Intersegment | Eliminations – Lease subsidiary
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	(186.5)	(173.0)	(564.2)	(560.5)
Intersegment | Eliminations – Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	$ (90.2)	$ (63.1)	$ (250.9)	$ (178.0)