Retirement Plans (Defined Contribution Plans) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Description of Defined Contribution Pension and Other Postretirement Plans	The Company has a domestic defined contribution plan that covers all non-union hourly and all salaried employees (Salaried Plan). The Salaried Plan permits both pre-tax and after-tax employee contributions. Participants can contribute, subject to statutory limitations, between 1% and 75% of eligible pre-tax pay and between 1% and 100% of eligible after-tax pay. The Company's employer match is 100% of the first 1% of deferred eligible compensation and up to 50% of the next 6%, based on years of service, of deferred eligible compensation, for a total maximum potential match of 4%. The Company may also make discretionary contributions to the Salaried Plan. The Company also has a domestic defined contribution plan for union hourly employees with contributions made by both the participants and the Company based on various formulas (Union Plan). The Company's Rail Technologies subsidiary maintains a defined contribution plan covering all non-union employees at its Montreal, Quebec, Canada location (Montreal Plan). Under the terms of the Montreal Plan, Rail Technologies may contribute 4% of each employee's compensation as a non-elective contribution and may also contribute 30% of the first 6% of each employee's compensation contributed to the Montreal Plan. The subsidiary also maintains a defined contribution plan covering substantially all employees at its United Kingdom locations (U.K. Plan). Benefits under the U.K. Plan are provided under no formal written agreement. Under the terms of the defined contribution U.K. Plan, Rail Technologies may make non-elective contributions of between 3% and 10% of each employee's compensation. Finally, Rail Technologies maintains a defined contribution plan covering substantially all of the employees of at its Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada location (Burnaby Plan). Under the terms of the Burnaby Plan, Rail Technologies makes a non-elective contribution of 4% of each employee's compensation and may also contribute 30% of the first 6% of each employee's compensation contributed to the Burnaby Plan
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized	$ 2,553	$ 2,492	$ 2,237
Salaried Benefit Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized	2,077	2,028	1,846
Union Benefit Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized	74	79	62
Montreal Benefit Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized	123	126	101
United Kingdom Benefit Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized	136	116	122
Burnaby Benefit Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Description of Defined Contribution Pension and Other Postretirement Plans	Finally, Rail Technologies maintains a defined contribution plan covering substantially all of the employees of at its Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada location (Burnaby Plan). Under the terms of the Burnaby Plan, Rail Technologies makes a non-elective contribution of 4% of each employee's compensation and may also contribute 30% of the first 6% of each employee's compensation contributed to the Burnaby Plan.
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized	$ 143	$ 143	$ 106