Commitments and Contingent Liabilites (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Product Liability Contingency [Line Items]
Standard Product Warranty Accrual	$ 7,483				$ 15,727						$ 7,483	$ 15,727	$ 6,632
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net	156,458	162,248	149,936	129,321	140,724	170,346	[1]	163,180	[2]	114,291	597,963	588,541	575,337
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	50,109				42,333						50,109	42,333
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies	2,190				2,141						2,190	2,141
Reserve for Concrete Ties [Member]
Product Liability Contingency [Line Items]
Litigation Settlement, Amount											12,000
Product Warranty Expense												22,000
Standard Product Warranty Accrual	6,462				14,837						6,462	14,837
Standard Product Warranty Accrual, Period Increase (Decrease)											612	23,019	3,469
The UPRR [Member]
Product Liability Contingency [Line Items]
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net											12,664	25,441	22,395
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	$ 1,116										$ 1,116

[1] Includes a pre-tax loss of approximately $315 from the Company’s sale of Precise.

[2] Includes a pre-tax gain of approximately $3,508 from the Company’s sale of SSD.