Acquisitions (Identifiable Intangible Assets Acquired) (Details) (L.B. Foster Ball Winch, Inc. [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended
	Nov. 07, 2013
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired	$ 14,682
Trade name [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired	723
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	6 months
Technology [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired	11,129
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	7 years 6 months
Non-compete agreements [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired	$ 2,830
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	1 year