Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	16. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS Due to the continued weakness in the markets that we serve, during the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company estimates severance charges of approximately $1,000 will be recorded related to reduction in force activity as the Company continues to react to changes in market conditions. On November 7, 2016, L. B. Foster Company (the “Company”), its domestic subsidiaries, and certain of its Canadian subsidiaries entered into the Second Amendment (the “Second Amendment”) to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated March 13, 2015 and as amended by the First Amendment dated June 29, 2016 (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”), with PNC Bank, N.A., Bank of America, N.A., Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, and Branch Banking and Trust Company. This Second Amendment modifies the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement which had a maximum revolving credit line of $275,000. The Second Amendment reduces the permitted revolving credit borrowings to $195,000 and provides for additional term loan borrowing of up to $30,000. The term loan will be subject to quarterly straight line amortization until fully paid off upon the final payment on January 1, 2020. Furthermore, certain matters, including excess cash flow, asset sales, and equity issuances, trigger mandatory prepayments to the Term Loan. Term loan borrowings will not be available to draw upon once they have been repaid. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Second Amendment or Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as applicable. The Second Amendment further provides for modifications to the financial covenants as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The Second Amendment calls for the elimination of the Maximum Leverage Ratio covenant through the quarter ended June 30, 2018. After that period, the Maximum Gross Leverage Ratio covenant will be reinstated to require a maximum ratio of 4.25 Consolidated Indebtedness to 1.00 Gross Leverage for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, and 3.75 to 1.00 for all periods thereafter until the maturity date of the credit facility. The Second Amendment also includes a Minimum Last Twelve Months EBITDA covenant (“Minimum EBITDA”). For the quarter ending December 31, 2016 through the quarter ending June 30, 2017, the Minimum EBITDA must be at least $18,500. For each quarter thereafter, through the quarter ended June 30, 2018, the Minimum EBITDA requirement will increase by various increments. At June 30, 2018, the Minimum EBITDA requirement will be $31,000. After the quarter ended June 30, 2018, the Minimum EBITDA covenant will be eliminated through the maturity of the credit agreement. The Second Amendment also includes a Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio covenant. The covenant represents the ratio of the Company’s fixed charges to the last twelve months of EBITDA, and is required to be a minimum of 1.00 to 1.00 through the quarter ended December 31, 2017 and 1.25 to 1.00 for each quarter thereafter through the maturity of the credit facility. The final financial covenant included in the Second Amendment is a Minimum Liquidity covenant which calls for a minimum of $25,000 in undrawn availability on the revolving credit loan at all times through the quarter ended June 30, 2018. The Second Amendment includes several changes to certain non-financial covenants as defined in the Credit Agreement. Through the maturity date of the loan, the Company is now prohibited from making any future acquisitions. The limitation on permitted annual distributions of dividends or redemptions of the Company’s stock has been decreased from $4,000 to $1,700. The aggregate limitation on loans to and investments in non-loan parties was decreased from $10,000 to $5,000. Furthermore, the limitation on asset sales has been decreased from $25,000 annually with a carryover of up to $15,000 from the prior year to $25,000 in the aggregate through the maturity date of the credit facility. The Second Amendment provides for the elimination of the three lowest tiers of the pricing grid that had previously been defined in the First Amendment. Upon execution of the Second Amendment through the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company will be locked into the highest tier of the pricing grid which provides for pricing of the prime rate plus 225 basis points on base rate loans and the applicable LIBOR rate plus 325 basis points on euro rate loans. For each quarter after March 31, 2018 and through the maturity date of the credit facility, the Company’s position on the pricing grid will be governed by a Minimum Net Leverage ratio which is the ratio of Consolidated Indebtedness less cash on hand in excess of $15,000 to EBITDA. If, after March 31, 2018 the Minimum Net Leverage ratio positions the Company on the lowest tier of the pricing grid, pricing will be the prime rate plus 150 basis points on base rate loans or the applicable LIBOR rate plus 250 basis points on euro rate loans. The Company anticipates a fourth quarter 2016 charge of approximately $500 related to the write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees as a result of the amendment. Lastly, on November 7, 2016, the Company announced that its Board of Directors decided to suspend the quarterly dividend beginning in the fourth quarter 2016. Management evaluated all other activity of the Company and concluded that no subsequent events have occurred that would require recognition in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements or further disclosure in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

16. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Due to the continued weakness in the markets that we serve, during the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company estimates severance charges of approximately $1,000 will be recorded related to reduction in force activity as the Company continues to react to changes in market conditions.

On November 7, 2016, L. B. Foster Company (the “Company”), its domestic subsidiaries, and certain of its Canadian subsidiaries entered into the Second Amendment (the “Second Amendment”) to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated March 13, 2015 and as amended by the First Amendment dated June 29, 2016 (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”), with PNC Bank, N.A., Bank of America, N.A., Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, and Branch Banking and Trust Company. This Second Amendment modifies the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement which had a maximum revolving credit line of $275,000. The Second Amendment reduces the permitted revolving credit borrowings to $195,000 and provides for additional term loan borrowing of up to $30,000. The term loan will be subject to quarterly straight line amortization until fully paid off upon the final payment on January 1, 2020. Furthermore, certain matters, including excess cash flow, asset sales, and equity issuances, trigger mandatory prepayments to the Term Loan. Term loan borrowings will not be available to draw upon once they have been repaid. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Second Amendment or Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as applicable.

The Second Amendment further provides for modifications to the financial covenants as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The Second Amendment calls for the elimination of the Maximum Leverage Ratio covenant through the quarter ended June 30, 2018. After that period, the Maximum Gross Leverage Ratio covenant will be reinstated to require a maximum ratio of 4.25 Consolidated Indebtedness to 1.00 Gross Leverage for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, and 3.75 to 1.00 for all periods thereafter until the maturity date of the credit facility. The Second Amendment also includes a Minimum Last Twelve Months EBITDA covenant (“Minimum EBITDA”). For the quarter ending December 31, 2016 through the quarter ending June 30, 2017, the Minimum EBITDA must be at least $18,500. For each quarter thereafter, through the quarter ended June 30, 2018, the Minimum EBITDA requirement will increase by various increments. At June 30, 2018, the Minimum EBITDA requirement will be $31,000. After the quarter ended June 30, 2018, the Minimum EBITDA covenant will be eliminated through the maturity of the credit agreement. The Second Amendment also includes a Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio covenant. The covenant represents the ratio of the Company’s fixed charges to the last twelve months of EBITDA, and is required to be a minimum of 1.00 to 1.00 through the quarter ended December 31, 2017 and 1.25 to 1.00 for each quarter thereafter through the maturity of the credit facility. The final financial covenant included in the Second Amendment is a Minimum Liquidity covenant which calls for a minimum of $25,000 in undrawn availability on the revolving credit loan at all times through the quarter ended June 30, 2018.

The Second Amendment includes several changes to certain non-financial covenants as defined in the Credit Agreement. Through the maturity date of the loan, the Company is now prohibited from making any future acquisitions. The limitation on permitted annual distributions of dividends or redemptions of the Company’s stock has been decreased from $4,000 to $1,700. The aggregate limitation on loans to and investments in non-loan parties was decreased from $10,000 to $5,000. Furthermore, the limitation on asset sales has been decreased from $25,000 annually with a carryover of up to $15,000 from the prior year to $25,000 in the aggregate through the maturity date of the credit facility.

The Second Amendment provides for the elimination of the three lowest tiers of the pricing grid that had previously been defined in the First Amendment. Upon execution of the Second Amendment through the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company will be locked into the highest tier of the pricing grid which provides for pricing of the prime rate plus 225 basis points on base rate loans and the applicable LIBOR rate plus 325 basis points on euro rate loans. For each quarter after March 31, 2018 and through the maturity date of the credit facility, the Company’s position on the pricing grid will be governed by a Minimum Net Leverage ratio which is the ratio of Consolidated Indebtedness less cash on hand in excess of $15,000 to EBITDA. If, after March 31, 2018 the Minimum Net Leverage ratio positions the Company on the lowest tier of the pricing grid, pricing will be the prime rate plus 150 basis points on base rate loans or the applicable LIBOR rate plus 250 basis points on euro rate loans.

The Company anticipates a fourth quarter 2016 charge of approximately $500 related to the write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees as a result of the amendment.

Lastly, on November 7, 2016, the Company announced that its Board of Directors decided to suspend the quarterly dividend beginning in the fourth quarter 2016.

Management evaluated all other activity of the Company and concluded that no subsequent events have occurred that would require recognition in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements or further disclosure in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.