8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

Form 8-K

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) January 31, 2005

THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Commission File No. 1-13146

Delaware
(State of Incorporation) 93-0816972
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

One Centerpointe Drive, Suite 200, Lake Oswego, OR 97035
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(503) 684-7000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Former name or former address, if changed since last report: N/A

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01 Other Events

On January 31, 2005, The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. issued a press release reporting the death of Mr. Alan James co-founder, former chairman and director of the Company. A copy of such release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)   Exhibits:

     99.1 Press Release dated January 31, 2005 of The Greenbrier Companies, Inc.

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC.
Date: January 31, 2005	By:	/s/ Larry G. Brady
		Larry G. Brady Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

For release: January 31, 2005, 9:00 p.m. EST Contact: Mark Rittenbaum

Greenbrier mourns death of director Alan James

     Lake Oswego, OR, January 31, 2005 – The Greenbrier Companies [NYSE:GBX] today issued the following statement regarding the death on Friday of Alan James. Mr. James, who was 74, had been associated with the company since 1974 as a co-founder, former chairman and director.

     “Alan was my long-time partner and a force in building Greenbrier into the company it is today. On behalf of our employees and the entire Board, we are deeply saddened by Alan’s death and extend our condolences to his family,” said William A. Furman, president and chief executive officer. Mr. James and Mr. Furman were co-founders of Greenbrier and had been partners for more than 35 years.

     The Greenbrier Companies (www.gbrx.com), headquartered in Lake Oswego, OR, is a leading supplier of transportation equipment and services to the railroad industry. With manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Poland, Greenbrier produces new railroad freight cars and marine vessels, and performs repair, refurbishment and maintenance activities. Greenbrier owns a lease fleet of approximately 11,000 railcars, and performs management services for approximately 123,000 railcars.

     “SAFE HARBOR” STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: This release may contain forward-looking statements. Greenbrier uses words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “expect,” “future,” “intend” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, actual future costs and the availability of materials and a trained workforce; steel price increases and scrap surcharges; changes in product mix and the mix between manufacturing and leasing & services segment; labor disputes, energy shortages or operating difficulties that might disrupt manufacturing operations or the flow of cargo; production difficulties and product delivery delays as a result of, among other matters, changing technologies or non-performance of subcontractors or suppliers; ability to obtain suitable contracts for the sale of leased equipment; all as may be discussed in more detail under the heading “Forward Looking Statements” on pages 3 through 4 of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2004. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s opinions only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements.