Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2013		May 31, 2012	May 31, 2013		May 31, 2012
Revenue
Manufacturing	$ 284,591		$ 364,930	$ 864,006		$ 947,792
Wheels, Repair & Parts	131,167		125,145	355,219		362,788
Leasing & Services	17,905		17,722	52,978		53,601
Revenues	433,663		507,797	1,272,203		1,364,181
Cost of revenue
Manufacturing	253,360		325,424	774,502		852,464
Wheels, Repair & Parts	120,476		111,610	325,086		324,055
Leasing & Services	9,808		8,825	26,542		27,783
Cost of revenue	383,644		445,859	1,126,130		1,204,302
Margin	50,019		61,938	146,073		159,879
Selling and administrative	25,322		28,784	76,364		76,998
Net gain on disposition of equipment	(5,131)		(2,585)	(9,615)		(8,897)
Goodwill impairment	76,900	[1]		76,900	[1],[2]
Earnings (loss) from operations	(47,072)		35,739	2,424		91,778
Other costs
Interest and foreign exchange	5,905		6,560	18,127		18,574
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates	(52,977)		29,179	(15,703)		73,204
Income tax (expense) benefit	(2,729)		(8,655)	(12,905)		(21,798)
Earnings (loss) before earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates	(55,706)		20,524	(28,608)		51,406
Earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates	82		201	(63)		(99)
Net earnings (loss)	(55,624)		20,725	(28,671)		51,307
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(406)		(1,608)	(3,093)		(4)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Greenbrier	(56,030)		19,117	(31,764)		51,303
Parent
Revenue
Leasing & Services	310		77	787		824
Revenues	310		77	787		824
Cost of revenue
Margin	310		77	787		824
Selling and administrative	9,903		11,287	30,014		32,612
Earnings (loss) from operations	(9,593)		(11,210)	(29,227)		(31,788)
Other costs
Interest and foreign exchange	4,124		4,671	12,207		14,241
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates	(13,717)		(15,881)	(41,434)		(46,029)
Income tax (expense) benefit	3,960		3,731	16,645		17,538
Earnings (loss) before earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates	(9,757)		(12,150)	(24,789)		(28,491)
Earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates	(46,273)		30,761	(6,975)		79,149
Net earnings (loss)	(56,030)		18,611	(31,764)		50,658
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			506			645
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Greenbrier	(56,030)		19,117	(31,764)		51,303
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenue
Manufacturing	143,411		240,773	473,213		646,114
Wheels, Repair & Parts	133,069		128,100	363,799		372,138
Leasing & Services	17,596		17,785	52,208		53,282
Revenues	294,076		386,658	889,220		1,071,534
Cost of revenue
Manufacturing	129,348		218,964	431,221		580,775
Wheels, Repair & Parts	122,316		114,490	333,823		333,356
Leasing & Services	9,830		8,845	26,617		27,838
Cost of revenue	261,494		342,299	791,661		941,969
Margin	32,582		44,359	97,559		129,565
Selling and administrative	7,771		8,373	23,309		21,867
Net gain on disposition of equipment	(4,214)		(2,585)	(7,781)		(8,896)
Goodwill impairment	76,900			76,900
Earnings (loss) from operations	(47,875)		38,571	5,131		116,594
Other costs
Interest and foreign exchange	1,001		968	2,870		2,749
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates	(48,876)		37,603	2,261		113,845
Income tax (expense) benefit	(4,716)		(13,604)	(24,086)		(43,326)
Earnings (loss) before earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates	(53,592)		23,999	(21,825)		70,519
Earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates	3,317		2,334	3,755		924
Net earnings (loss)	(50,275)		26,333	(18,070)		71,443
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Greenbrier	(50,275)		26,333	(18,070)		71,443
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenue
Manufacturing	251,120		288,085	690,319		757,432
Leasing & Services	(1)
Revenues	251,119		288,085	690,319		757,432
Cost of revenue
Manufacturing	234,390		270,494	646,924		721,048
Cost of revenue	234,390		270,494	646,924		721,048
Margin	16,729		17,591	43,395		36,384
Selling and administrative	7,648		9,124	23,041		22,519
Net gain on disposition of equipment	(723)			(1,276)
Earnings (loss) from operations	9,804		8,467	21,630		13,865
Other costs
Interest and foreign exchange	780		1,238	3,251		2,457
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates	9,024		7,229	18,379		11,408
Income tax (expense) benefit	(1,568)		1,350	(3,964)		3,016
Earnings (loss) before earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates	7,456		8,579	14,415		14,424
Earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates	11			27
Net earnings (loss)	7,467		8,579	14,442		14,424
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(383)		(1,755)	(1,570)		(3,445)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Greenbrier	7,084		6,824	12,872		10,979
Eliminations
Revenue
Manufacturing	(109,940)		(163,928)	(299,526)		(455,754)
Wheels, Repair & Parts	(1,902)		(2,955)	(8,580)		(9,350)
Leasing & Services			(140)	(17)		(505)
Revenues	(111,842)		(167,023)	(308,123)		(465,609)
Cost of revenue
Manufacturing	(110,378)		(164,034)	(303,643)		(449,359)
Wheels, Repair & Parts	(1,840)		(2,880)	(8,737)		(9,301)
Leasing & Services	(22)		(20)	(75)		(55)
Cost of revenue	(112,240)		(166,934)	(312,455)		(458,715)
Margin	398		(89)	4,332		(6,894)
Net gain on disposition of equipment	(194)			(558)		(1)
Earnings (loss) from operations	592		(89)	4,890		(6,893)
Other costs
Interest and foreign exchange			(317)	(201)		(873)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates	592		228	5,091		(6,020)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(405)		(132)	(1,500)		974
Earnings (loss) before earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates	187		96	3,591		(5,046)
Earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates	43,027		(32,894)	3,130		(80,172)
Net earnings (loss)	43,214		(32,798)	6,721		(85,218)
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(23)		(359)	(1,523)		2,796
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Greenbrier	$ 43,191		$ (33,157)	$ 5,198		$ (82,422)

[1] Relates to the Wheels, Repair & Parts segment.

[2] Goodwill impairment relates to the non-cash goodwill impairment charge recognized as part of the Company's annual goodwill impairment analysis as further discussed below.