Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Nov. 30, 2014	Aug. 31, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013	Aug. 31, 2013
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 118,958	$ 184,916	$ 81,226	$ 97,435
Restricted cash	9,170	20,140
Accounts receivable, net	191,532	199,679
Inventories	372,039	305,656
Leased railcars for syndication	177,221	125,850
Equipment on operating leases, net	264,615	258,848
Property, plant and equipment, net	258,303	243,698
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	72,342	69,359
Goodwill	43,265	43,265
Intangibles and other assets, net	61,937	65,757
Total assets	1,569,382	1,517,168
Liabilities and Equity
Revolving notes	46,527	13,081
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	374,509	383,289
Deferred income taxes	81,808	81,383
Deferred revenue	27,067	20,603
Notes payable	443,303	445,091
Total equity - Greenbrier	519,884	511,390
Noncontrolling interest	76,284	62,331
Total equity	596,168	573,721	482,859	456,827
Liabilities and Equity	1,569,382	1,517,168
Parent
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	78,347	149,747	46,462	63,173
Accounts receivable, net	734	626
Property, plant and equipment, net	6,604	6,220
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	992,388	910,732
Intangibles and other assets, net	16,273	17,031
Total assets	1,094,346	1,084,356
Liabilities and Equity
Revolving notes	15,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	293,444	315,879
Deferred income taxes	21,070	12,109
Deferred revenue	122	122
Notes payable	244,826	244,856
Total equity - Greenbrier	519,884	511,390
Total equity	519,884	511,390
Liabilities and Equity	1,094,346	1,084,356
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	1,577	112	71	25
Restricted cash	2,268	13,238
Accounts receivable, net	393,166	474,409
Inventories	124,284	113,117
Leased railcars for syndication	192,729	128,965
Equipment on operating leases, net	263,914	257,415
Property, plant and equipment, net	104,300	102,972
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	151,457	143,768
Goodwill	43,265	43,265
Intangibles and other assets, net	42,614	45,013
Total assets	1,319,574	1,322,274
Liabilities and Equity
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	183,082	221,863
Deferred income taxes	72,225	80,489
Deferred revenue	26,068	19,950
Notes payable	196,947	198,705
Total equity - Greenbrier	841,252	801,267
Total equity	841,252	801,267
Liabilities and Equity	1,319,574	1,322,274
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	39,034	35,057	34,693	34,237
Restricted cash	6,902	6,902
Accounts receivable, net	47,079	62,421
Inventories	247,829	192,634
Equipment on operating leases, net	3,413	3,613
Property, plant and equipment, net	147,399	134,506
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	3,930	3,961
Intangibles and other assets, net	13,831	14,221
Total assets	509,417	453,315
Liabilities and Equity
Revolving notes	31,527	13,081
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	190,856	185,335
Deferred revenue	834	487
Notes payable	1,530	1,530
Total equity - Greenbrier	208,695	190,861
Noncontrolling interest	75,975	62,021
Total equity	284,670	252,882
Liabilities and Equity	509,417	453,315
Eliminations
Assets
Accounts receivable, net	(249,447)	(337,777)
Inventories	(74)	(95)
Leased railcars for syndication	(15,508)	(3,115)
Equipment on operating leases, net	(2,712)	(2,180)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(1,075,433)	(989,102)
Intangibles and other assets, net	(10,781)	(10,508)
Total assets	(1,353,955)	(1,342,777)
Liabilities and Equity
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(292,873)	(339,788)
Deferred income taxes	(11,487)	(11,215)
Deferred revenue	43	44
Total equity - Greenbrier	(1,049,947)	(992,128)
Noncontrolling interest	309	310
Total equity	(1,049,638)	(991,818)
Liabilities and Equity	$ (1,353,955)	$ (1,342,777)