Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Feb. 28, 2018	Feb. 28, 2017	Feb. 28, 2018	Feb. 28, 2017
Revenue
Revenue		$ 629,336	$ 566,282	$ 1,188,871	$ 1,118,596
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue		523,989	447,357	994,210	886,920
Margin		105,347	118,925	194,661	231,676
Selling and administrative expense		50,294	39,495	97,337	80,708
Net gain on disposition of equipment		(5,817)	(2,090)	(24,988)	(3,212)
Earnings from operations		60,870	81,520	122,312	154,180
Other costs
Interest and foreign exchange		7,029	5,673	14,049	7,397
Earnings before income taxes and earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates		53,841	75,847	108,263	146,783
Income tax benefit (expense)		11,301	(24,858)	(6,834)	(45,244)
Earnings before earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates		65,142	50,989	101,429	101,539
Earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates		147	(1,988)	(2,763)	(4,572)
Net earnings		65,289	49,001	98,666	96,967
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest		(3,647)	(14,465)	(10,771)	(37,469)
Net earnings attributable to Greenbrier		$ 61,642	$ 34,536	$ 87,895	$ 59,498
Basic earnings per common share		$ 2.10	$ 1.19	$ 3.00	$ 2.04
Diluted earnings per common share	[1]	$ 1.91	$ 1.09	$ 2.74	$ 1.88
Weighted average common shares:
Basic	[2]	29,355	29,130	29,343	29,113
Diluted		32,711	32,427	32,703	32,423
Dividends declared per common share		$ 0.23	$ 0.21	$ 0.46	$ 0.42
Manufacturing
Revenue
Revenue		$ 511,827	$ 445,504	$ 963,312	$ 899,537
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue		429,165	346,653	810,015	703,208
Earnings from operations		63,185	85,369	116,154	168,710
Wheels & Parts
Revenue
Revenue		88,710	82,714	166,721	152,349
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue		80,708	75,497	153,214	140,475
Earnings from operations		5,119	5,569	7,537	8,463
Leasing & Services
Revenue
Revenue		28,799	38,064	58,838	66,710
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue		14,116	25,207	30,981	43,237
Earnings from operations		$ 16,114	$ 9,889	$ 44,304	$ 17,279

[1] Diluted earnings per share was calculated as follows: Earnings before interest and debt issuance costs (net of tax) on convertible notes Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding

[2] Restricted stock grants and restricted stock units, including some grants subject to certain performance criteria, are included in weighted average basic common shares outstanding when the Company is in a net earnings position.