Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Feb. 28, 2019	Feb. 28, 2018	Feb. 28, 2019	Feb. 28, 2018
Revenue
Revenue		$ 658,671	$ 629,336	$ 1,263,194	$ 1,188,871
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue		604,827	523,989	1,136,817	994,210
Margin		53,844	105,347	126,377	194,661
Selling and administrative expense		47,892	50,294	98,324	97,337
Net gain on disposition of equipment		(12,102)	(5,817)	(26,455)	(24,988)
Earnings from operations		18,054	60,870	54,508	122,312
Other costs
Interest and foreign exchange		9,237	7,029	13,641	14,049
Earnings before income taxes and earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates		8,817	53,841	40,867	108,263
Income tax benefit (expense)		(2,248)	11,301	(11,383)	(6,834)
Earnings before earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates		6,569	65,142	29,484	101,429
Earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates		(786)	147	(319)	(2,763)
Net earnings		5,783	65,289	29,165	98,666
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest		(3,018)	(3,647)	(8,444)	(10,771)
Net earnings attributable to Greenbrier		$ 2,765	$ 61,642	$ 20,721	$ 87,895
Basic earnings per common share		$ 0.08	$ 2.10	$ 0.63	$ 3.00
Diluted earnings per common share		$ 0.08	$ 1.91	$ 0.63	$ 2.74
Weighted average common shares:
Basic	[1]	32,628	29,355	32,634	29,343
Diluted		33,206	32,711	33,149	32,703
Dividends declared per common share		$ 0.25	$ 0.23	$ 0.50	$ 0.46
Manufacturing
Revenue
Revenue		$ 476,019	$ 511,827	$ 947,808	$ 963,312
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue		442,996	429,165	860,801	810,015
Earnings from operations		13,990	63,185	50,845	116,154
Wheels, Repair & Parts
Revenue
Revenue		125,278	88,710	233,821	166,721
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue		118,455	80,708	219,433	153,214
Earnings from operations		2,823	5,119	6,070	7,537
Leasing & Services
Revenue
Revenue		57,374	28,799	81,565	58,838
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue		43,376	14,116	56,583	30,981
Earnings from operations		$ 21,030	$ 16,114	$ 38,543	$ 44,304

[1] Restricted stock grants and restricted stock units that are considered participating securities, 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.