Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Feb. 29, 2020	Feb. 28, 2019	Feb. 29, 2020	Feb. 28, 2019
Revenue
Revenue		$ 623,848	$ 658,671	$ 1,393,207	$ 1,263,194
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue		537,512	604,827	1,214,682	1,136,817
Margin		86,336	53,844	178,525	126,377
Selling and administrative expense		54,597	47,892	108,961	98,324
Net gain on disposition of equipment		(6,697)	(12,102)	(10,656)	(26,455)
Earnings from operations		38,436	18,054	80,220	54,508
Other costs
Interest and foreign exchange		12,609	9,237	25,461	13,641
Earnings before income taxes and earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates		25,827	8,817	54,759	40,867
Income tax expense		(7,463)	(2,248)	(13,457)	(11,383)
Earnings before earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates		18,364	6,569	41,302	29,484
Earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates		1,651	(786)	2,724	(319)
Net earnings		20,015	5,783	44,026	29,165
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest		(6,386)	(3,018)	(22,728)	(8,444)
Net earnings attributable to Greenbrier		$ 13,629	$ 2,765	$ 21,298	$ 20,721
Basic earnings per common share		$ 0.42	$ 0.08	$ 0.65	$ 0.63
Diluted earnings per common share		$ 0.41	$ 0.08	$ 0.64	$ 0.63
Weighted average common shares:
Basic	[1]	32,661	32,628	32,645	32,634
Diluted		33,482	33,206	33,382	33,149
Dividends declared per common share		$ 0.27	$ 0.25	$ 0.52	$ 0.50
Manufacturing
Revenue
Revenue		$ 489,943	$ 476,019	$ 1,147,310	$ 947,808
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue		422,309	442,996	1,004,221	860,801
Earnings from operations		46,105	13,990	99,248	50,845
Wheels, Repair & Parts
Revenue
Revenue		91,225	125,278	177,833	233,821
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue		84,373	118,455	166,265	219,433
Earnings from operations		3,320	2,823	4,434	6,070
Leasing & Services
Revenue
Revenue		42,680	57,374	68,064	81,565
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue		30,830	43,376	44,196	56,583
Earnings from operations		$ 12,793	$ 21,030	$ 22,570	$ 38,543

[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.