Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Feb. 28, 2021	Feb. 29, 2020	Feb. 28, 2021	Feb. 29, 2020
Revenue
Revenue		$ 295,622	$ 623,848	$ 698,611	$ 1,393,207
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue		277,951	537,512	640,269	1,214,682
Margin		17,671	86,336	58,342	178,525
Selling and administrative expense		43,425	54,597	87,132	108,961
Net gain on disposition of equipment		(27)	(6,697)	(949)	(10,656)
Earnings (loss) from operations		(25,727)	38,436	(27,841)	80,220
Other costs
Interest and foreign exchange		9,568	12,609	20,671	25,461
Earnings (loss) before income tax and earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates		(35,295)	25,827	(48,512)	54,759
Income tax benefit (expense)		21,752	(7,463)	29,084	(13,457)
Earnings (loss) before earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates		(13,543)	18,364	(19,428)	41,302
Earnings (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates		(378)	1,651	(1,122)	2,724
Net earnings (loss)		(13,921)	20,015	(20,550)	44,026
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		4,856	(6,386)	1,513	(22,728)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Greenbrier		$ (9,065)	$ 13,629	$ (19,037)	$ 21,298
Basic earnings (loss) per common share		$ (0.28)	$ 0.42	$ (0.58)	$ 0.65
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share		$ (0.28)	$ 0.41	$ (0.58)	$ 0.64
Weighted average common shares:
Basic	[1]	32,810	32,661	32,766	32,645
Diluted		32,810	33,482	32,766	33,382
Manufacturing
Revenue
Revenue		$ 202,094	$ 489,943	$ 510,816	$ 1,147,310
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue		201,771	422,309	482,661	1,004,221
Earnings (loss) from operations		(17,216)	46,105	(7,530)	99,248
Wheels, Repair & Parts
Revenue
Revenue		71,623	91,225	137,179	177,833
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue		66,667	84,373	129,651	166,265
Earnings (loss) from operations		2,433	3,320	2,233	4,434
Leasing & Services
Revenue
Revenue		21,905	42,680	50,616	68,064
Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue		9,513	30,830	27,957	44,196
Earnings (loss) from operations		$ 6,420	$ 12,793	$ 12,310	$ 22,570

[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.