Debt (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining three months of 2012	$ 44.1
2013	250.1
2014	426.8
2015	108.8
2016	465.1
Thereafter	1,773.9
Recourse | Manufacturing/Corporate
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining three months of 2012	0.3
2013	1.7
2014	2.4
2015	0.2
2016	0.2
Thereafter	450.3
Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | Capital lease obligations
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining three months of 2012	0.7
2013	2.9
2014	3.1
2015	3.3
2016	3.5
Thereafter	33.0
Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | Term loan
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining three months of 2012	0.7
2013	3.0
2014	3.2
2015	3.4
2016	41.1
Thereafter	0
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | 2006 secured railcar equipment notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining three months of 2012	3.3
2013	15.1
2014	16.9
2015	18.6
2016	21.9
Thereafter	183.3
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | Promissory notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining three months of 2012	21.3
2013	28.5
2014	25.4
2015	22.7
2016	347.6
Thereafter	0
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | 2009 secured railcar equipment notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining three months of 2012	2.4
2013	10.2
2014	9.9
2015	9.6
2016	6.5
Thereafter	173.0
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | 2010 secured railcar equipment notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining three months of 2012	3.5
2013	14.6
2014	14.0
2015	15.3
2016	15.0
Thereafter	282.6
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | TILC warehouse facility
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining three months of 2012	2.0
2013	10.7
2014	5.9
2015	0
2016	0
Thereafter	0
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | TRIP Holdings senior secured notes, total outstanding
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining three months of 2012	0
2013	0
2014	170.0
2015	0
2016	0
Thereafter	0
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | TRIP Holdings senior secured notes - owned by Trinity
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining three months of 2012	0
2013	0
2014	(108.8)
2015	0
2016	0
Thereafter	0
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | TRIP Holdings senior secured notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
2014	61.2
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | TRIP Master Funding secured railcar equipment notes
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining three months of 2012	9.9
2013	41.0
2014	40.1
2015	35.7
2016	29.3
Thereafter	651.7
Non-Recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group | Facility termination payments - TILC warehouse facility
Remaining principal payments under existing debt agreements
Remaining three months of 2012	0
2013	122.4
2014	244.7
2015	0
2016	0
Thereafter	$ 0