Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	$ 1,110.3	$ 907.3	$ 3,109.3	$ 2,799.0
Operating Profit (Loss)	205.6	140.7	548.5	415.9
Rail Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	541.5	328.3	1,439.2	1,049.7
Operating Profit (Loss)	121.5	35.2	332.3	128.3
Construction Products Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	145.8	118.0	393.1	357.2
Operating Profit (Loss)	18.6	11.5	45.3	35.4
Inland Barge Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	136.4	166.5	433.8	509.8
Operating Profit (Loss)	23.8	26.9	69.0	93.5
Energy Equipment Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	135.0	131.0	384.9	377.7
Operating Profit (Loss)	15.0	9.5	44.2	9.7
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	150.6	159.3	454.6	493.7
Operating Profit (Loss)	74.0	85.1	211.3	228.0
All Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	1.0	4.2	3.7	10.9
Operating Profit (Loss)	(1.6)	(2.0)	(8.0)	(7.1)
Segment Totals before Eliminations and Corporate Expenses
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	1,110.3	907.3	3,109.3	2,799.0
Operating Profit (Loss)	251.3	166.2	694.1	487.8
Corporate
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Profit (Loss)	(17.8)	(12.4)	(49.9)	(33.6)
Eliminations – Lease subsidiary
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Profit (Loss)	(28.3)	(14.1)	(95.4)	(37.2)
Eliminations – Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Profit (Loss)	0.4	1.0	(0.3)	(1.1)
Total
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	1,110.3	907.3	3,109.3	2,799.0
Total | Rail Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	718.5	457.9	2,012.0	1,441.9
Total | Construction Products Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	149.2	124.1	407.5	373.9
Total | Inland Barge Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	136.4	166.5	433.8	509.8
Total | Energy Equipment Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	169.7	135.6	476.9	391.3
Total | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	150.6	159.9	454.6	496.4
Operating Profit (Loss)	74.0	85.1	211.3	228.0
Total | All Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	22.0	24.6	63.0	61.1
Total | Segment Totals before Eliminations and Corporate Expenses
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	1,346.4	1,068.6	3,847.8	3,274.4
Total | Corporate
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Total | Eliminations – Lease subsidiary
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	(173.0)	(125.9)	(560.5)	(380.8)
Total | Eliminations – Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	(63.1)	(35.4)	(178.0)	(94.6)
Intersegment
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Intersegment | Rail Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	177.0	129.6	572.8	392.2
Intersegment | Construction Products Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	3.4	6.1	14.4	16.7
Intersegment | Inland Barge Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Intersegment | Energy Equipment Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	34.7	4.6	92.0	13.6
Intersegment | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0.6	0	2.7
Intersegment | All Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	21.0	20.4	59.3	50.2
Intersegment | Segment Totals before Eliminations and Corporate Expenses
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	236.1	161.3	738.5	475.4
Intersegment | Corporate
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Intersegment | Eliminations – Lease subsidiary
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	(173.0)	(125.9)	(560.5)	(380.8)
Intersegment | Eliminations – Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	$ (63.1)	$ (35.4)	$ (178.0)	$ (94.6)