Fair Value Accounting (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Less: unamortized discount	$ (70.6)	[1]	$ (74.1)
Notes payable	1,279.2	[1]	1,314.7
Total debt	2,940.2	[1]	2,989.8
Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	1,320.6		1,356.9
Partially-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	1,239.3		1,256.1
Recourse
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Less: unamortized discount	(70.6)		(74.1)
Total debt	421.7		419.0
Recourse | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Less: unamortized discount	0		0
Total debt	41.4		42.2
Recourse | Partially-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Less: unamortized discount	0		0
Total debt	0		0
Carrying Value
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	2,940.2		2,989.8
Carrying Value | Recourse
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	421.7		419.0
Carrying Value | Recourse | Corporate
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Convertible subordinated notes	450.0		450.0
Less: unamortized discount	(70.6)		(74.1)
Convertible subordinated notes, net	379.4		375.9
Other	0.9		0.9
Total debt	380.3		376.8
Carrying Value | Recourse | Capital lease obligations | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Capital lease obligations	41.4		42.2
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	2,518.5		2,570.8
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	1,279.2		1,314.7
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | Partially-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	1,239.3		1,256.1
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | 2006 secured railcar equipment notes | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	236.8		240.7
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | Promissory notes | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	389.1		396.1
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | 2009 secured railcar equipment notes | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	196.6		199.0
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | 2010 secured railcar equipment notes | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	323.5		326.9
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | TILC warehouse facility | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Loans payable	133.2		152.0
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | TRL 2012 secured railcar equipment notes - RIV 2013 | Partially-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	493.0		499.3
Carrying Value | Non-recourse | TRIP Master Funding secured railcar equipment notes | Partially-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	746.3		756.8
Estimated Fair Value
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	3,389.4		3,312.7
Estimated Fair Value | Recourse
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	749.3		636.5
Estimated Fair Value | Recourse | Corporate
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Convertible subordinated notes	707.0		593.4
Other	0.9		0.9
Estimated Fair Value | Recourse | Capital lease obligations | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Capital lease obligations	41.4		42.2
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Total debt	2,640.1		2,676.2
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | 2006 secured railcar equipment notes | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	257.3		259.2
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | Promissory notes | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	383.3		389.6
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | 2009 secured railcar equipment notes | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	230.3		229.5
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | 2010 secured railcar equipment notes | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	345.4		342.7
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | TILC warehouse facility | Wholly-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Loans payable	133.2		152.0
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | TRL 2012 secured railcar equipment notes - RIV 2013 | Partially-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	479.2		483.4
Estimated Fair Value | Non-recourse | TRIP Master Funding secured railcar equipment notes | Partially-owned subsidiaries | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Carrying amounts and estimated fair values of long-term debt
Notes payable	$ 811.4		$ 819.8

[1] (unaudited)