Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	$ 1,460.5	$ 932.9
Operating Profit (Loss)	391.3	159.5
Rail Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	601.1	423.6
Operating Profit (Loss)	167.5	102.9
Construction Products Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	112.2	98.0
Operating Profit (Loss)	21.7	7.7
Inland Barge Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	136.9	147.4
Operating Profit (Loss)	26.7	24.3
Energy Equipment Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	167.0	128.5
Operating Profit (Loss)	22.9	14.9
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	442.2	134.4
Operating Profit (Loss)	230.3	61.6
All Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	1.1	1.0
Operating Profit (Loss)	(5.4)	(2.6)
Segment Totals before Eliminations and Corporate Expenses
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	1,460.5	932.9
Operating Profit (Loss)	463.7	208.8
Corporate
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0
Operating Profit (Loss)	(23.1)	(16.6)
Eliminations – Lease subsidiary
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0
Operating Profit (Loss)	(49.3)	(32.4)
Eliminations – Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0
Operating Profit (Loss)	0	(0.3)
Total
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	1,460.5	932.9
Total | Rail Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	857.4	625.5
Total | Construction Products Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	113.1	103.8
Total | Inland Barge Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	136.9	147.4
Total | Energy Equipment Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	210.6	154.7
Total | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	443.1	134.4
Operating Profit (Loss)	230.3	61.6
Total | All Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	23.2	19.3
Total | Segment Totals before Eliminations and Corporate Expenses
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	1,784.3	1,185.1
Total | Corporate
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0
Total | Eliminations – Lease subsidiary
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	(249.1)	(198.0)
Total | Eliminations – Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	(74.7)	(54.2)
Intersegment
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0
Intersegment | Rail Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	256.3	201.9
Intersegment | Construction Products Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0.9	5.8
Intersegment | Inland Barge Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0
Intersegment | Energy Equipment Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	43.6	26.2
Intersegment | Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0.9	0
Intersegment | All Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	22.1	18.3
Intersegment | Segment Totals before Eliminations and Corporate Expenses
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	323.8	252.2
Intersegment | Corporate
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	0	0
Intersegment | Eliminations – Lease subsidiary
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	(249.1)	(198.0)
Intersegment | Eliminations – Other
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total revenues	$ (74.7)	$ (54.2)