Business Combination, State and Local Tax Expense (Benefit), Nonrecurring

No definition available.

Name:	trn_BusinessCombinationStateandLocalTaxExpenseBenefitNonrecurring
Namespace Prefix:	trn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of Facilities Sold

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	trn_NumberofFacilitiesSold
Namespace Prefix:	trn_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 23
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73531572&loc=d3e1043-128460

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gain (loss) from sale or disposal of an organization or integrated set of activities (for example, but not limited to, a partnership or corporation) engaged in providing a product or service in a commercial, industrial, or professional environment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of businesses acquired by the entity during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=trn_MeyerMember
Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=trn_ConstructionProductsGroupMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=trn_EnergyEquipmentGroupMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=trn_TexasMississippiandLouisianaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=trn_GalvanizingBusinessMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

Acquisitions and Divestitures (Details Textual) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) facility	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) acquisition
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain recognized		$ 0.0		$ 0.0
Meyer
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition-related transaction costs incurred				8.7
Non-recurring additional state income tax expense				$ 1.5
Construction Products Group
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of businesses acquired \| acquisition				1
Energy Equipment Group
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of businesses acquired \| acquisition				3
Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana \| Galvanizing Business \| Construction Products Group
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of facilities sold \| facility	6
Gain recognized	$ 8.3		$ 8.3