Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 145.7	$ 75.4	$ (137.7)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Goodwill impairment			325.0
Depreciation and amortization	192.9	189.6	160.8
Stock-based compensation expense	23.5	15.7	13.5
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(3.2)	(0.6)
Deferred	60.9	60.1	(23.8)
Net gain on sales of railcars owned more than one year at the time of sale	(16.2)	(6.6)	(18.4)
Gain on disposition of property, plant, equipment, and other assets	(8.4)	(7.9)	(5.8)
Gain on disposition of flood-damaged property, plant, and equipment	(17.6)	(9.7)
Other	19.3	5.0	8.8
Changes in assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in receivables	(146.3)	(62.2)	91.5
(Increase) decrease in income tax receivable	5.8	3.8	87.5
(Increase) decrease in inventories	(212.2)	(88.7)	380.1
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(13.5)	27.8	(24.1)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable	73.1	53.4	(140.8)
Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities	(14.2)	(59.5)	(20.5)
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	14.7	(25.1)	11.2
Net cash provided by operating activities	104.3	170.5	707.3
Investing activities:
(Increase) decrease in short-term marketable securities	158.0	(88.0)	(70.0)
Proceeds from sale of railcars owned more than one year at the time of sale	60.6	33.6	154.3
Proceeds from lease fleet sales - sale and leaseback	44.4		103.6
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant, equipment, and other assets	11.2	38.9	15.1
Proceeds from disposition of flood-damaged property, plant, and equipment	23.3	12.0
Capital expenditures - leasing, net of railcars owned one year or less at the time of sale	(258.6)	(213.8)	(343.0)
Capital expenditures - manufacturing and other	(52.0)	(29.0)	(47.4)
Capital expenditures - replacement of flood-damaged property, plant, and equipment	(29.4)	(12.0)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(42.5)	(49.9)
Net cash required by investing activities	(85.0)	(308.2)	(187.4)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net	2.1	1.7	1.1
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	3.2	0.6
Payments to retire debt - assumed debt of Quixote		(40.0)
Payments to retire debt - other	(1,113.0)	(363.9)	(294.0)
Proceeds from issuance of debt	1,145.9	363.5	281.1
Stock repurchases			(6.3)
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	(33.2)	(25.4)	(26.5)
Purchase of additional interest in TRIP Holdings		(28.6)
Dividends paid to common shareholders	(27.2)	(25.4)	(25.3)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest		(2.6)
Net cash (required) provided by financing activities	(22.2)	(120.1)	(69.9)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(2.9)	(257.8)	450.0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	354.0	611.8	161.8
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 351.1	$ 354.0	$ 611.8