Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenue External									$ 3,075.1	$ 2,155.5	$ 2,420.9
Total Revenues	941.5	791.1	708.3	634.2	636.0	533.1	538.7	447.7	3,075.1	2,155.5	2,420.9
Total Operating Profit (Loss)	139.0	105.4	95.4	85.5	81.0	91.9	78.9	52.0	425.3	303.8	(30.9)
Total assets	6,121.0				5,760.0				6,121.0	5,760.0	4,656.4
Depreciation and amortization									192.9	189.6	160.8
Capital Expenditures									340.0	254.8	390.4
Rail Group [Member]
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenue External									931.7	289.7	485.2
Revenues Intersegment									343.0	232.4	410.1
Total Revenues									1,274.7	522.1	895.3
Total Operating Profit (Loss)									77.3	1.5	(355.9)
Total assets	684.6				482.9				684.6	482.9	450.7
Depreciation and amortization									23.9	24.0	25.0
Capital Expenditures									11.4	4.0	19.6
Construction Products Group [Member]
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenue External									577.2	558.3	524.0
Revenues Intersegment									12.9	20.5	14.5
Total Revenues									590.1	578.8	538.5
Total Operating Profit (Loss)									53.4	47.4	32.6
Total assets	403.2				335.2				403.2	335.2	277.3
Depreciation and amortization									20.7	23.7	23.5
Capital Expenditures									12.1	5.5	11.6
Inland Barge Group [Member]
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenue External									548.5	422.3	527.3
Total Revenues									548.5	422.3	527.3
Total Operating Profit (Loss)									106.4	69.0	125.2
Total assets	189.2				94.5				189.2	94.5	69.4
Depreciation and amortization									6.4	5.5	6.1
Capital Expenditures									38.0	14.6	1.3
Energy Equipment Group [Member]
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenue External									454.8	408.5	502.2
Revenues Intersegment									18.0	11.1	7.8
Total Revenues									472.8	419.6	510.0
Total Operating Profit (Loss)									8.9	35.1	73.8
Total assets	392.9				352.4				392.9	352.4	242.0
Depreciation and amortization									18.4	17.1	16.9
Capital Expenditures									10.4	8.1	9.1
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group [Member]
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenue External									551.4	464.5	370.2
Revenues Intersegment									0.6
Total Revenues									552.0	464.5	370.2
Total Operating Profit (Loss)									254.5	207.0	149.0
Total assets	4,462.1				4,452.6				4,462.1	4,452.6	3,167.3
Depreciation and amortization									115.7	112.6	82.4
Capital Expenditures									258.6	213.8	343.0
All Other [Member]
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenue External									11.5	12.2	12.0
Revenues Intersegment									50.3	36.3	36.4
Total Revenues									61.8	48.5	48.4
Total Operating Profit (Loss)									(3.8)	(11.4)	0.8
Total assets	30.5				27.5				30.5	27.5	27.6
Depreciation and amortization									4.4	3.6	3.1
Capital Expenditures									4.0	4.2	2.0
Corporate [Member]
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Total Operating Profit (Loss)									(43.6)	(33.8)	(30.8)
Total assets	512.9				538.5				512.9	538.5	753.1
Depreciation and amortization									3.6	3.4	4.2
Capital Expenditures									5.5	4.6	3.8
Eliminations - Lease subsidiary [Member]
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues Intersegment									(325.5)	(216.8)	(391.6)
Total Revenues									(325.5)	(216.8)	(391.6)
Total Operating Profit (Loss)									(28.3)	(8.4)	(22.6)
Total assets	440.3				(522.1)				440.3	(522.1)	(329.0)
Eliminations - Other [Member]
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues Intersegment									(99.3)	(83.5)	(77.2)
Total Revenues									(99.3)	(83.5)	(77.2)
Total Operating Profit (Loss)									0.5	(2.6)	(3.0)
Total assets	(114.1)				(1.5)				(114.1)	(1.5)	(2.0)
Depreciation and amortization									$ (0.2)	$ (0.3)	$ (0.4)