Property, Plant, and Equipment (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Components of property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant and equipment of TRIP Holdings	$ 5,407.9	$ 5,202.2
Less accumulated depreciation, including TRIP Holdings of $122.7 and $90.3	(1,228.4)	(1,090.2)
Property plant and equipment net before adjustment to Net deferred profit	4,711.0	4,648.6
Property, plant and equipment, total	4,179.5	4,112.0
TRIP Holdings [Member]
Components of property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant and equipment of TRIP Holdings	1,257.7	1,282.1
Less accumulated depreciation, including TRIP Holdings of $122.7 and $90.3	(122.7)	(90.3)
Manufacturing/Corporate [Member]
Components of property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant and equipment of TRIP Holdings	1,242.8	1,168.7
Less accumulated depreciation, including TRIP Holdings of $122.7 and $90.3	(732.8)	(677.3)
Property plant and equipment net before adjustment to Net deferred profit	510.0	491.4
Property, plant and equipment, total	510.0	491.4
Leasing Group [Member] | TRIP Holdings [Member]
Components of property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant and equipment of TRIP Holdings	1,257.7	1,282.1
Less accumulated depreciation, including TRIP Holdings of $122.7 and $90.3	(122.7)	(90.3)
Property plant and equipment net before adjustment to Net deferred profit	1,135.0	1,191.8
Net deferred profit on railcars sold to the Leasing Group	(187.0)	(196.2)
Property, plant and equipment, total	948.0	995.6
Leasing Group [Member] | Wholly Owned Subsidiaries [Member]
Components of property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant and equipment of TRIP Holdings	3,438.9	3,288.0
Less accumulated depreciation, including TRIP Holdings of $122.7 and $90.3	(372.9)	(322.6)
Property plant and equipment net before adjustment to Net deferred profit	3,066.0	2,965.4
Net deferred profit on railcars sold to the Leasing Group	(344.5)	(340.4)
Property, plant and equipment, total	2,721.5	2,625.0
Land [Member] | Manufacturing/Corporate [Member]
Components of property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant and equipment of TRIP Holdings	41.6	40.9
Buildings and improvements [Member] | Manufacturing/Corporate [Member]
Components of property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant and equipment of TRIP Holdings	429.7	418.4
Machinery and other [Member] | Manufacturing/Corporate [Member]
Components of property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant and equipment of TRIP Holdings	758.7	699.7
Machinery and other [Member] | Leasing Group [Member] | Wholly Owned Subsidiaries [Member]
Components of property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant and equipment of TRIP Holdings	9.6	38.2
Construction in progress [Member] | Manufacturing/Corporate [Member]
Components of property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant and equipment of TRIP Holdings	12.8	9.7
Equipment on lease [Member] | Leasing Group [Member] | Wholly Owned Subsidiaries [Member]
Components of property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant and equipment of TRIP Holdings	$ 3,429.3	$ 3,249.8