Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenue External	$ 925.3	$ 634.2
Total Revenues	925.3	634.2
Operating Profit (Loss)	122.4	85.5
Rail Group [Member]
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenue External	341.2	131.0
Revenues Intersegment	125.9	88.8
Total Revenues	467.1	219.8
Operating Profit (Loss)	40.1	9.3
Construction Products Group [Member]
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenue External	149.6	130.1
Revenues Intersegment	5.4	3.5
Total Revenues	155.0	133.6
Operating Profit (Loss)	10.8	8.3
Inland Barge Group [Member]
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenue External	169.4	137.9
Total Revenues	169.4	137.9
Operating Profit (Loss)	30.0	21.7
Energy Equipment Group [Member]
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenue External	120.1	113.2
Revenues Intersegment	4.9	5.5
Total Revenues	125.0	118.7
Operating Profit (Loss)	(3.8)	10.5
Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group [Member]
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenue External	142.1	119.8
Revenues Intersegment	0.2
Total Revenues	142.3	119.8
Operating Profit (Loss)	66.5	54.7
All Other [Member]
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenue External	2.9	2.2
Revenues Intersegment	12.8	10.9
Total Revenues	15.7	13.1
Operating Profit (Loss)	1.2	(0.3)
Corporate [Member]
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Operating Profit (Loss)	(11.6)	(10.7)
Eliminations - Lease subsidiary [Member]
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues Intersegment	(122.6)	(85.4)
Total Revenues	(122.6)	(85.4)
Operating Profit (Loss)	(10.9)	(8.1)
Eliminations - Other [Member]
Financial Information from continuing operations for segments
Revenues Intersegment	(26.6)	(23.3)
Total Revenues	(26.6)	(23.3)
Operating Profit (Loss)	$ 0.1	$ 0.1