FreightCar America (RAIL) 10-Q 4 May 17 2017 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Apr. 28, 2017
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,017
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2017
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Central Index Key	1,320,854
Entity Registrant Name	FREIGHTCAR AMERICA, INC.
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		12,420,331

Condensed Consolidated Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 98,067	$ 92,750
Restricted certificates of deposit	5,720	5,970
Marketable securities	10,996	0
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $28 and $22, respectively	22,167	25,207
Inventories, net	77,501	97,904
Income taxes receivable	13,286	13,283
Other current assets	15,929	6,056
Total current assets	243,666	241,170
Property, plant and equipment, net	44,405	46,347
Railcars available for lease, net	23,962	24,018
Goodwill	21,521	21,521
Deferred income taxes, net	3,798	4,221
Other long-term assets	1,968	1,978
Total assets	339,320	339,255
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Accounts and contractual payables	33,302	34,536
Accrued payroll and other employee costs	4,215	3,117
Reserve for workers' compensation	4,187	4,444
Accrued warranty	8,591	8,324
Customer deposits and deferred revenue	645	371
Other current liabilities	3,520	3,343
Total current liabilities	54,460	54,135
Accrued pension costs	6,895	6,821
Accrued postretirement benefits, less current portion	5,852	5,769
Deferred income state and local incentives, long-term	10,825	11,380
Accrued taxes and other long-term liabilities	4,625	4,236
Total liabilities	82,657	82,341
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 2,500,000 shares authorized (100,000 shares each designated as Series A voting and Series B non-voting, 0 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016)
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 12,731,678 shares issued at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016	127	127
Additional paid in capital	90,499	92,025
Treasury stock, at cost, 311,347 and 351,746 shares at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	(12,642)	(14,583)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(8,135)	(8,163)
Retained earnings	186,814	187,508
Total stockholders' equity	256,663	256,914
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 339,320	$ 339,255

Condensed Consolidated Balance3

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 28	$ 22
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	2,500,000	2,500,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	12,731,678	12,731,678
Treasury stock, shares at cost	311,347	351,746
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, shares authorized	100,000	100,000
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, shares authorized	100,000	100,000

Condensed Consolidated Statemen

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 139,536	$ 148,590
Cost of sales	129,646	132,703
Gross profit	9,890	15,887
Selling, general and administrative expenses	7,011	10,598
Gain on settlement of postretirement benefit obligation, net of plaintiffs' attorneys' fees		(14,306)
Restructuring and impairment charges	1,777
Operating income	1,102	19,595
Interest expense and deferred financing costs	(42)	(45)
Other income	18	81
Income before income taxes	1,078	19,631
Income tax provision	440	6,964
Net income	$ 638	$ 12,667
Net income per common share - basic	$ 0.05	$ 1.03
Net income per common share - diluted	$ 0.05	$ 1.03
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	12,269,555	12,252,131
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	12,269,555	12,252,131
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.09	$ 0.09

Condensed Consolidated Stateme5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Net income	$ 638	$ 12,667
Other comprehensive income:
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax	77	81
Postretirement liability adjustments, net of tax	(49)	12,972
Other comprehensive income	28	13,053
Comprehensive income	$ 666	$ 25,720

Condensed Consolidated Stateme6

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid In Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 127	$ 93,939	$ (17,516)	$ (21,078)	$ 179,639	$ 235,111
Balance (Shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	12,731,678		(402,166)
Net income					12,667	12,667
Other comprehensive income				13,053		13,053
Restricted stock awards		(2,235)	$ 2,235
Restricted stock awards, shares			51,764
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards		278	$ (278)
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards, shares			(15,634)
Employee stock settlement			$ (70)			(70)
Employee stock settlement, shares			(3,765)
Stock-based compensation recognized		229				229
Cash dividends					(1,111)	(1,111)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2016	$ 127	92,211	$ (15,629)	(8,025)	191,195	259,879
Balance (Shares) at Mar. 31, 2016	12,731,678		(369,801)
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2016-09		215			(215)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 127	92,025	$ (14,583)	(8,163)	187,508	256,914
Balance (Shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	12,731,678		(351,746)
Net income					638	638
Other comprehensive income				28		28
Restricted stock awards		(2,097)	$ 2,097
Restricted stock awards, shares			50,983
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards		142	$ (142)
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards, shares			(9,585)
Employee stock settlement			$ (14)			(14)
Employee stock settlement, shares			(999)
Stock-based compensation recognized		214				214
Cash dividends					(1,117)	(1,117)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2017	$ 127	$ 90,499	$ (12,642)	$ (8,135)	$ 186,814	$ 256,663
Balance (Shares) at Mar. 31, 2017	12,731,678		(311,347)

Condensed Consolidated Stateme7

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 638	$ 12,667
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	2,337	2,619
Recognition of deferred income from state and local incentives	(555)	(532)
Gain on settlement of postretirement benefit plan obligation		(15,606)
Deferred income taxes	408	16,149
Stock-based compensation recognized	214	229
Other non-cash items, net	84	334
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	1,630	21,387
Inventories	20,101	(21,353)
Other assets	(9,872)	(3,152)
Accounts and contractual payables	(1,170)	5,431
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	1,098	(3,976)
Income taxes receivable/payable	48	(6,277)
Accrued warranty	267	385
Customer deposits and other liabilities	547	12,649
Payment for settlement of postretirement benefit plan obligation		(31,616)
Accrued pension costs and accrued postretirement benefits	185	(6,283)
Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:	15,960	(16,945)
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of restricted certificates of deposit	(4,668)	(1,182)
Maturity of restricted certificates of deposit	4,918	2,910
Purchase of securities held to maturity	(10,995)
Proceeds from maturity of securities		6,000
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(296)	(2,447)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	119
State and local incentives received	1,410
Net cash flows (used in) provided by investing activities:	(9,512)	5,281
Cash flows from financing activities
Employee stock settlement	(14)	(70)
Cash dividends paid to stockholders	(1,117)	(1,111)
Net cash flows used in financing activities:	(1,131)	(1,181)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	5,317	(12,845)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	92,750	83,068
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	98,067	70,223
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid	$ 23	15
Income taxes paid		$ 4,170

Description of the Business

Description of the Business	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Description of the Business [Abstract]
Description of the Business	Note 1 – Description of the Business  FreightCar America, Inc. (“FreightCar”) operates primarily in North America through its direct and indirect subsidiaries, JAC Operations, Inc., Johnstown America, LLC, Freight Car Services, Inc., JAIX Leasing Company (“JAIX”), FreightCar Roanoke, LLC, FreightCar Mauritius Ltd. (“Mauritius”), FreightCar Rail Services, LLC (“FCRS”), FreightCar Short Line, Inc. (“FCSL”), FreightCar Alabama, LLC and FreightCar (Shanghai) Trading Co., Ltd. (herein collectively referred to as the “Company”), and manufactures a wide range of railroad freight cars, supplies railcar parts and leases freight cars. The Company designs and builds high-quality railcars, including coal cars, bulk commodity cars, covered hopper cars, intermodal and non-intermodal flat cars, mill gondola cars, coil steel cars and boxcars. The Company is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and has facilities in the following locations: Cherokee, Alabama; Danville, Illinois; Grand Island, Nebraska; Johnstown, Pennsylvania; Roanoke, Virginia; and Shanghai, People’s Republic of China.  The Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries are all Delaware corporations or Delaware limited liability companies except Mauritius, which is incorporated in Mauritius, and FreightCar (Shanghai) Trading Co., Ltd., which is organized in the People’s Republic of China. The Company’s direct and indirect subsidiaries are all wholly owned.

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Note 2 – Basis of Presentation  The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of FreightCar America, Inc. and subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The foregoing financial information has been prepared in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for interim financial reporting. The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The accompanying interim financial information is unaudited; however, the Company believes the financial information reflects all adjustments (consisting of items of a normal recurring nature) necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with GAAP. The 2016 year-end balance sheet data was derived from the audited financial statements as of December 31, 2016. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the Company’s annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Recent Accounting Pronouncement

Recent Accounting Pronouncements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Note 3 – Recent Accounting Pronouncements  In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The ASU does not change how benefit costs are measured but changes where the components of net periodic benefit cost are reported within the income statement. Under ASU 2017-07, the service component of net periodic benefit cost will be included with other employee compensation costs within income from operations and other components of net periodic benefit cost will be presented separately (in one or more line items) outside of income from operations. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on its financial statements.  In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. Topic 350 currently requires an entity to perform a two-step test to determine the amount, if any, of goodwill impairment. The amendment in ASU 2017-04 removes the second step of the test. An entity will apply a one-step quantitative test and record the amount of goodwill impairment as the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. This standard is effective for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) Restricted Cash . The ASU requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. As a result restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents will be included in beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows and changes in restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents will no longer be included in cash flows from investing activities. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on its financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, to simplify the accounting for stock compensation. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2017 and, on a prospective basis, all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies related to share-based payments are recognized as income tax expense or benefit rather than additional paid-in capital and are classified as operating activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows. Excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies are considered discrete items in the reporting period during which they occur and are not included in the estimate of the Company’s annual effective tax rate. Additionally, excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies are prospectively excluded from the assumed proceeds in the calculation of diluted shares. As permitted by ASU 2016-09, the Company elected to account for forfeitures as they occur, rather than continuing to estimate expected forfeitures. This election was applied using a modified retrospective transition method whereby the cumulative effect of the change as of January 1, 2017 was recorded as a decrease of $215 to retained earnings and an increase of $215 to additional paid in capital. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires a lessee to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term greater than twelve months regardless of whether the lease is classified as an operating lease or a financing lease. Leases with a term of twelve months or less will be accounted for in a similar manner to existing guidance for operating leases. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. Entities are required to use a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows. In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330), which requires entities to measure most inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value, thereby simplifying the current guidance under which an entity must measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. Under ASU 2015-11, inventory is measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value, which eliminates the need to determine replacement cost and evaluate whether it is above the ceiling (net realizable value) or below the floor (net realizable value less normal profit margin). ASU 2015-11 defines net realizable value as the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. The adoption of this standard during the first quarter of 2017 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , which was further clarified in March 2016. The ASU outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most prior revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The ASU is based on the principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to fulfill a contract. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach for the adoption of the new standard. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 is permitted. The Company plans to adopt ASU 2014-09 effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method of adoption. Under this method, the guidance will be applied only to the most current period presented in the financial statements and the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard will result in an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as of the date of adoption. The Company continues to evaluate the requirements of the standard and its impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures. The Company expects revenue recognition policies to remain substantially unchanged as a result of adopting ASU 2014-09, although this could change based on the Company’s continued evaluation. 

Segment Information

Segment Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Segment Information [Abstract]
Segment Information	Note 4 – Segment Information     The Company’s operations comprise two operating segments, Manufacturing and Parts, and one reportable segment, Manufacturing. The Company’s Manufacturing segment includes new railcar manufacturing, used railcar sales, railcar leasing and major railcar rebuilds. The Company’s Parts operating segment is not significant for reporting purposes and has been combined with corporate and other non-operating activities as Corporate and Other.  Segment operating income is an internal performance measure used by the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker to assess the performance of each segment in a given period. Segment operating income includes all external revenues attributable to the segments as well as operating costs and income that management believes are directly attributable to the current production of goods and services. The Company’s management reporting package does not include interest revenue, interest expense or income taxes allocated to individual segments and these items are not considered as a component of segment operating income. Segment assets represent operating assets and exclude intersegment accounts, deferred tax assets and income tax receivables. The Company does not allocate cash and cash equivalents to its operating segments as the Company’s treasury function is managed at the corporate level. Intersegment revenues were not material in any period presented.         Three Months Ended  March 31,  2017 2016  Revenues:  Manufacturing $ 137,740 $ 146,071  Corporate and Other 1,796 2,519  Consolidated Revenues $ 139,536 $ 148,590  Operating Income:  Manufacturing $ 7,249 $ 12,782  Corporate and Other (1) (6,147) 6,813  Consolidated Operating Income 1,102 19,595  Consolidated interest expense and deferred financing costs (42) (45)  Consolidated other income 18 81  Consolidated Income Before Income Taxes $ 1,078 $ 19,631  Depreciation and Amortization:  Manufacturing $ 2,157 $ 2,106  Corporate and Other 180 513  Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization $ 2,337 $ 2,619  Capital Expenditures:  Manufacturing $ 312 $ 2,376  Corporate and Other (16) 71  Consolidated Capital Expenditures $ 296 $ 2,447      March 31, December 31,  2017 2016  Assets:  Manufacturing $ 194,100 $ 211,043  Corporate and Other 128,136 110,708  Total Operating Assets 322,236 321,751  Consolidated income taxes receivable 13,286 13,283  Consolidated deferred income taxes, long-term 3,798 4,221  Consolidated Assets $ 339,320 $ 339,255  (1) Results for the three months ended March 31, 2016 included a $14,306 gain on the settlement of a postretirement benefit plan obligation, net of plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees (see Note 11). 

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	Note 5 – Fair Value Measurements  The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company’s financial assets that were recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.       Recurring Fair Value Measurements As of March 31, 2017  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total  ASSETS:  Cash equivalents $ 20,172 $ - $ - $ 20,172  Restricted certificates of deposit $ 5,720 $ - $ - $ 5,720  Escrow receivable $ - $ - $ 1,910 $ 1,910        Recurring Fair Value Measurements As of December 31, 2016  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total  ASSETS:  Cash equivalents $ 15,156 $ - $ - $ 15,156  Restricted certificates of deposit $ 5,970 $ - $ - $ 5,970  Escrow receivable $ - $ - $ 1,910 $ 1,910  The sale of the Company’s railcar repair and maintenance services business on September 30, 2015 resulted in $1,960 of the aggregate purchase price being placed into escrow in order to secure the indemnification obligations of FCRS and FCSL. The fair market value of the escrow receivable above represents the $1,960 escrow balance, net of the fair value of the indemnification obligations, which was estimated using the discounted probability-weighted cash flow method . The carrying value of property, plant and equipment at the Company’s Johnstown, Pennsylvania administrative facility was reduced to its estimated fair market value during the third quarter of 2016, resulting in a non-cash impairment charge of $1,255 . Fair market value was estimated using the market approach using market data such as recent sales of comparable assets in active markets and estimated salvage values. The proceeds from sale of the facility during the first quarter of 2017 and the resulting gain on sale were not material. No non-financial assets were recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of March 31, 2017.

Marketable Securities

Marketable Securities	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Marketable Securities [Abstract]
Marketable Securities	Note 6 – Marketable Securities  The Company’s current investment policy is to invest in cash, certificates of deposit, U.S. T reasury securities, U.S. government agency obligations and money market funds invested in U.S. government securities. Marketable securities as of March 31, 2017 of $10,996 consisted of U.S. T reasury securities held to maturity and certificates of deposit with original maturities of greater than 90 days and up to one year. Due to the short-term nature of these securities and their low interest rates, there is no material difference between their fair market values and amortized costs. The Company owned no marketable securities as of December 31, 2016.

Inventories

Inventories	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Inventories [Abstract]
Inventories	Note 7 – Inventories  Inventories, net of reserve for excess and obsolete items, consist of the following:       March 31, December 31,  2017 2016   Work in process $ 74,019 $ 83,576  Finished new railcars 919 11,858  Parts inventory 2,563 2,470  Total inventories, net $ 77,501 $ 97,904 Inventory on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets includes reserves of $4,489 and $4,307 relating to excess or slow-moving inventory for parts and work in process at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Revolving Credit Facility [Abstract]
Revolving Credit Facility	Note 8 – Revolving Credit Facility On June 13, 2016, the Company entered into a First Amendment to Credit Agreement (the “First Amendment”) by and among FreightCar and certain of its subsidiaries, as borrowers and guarantors (together, the “Borrowers”), and Bank of America, N.A., as lender, administrative agent, swingline lender and letter of credit issuer (the “Bank”). The First Amendment amended the Credit Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2013 (the “Original Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrowers and the Bank in order to, among other things: (1) extend the term of the Original Credit Agreement to July 26, 2019 ; and (2) replace the negative covenant requiring a minimum consolidated net liquidity of $35,000 with a negative covenant requiring a maximum consolidated net leverage ratio of 2.50 :1.00. The Original Credit Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment (the “Credit Agreement”), contains a $50,000 senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) and a sub-facility for letters of credit not to exceed the lesser of $30,000 and the amount of the senior secured revolving credit facility at such time. The Revolving Credit Facility can be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital. Under the Credit Agreement, revolving loans outstanding will bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus an applicable margin of between 1.25% and 1.75% depending on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio or at a base rate, as selected by the Company. Base rate loans will bear interest at the highest of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50% , (b) the prime rate or (c) LIBOR plus 1.00% . The Company is required to pay a non-utilization fee of between 0.10% and 0.25% on the unused portion of the revolving loan commitment depending on the Company’s quarterly average balance of unrestricted cash and the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility are secured by a first priority perfected security interest in substantially all of the Borrowers’ assets excluding railcars held by the Company’s railcar leasing subsidiary, JAIX. The Borrowers also have pledged all of the equity interests in the Company’s direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries as security for the Revolving Credit Facility. The Credit Agreement has both affirmative and negative covenants, including, without limitation, the maximum consolidated net leverage ratio requirement and limitations on indebtedness, liens and investments. The Credit Agreement also provides for customary events of default. As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had no borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had $5,720 in outstanding letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility and therefore had $44,280 available for borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility. 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Note 9 – Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) The changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consist of the following:      Pre-Tax Tax After-Tax  Three months ended March 31, 2017  Pension liability activity:  Reclassification adjustment for amortization of net loss (pre-tax cost of sales of $129 and selling, general and administrative expenses of $ (10) ) $ 119 $ 42 $ 77  Postretirement liability activity:  Reclassification adjustment for amortization of net gain (pre-tax cost of sales of $(2 ) and selling, general and administrative expenses of $(78 )) (80) (28) (52)  Reclassification adjustment for amortization of prior service cost (pre-tax cost of selling, general and administrative expenses of $4 ) 4 1 3  $ 43 $ 15 $ 28                  Pre-Tax Tax After-Tax  Three months ended March 31, 2016  Pension liability activity:  Reclassification adjustment for amortization of net loss (pre-tax cost of sales of $(10) and selling, general and administrative expenses of $135 ) $ 125 $ 44 $ 81  Postretirement liability activity:  Actuarial loss (1,689) (594) (1,095)  Settlement gain 37,190 13,076 24,114  Reclassification adjustment for settlement income (pre-tax gain on settlement of postretirement benefit plan obligations) (15,606) (5,487) (10,119)  Reclassification adjustment for amortization of net loss (pre-tax cost of sales of $96 and selling, general and administrative expenses of $12 ) 108 39 69  Reclassification adjustment for amortization of prior service cost (pre-tax cost of sales of $4 ) 4 1 3  $ 20,132 $ 7,079 $ 13,053     The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss consist of the following:    March 31, December 31,  2017 2016  Unrecognized pension cost, net of tax of $6,363 and $6,405 $ (10,364) $ (10,441)  Unrecognized postretirement income, net of tax of $597 and $623 2,229 2,278  $ (8,135) $ (8,163)  

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Stock-Based Compensation	Note 10 – Stock-Based Compensation  In each of January 2015, 2016 and 2017, the Company granted performance shares with performance measurement periods of three calendar years. The shares will vest and be earned at the end of each performance measurement period, if at all, based on the Company’s three-year cumulative basic earnings per share, provided that a minimum three-year average return on invested capital goal is also met or exceeded. The earnings per share thresholds and return on invested capital goals were established by the Company’s board of directors on the grant dates. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation cost for performance shares over the vesting period based on the fair market value of the Company’s stock on the award date multiplied by the estimated number of shares to be awarded based on the probable outcome of the performance conditions.  Total stock-based compensation was $214 and $219 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. As of March 31, 2017, there was $1,446 of unearned compensation expense related to restricted stock awards, which will be recognized over the remaining requisite service period of 3 5 months.

Employee Benefit Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]
Employee Benefit Plans	Note 11 – Employee Benefit Plans  The Company has qualified, defined benefit pension plans that were established to provide benefits to certain employees. These plans are frozen and participants are no longer accruing benefits. Generally, contributions to the plans are not less than the minimum amounts required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and not more than the maximum amount that can be deducted for federal income tax purposes. The plans’ assets are held by independent trustees and consist primarily of equity and fixed income securities.  The Company also historically provided certain postretirement health care benefits for certain of its salaried and hourly retired employees. Generally, employees may become eligible for health care benefits if they retire after attaining specified age and service requirements. These benefits are subject to deductibles, co-payment provisions and other limitations.  On March 25, 2016, the Company made a cash payment of $31,616 (including $166 of interest) to settle disputed retiree medical and life insurance benefits for hourly retirees of the Company’s Johnstown manufacturing facility. The settlement resulted in a pre-tax gain of $14,306 (net of plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees of $1,300 ) and a reduction in the postretirement benefit obligation of approximately $68,806 as of March 25, 2016. Additionally, as a result of the cost reducti on programs initiated in August 2016 and January 2017 (see Note 14), certain employees participating in the salaried pension and postretirement benefit plans were impacted, which triggered a curtailment of the respective plans.  As of January 1, 2017, the Company changed the method it used to estimate the service and interest components of net periodic benefit cost for postretirement benefits and the interest component for pension benefits. Historically, the Company estimated these service and interest cost components utilizing a single weighted-average discount rate derived from the yield curve used to measure the benefit obligation at the beginning of the period. The Company has elected to utilize a full yield curve approach in estimating these components by applying the specific spot rates along the yield curve used in determining the benefit obligation to the relevant projected cash flows. The Company made this change to provide a more precise measurement of service and interest costs by improving the correlation between projected benefit cash flows and the corresponding spot yield curve rates. This change will not affect the measurement of the Company’s total benefit obligation at the Company’s annual measurement date, as the refinement compared to the previous method result s in a decrease in the service cost and interest components of net periodic benefit cost with an equal offset to actuarial gains (losses) with no net impact on the total benefit obligation. The refinement did not have a material impact on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2017 or the c ondensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017. This change is accounted for prospectively as a change in accounting estimate.  The components of net periodic benefit cost (benefit) for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, are as follows:      Three Months Ended  March 31,  Pension Benefits 2017 2016  Interest cost $ 446 $ 582  Expected return on plan assets (642) (686)  Amortization of unrecognized net loss 119 125  Plan curtailment and special termination benefits 270 -  $ 193 $ 21      Three Months Ended  March 31,  Postretirement Benefit Plan 2017 2016  Service cost $ 12 $ 15  Interest cost 50 738  Settlement income - (15,606)  Amortization of prior service cost 4 4  Amortization of unrecognized net (gain) loss (80) 108  Plan curtailment and special termination benefits 150 -  $ 136 $ (14,741)   The Company made no contributions to the Company’s defined benefit pension plans for each of the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. The Company expects to make no contributions to its pension plans in 2017.  The Company made contributions to the Company’s postretirement benefit plan for salaried retirees of $128 and $112 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Company expects to make $40 3 in contributions (including contributions already made) to its postretirement benefit plan in 2017 for salaried retirees. As a result of the settlement payment described above, the Company had no further postretirement benefit obligation for hourly retirees after March 25, 2016.  The Company also maintains qualified defined contribution plans, which provide benefits to employees based on employee contributions, employee earnings or certain subsidiary earnings, with discretionary contributions allowed. Expenses related to these plans were $620 and $686 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Contingencies

Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Contingencies [Abstract]
Contingencies	Note 12 – Contingencies  The Company is involved in various warranty and repair claims and, in certain cases, related pending and threatened legal proceedings with its customers in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, the Company’s potential losses in excess of the accrued warranty and legal provisions, if any, are not expected to be material to the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.  The Company received cash payments of $15,733 and $1 ,410 during 2015 and 2017 , respectively, for Alabama state and local incentives related to its capital investment and employment levels at its Cherokee, Alabama (“Shoals”) facility . Under the incentive agreements a certain portion of the incentives may be repayable by the Company if targeted levels of employment are not maintained for a period of six years from the date of the incentive. The Company’s level of employment at its Shoals facility currently exceeds and is expected to continue to exceed the minimum targeted levels of employment. In the event that any portion of the incentives is required to be paid back, the amount is unlikely to exceed the deferred liability balance as of March 31, 2017.  On April 17, 2015 and September 30, 2015, National Steel Car Limited (“NSC”) filed Complaints for Patent Infringement against the Company in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Eastern Division) in Chicago, Illinois. The complaints assert five United States patents against certain aggregate gondola freight cars sold to certain customers. The complaints seek injunctive relief and an unspecified amount of damages. The Court consolidated both cases on November 12, 2015. On January 29, 2016, NSC filed an amended complaint, alleging that 18 offers to sell made by the Company also infringed NSC’s patents. The Company filed its answer to NSC’s amended complaint on February 16, 2016, responding to NSC’s newly raised allegations and adding new affirmative defenses as well as counterclaims for non-infringement and invalidity. The Company also filed inter partes review (“IPR”) petitions in March 2016 with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) for two of the five asserted patents. In June 2015, the parties began conducting the first phase of fact discovery, which concluded on August 9, 2016. In September 2016, the PTAB granted the IPR petitions and instituted trials on all asserted claims for both patents. Both trials are expected to conclude on or before September 30, 2017. On October 5, 2016, the Company filed a motion to stay the district court litigation in order to allow the IPR trials to run their course, which the district court denied. A claim construction hearing before the district court took place on January 31, 2017. The Company believes that the complaints are without merit and intends to vigorously defend against the allegations. While the ultimate outcome of these proceedings cannot be determined at this time, it is the opinion of management that the resolution of these actions will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.  In addition to the foregoing, the Company is involved in certain other pending and threatened legal proceedings, including commercial disputes and workers’ compensation and employee matters arising out of the conduct of its business. While the ultimate outcome of these other legal proceedings cannot be determined at this time, it is the opinion of management that the resolution of these other actions will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	Note 13 – Earnings Per Share  Shares used in the computation of the Company’s basic and diluted earnings per common share are reconciled as follows:       Three Months Ended March 31,  2017 2016   Weighted average common shares outstanding 12,269,555 12,252,131  Dilutive effect of employee stock options and nonvested share awards - -  Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding 12,269,555 12,252,131    Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding include the incremental shares that would be issued upon the assumed exercise of stock options and the assumed vesting of nonvested share awards. For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, 517,448 and 595,722 shares, respectively, were not included in the weighted average common shares outstanding calculation as they were anti-dilutive.

Restructuring and Impairment Ch

Restructuring and Impairment Charges	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Restructuring and Impairment Charges [Abstract]
Restructuring and Impairment Charges	Note 14 – Restructuring and Impairment Charges  On August 1, 2016, the Company announced a cost reduction program whereby approximately 15% of the Company’s salaried administrative workforce would be eliminated, its Johnstown, Pennsylvania administrative facility would be closed and certain discretionary spending would be reduced. During the third and fourth quarters of 2016, the Company recorded restructuring and impairment charges of $2,261, which consisted primarily of non-cash impairment charges of $1,255 for property, plant and equipment at the Company’s Johnstown , Pennsylvania administrative facility and employee severance and other employment termination costs of $1,006 .  In the first quarter of 2017, in response to lower order trends in the industry, the Company announced further reductions to its salaried workforce , initiatives to reduce discretionary spending and the idling of the Company’s Danville, Illinois facility . In connection with the Company’s cost reduction program during 2017 , the Company recorded restructuring charges of $1,777 during the first quarter of 2017 , which are reported as a separate line item on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. These charges consisted primarily of e mployee severance and other employment termination costs and pension and postretirement benefit plan curtailment and special termination benefits. As of March 31, 2017, $1,012 of employee severance and other employment termination costs related to the 2016 and 2017 cost reduction programs remained outstanding.  

Basis of Presentation (Policy)

Basis of Presentation (Policy)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation [Policy Text Block]	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of FreightCar America, Inc. and subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The foregoing financial information has been prepared in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for interim financial reporting. The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The accompanying interim financial information is unaudited; however, the Company believes the financial information reflects all adjustments (consisting of items of a normal recurring nature) necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with GAAP. The 2016 year-end balance sheet data was derived from the audited financial statements as of December 31, 2016. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the Company’s annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Recent Accounting Pronounceme23

Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Policy)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Policy Text Block]	In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The ASU does not change how benefit costs are measured but changes where the components of net periodic benefit cost are reported within the income statement. Under ASU 2017-07, the service component of net periodic benefit cost will be included with other employee compensation costs within income from operations and other components of net periodic benefit cost will be presented separately (in one or more line items) outside of income from operations. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on its financial statements.  In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. Topic 350 currently requires an entity to perform a two-step test to determine the amount, if any, of goodwill impairment. The amendment in ASU 2017-04 removes the second step of the test. An entity will apply a one-step quantitative test and record the amount of goodwill impairment as the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. This standard is effective for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) Restricted Cash . The ASU requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. As a result restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents will be included in beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows and changes in restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents will no longer be included in cash flows from investing activities. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on its financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, to simplify the accounting for stock compensation. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2017 and, on a prospective basis, all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies related to share-based payments are recognized as income tax expense or benefit rather than additional paid-in capital and are classified as operating activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows. Excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies are considered discrete items in the reporting period during which they occur and are not included in the estimate of the Company’s annual effective tax rate. Additionally, excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies are prospectively excluded from the assumed proceeds in the calculation of diluted shares. As permitted by ASU 2016-09, the Company elected to account for forfeitures as they occur, rather than continuing to estimate expected forfeitures. This election was applied using a modified retrospective transition method whereby the cumulative effect of the change as of January 1, 2017 was recorded as a decrease of $215 to retained earnings and an increase of $215 to additional paid in capital. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires a lessee to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term greater than twelve months regardless of whether the lease is classified as an operating lease or a financing lease. Leases with a term of twelve months or less will be accounted for in a similar manner to existing guidance for operating leases. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. Entities are required to use a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows. In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330), which requires entities to measure most inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value, thereby simplifying the current guidance under which an entity must measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. Under ASU 2015-11, inventory is measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value, which eliminates the need to determine replacement cost and evaluate whether it is above the ceiling (net realizable value) or below the floor (net realizable value less normal profit margin). ASU 2015-11 defines net realizable value as the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. The adoption of this standard during the first quarter of 2017 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , which was further clarified in March 2016. The ASU outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most prior revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The ASU is based on the principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to fulfill a contract. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach for the adoption of the new standard. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 is permitted. The Company plans to adopt ASU 2014-09 effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method of adoption. Under this method, the guidance will be applied only to the most current period presented in the financial statements and the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard will result in an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as of the date of adoption. The Company continues to evaluate the requirements of the standard and its impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures. The Company expects revenue recognition policies to remain substantially unchanged as a result of adopting ASU 2014-09, although this could change based on the Company’s continued evaluation.

Segment Information (Policy)

Segment Information (Policy)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Segment Information [Abstract]
Segment Information [Policy]	The Company’s operations comprise two operating segments, Manufacturing and Parts, and one reportable segment, Manufacturing. The Company’s Manufacturing segment includes new railcar manufacturing, used railcar sales, railcar leasing and major railcar rebuilds. The Company’s Parts operating segment is not significant for reporting purposes and has been combined with corporate and other non-operating activities as Corporate and Other.  Segment operating income is an internal performance measure used by the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker to assess the performance of each segment in a given period. Segment operating income includes all external revenues attributable to the segments as well as operating costs and income that management believes are directly attributable to the current production of goods and services. The Company’s management reporting package does not include interest revenue, interest expense or income taxes allocated to individual segments and these items are not considered as a component of segment operating income. Segment assets represent operating assets and exclude intersegment accounts, deferred tax assets and income tax receivables. The Company does not allocate cash and cash equivalents to its operating segments as the Company’s treasury function is managed at the corporate level. Intersegment revenues were not material in any period presented.

Segment Information (Tables)

Segment Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Segment Information [Abstract]
Schedule of segment reporting information, by segment [Table Text Block]	   Three Months Ended  March 31,  2017 2016  Revenues:  Manufacturing $ 137,740 $ 146,071  Corporate and Other 1,796 2,519  Consolidated Revenues $ 139,536 $ 148,590  Operating Income:  Manufacturing $ 7,249 $ 12,782  Corporate and Other (1) (6,147) 6,813  Consolidated Operating Income 1,102 19,595  Consolidated interest expense and deferred financing costs (42) (45)  Consolidated other income 18 81  Consolidated Income Before Income Taxes $ 1,078 $ 19,631  Depreciation and Amortization:  Manufacturing $ 2,157 $ 2,106  Corporate and Other 180 513  Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization $ 2,337 $ 2,619  Capital Expenditures:  Manufacturing $ 312 $ 2,376  Corporate and Other (16) 71  Consolidated Capital Expenditures $ 296 $ 2,447 
Reconciliation of assets from segment to consolidated [Table Text Block]	  March 31, December 31,  2017 2016  Assets:  Manufacturing $ 194,100 $ 211,043  Corporate and Other 128,136 110,708  Total Operating Assets 322,236 321,751  Consolidated income taxes receivable 13,286 13,283  Consolidated deferred income taxes, long-term 3,798 4,221  Consolidated Assets $ 339,320 $ 339,255  (1) Results for the three months ended March 31, 2016 included a $14,306 gain on the settlement of a postretirement benefit plan obligation, net of plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees (see Note 11).

Fair Value Measurements (Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]	  Recurring Fair Value Measurements As of March 31, 2017  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total  ASSETS:  Cash equivalents $ 20,172 $ - $ - $ 20,172  Restricted certificates of deposit $ 5,720 $ - $ - $ 5,720  Escrow receivable $ - $ - $ 1,910 $ 1,910        Recurring Fair Value Measurements As of December 31, 2016  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total  ASSETS:  Cash equivalents $ 15,156 $ - $ - $ 15,156  Restricted certificates of deposit $ 5,970 $ - $ - $ 5,970  Escrow receivable $ - $ - $ 1,910 $ 1,910 

Inventories (Tables)

Inventories (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Inventories [Abstract]
Schedule of Inventory Current [Table Text Block]	   March 31, December 31,  2017 2016   Work in process $ 74,019 $ 83,576  Finished new railcars 919 11,858  Parts inventory 2,563 2,470  Total inventories, net $ 77,501 $ 97,904 

Accumulated Other Comprehensi28

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Schedule of changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Table Text Block]	 Pre-Tax Tax After-Tax  Three months ended March 31, 2017  Pension liability activity:  Reclassification adjustment for amortization of net loss (pre-tax cost of sales of $129 and selling, general and administrative expenses of $ (10) ) $ 119 $ 42 $ 77  Postretirement liability activity:  Reclassification adjustment for amortization of net gain (pre-tax cost of sales of $(2 ) and selling, general and administrative expenses of $(78 )) (80) (28) (52)  Reclassification adjustment for amortization of prior service cost (pre-tax cost of selling, general and administrative expenses of $4 ) 4 1 3  $ 43 $ 15 $ 28                  Pre-Tax Tax After-Tax  Three months ended March 31, 2016  Pension liability activity:  Reclassification adjustment for amortization of net loss (pre-tax cost of sales of $(10) and selling, general and administrative expenses of $135 ) $ 125 $ 44 $ 81  Postretirement liability activity:  Actuarial loss (1,689) (594) (1,095)  Settlement gain 37,190 13,076 24,114  Reclassification adjustment for settlement income (pre-tax gain on settlement of postretirement benefit plan obligations) (15,606) (5,487) (10,119)  Reclassification adjustment for amortization of net loss (pre-tax cost of sales of $96 and selling, general and administrative expenses of $12 ) 108 39 69  Reclassification adjustment for amortization of prior service cost (pre-tax cost of sales of $4 ) 4 1 3  $ 20,132 $ 7,079 $ 13,053 
Components of accumulated other comprehensive loss [Table Text Block]	  March 31, December 31,  2017 2016  Unrecognized pension cost, net of tax of $6,363 and $6,405 $ (10,364) $ (10,441)  Unrecognized postretirement income, net of tax of $597 and $623 2,229 2,278  $ (8,135) $ (8,163) 

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Table Text Block]	 Three Months Ended  March 31,  Pension Benefits 2017 2016  Interest cost $ 446 $ 582  Expected return on plan assets (642) (686)  Amortization of unrecognized net loss 119 125  Plan curtailment and special termination benefits 270 -  $ 193 $ 21      Three Months Ended  March 31,  Postretirement Benefit Plan 2017 2016  Service cost $ 12 $ 15  Interest cost 50 738  Settlement income - (15,606)  Amortization of prior service cost 4 4  Amortization of unrecognized net (gain) loss (80) 108  Plan curtailment and special termination benefits 150 -  $ 136 $ (14,741) 

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding [Table Text Block]	   Three Months Ended March 31,  2017 2016   Weighted average common shares outstanding 12,269,555 12,252,131  Dilutive effect of employee stock options and nonvested share awards - -  Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding 12,269,555 12,252,131 

Recent Accounting Pronounceme31

Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Additional Paid In Capital [Member]
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2016-09	$ 215
Retained Earnings [Member]
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2016-09	$ (215)

Segment Information (Narrative)

Segment Information (Narrative) (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017segment
Segment Information [Abstract]
Number of Operating Segments	2
Number of Reportable Segments	1

Segment Information (Schedule o

Segment Information (Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 25, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues			$ 139,536	$ 148,590
Operating income			1,102	19,595
Gain on settlement of postretirement benefit plan obligation, net of plaintiffs' attorneys' fees		$ 14,306		14,306
Consolidated interest expense and deferred financing costs			(42)	(45)
Consolidated other income			18	81
Consolidated income before income taxes			1,078	19,631
Depreciation and amortization			2,337	2,619
Capital expenditures			296	2,447
Manufacturing [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues			137,740	146,071
Operating income			7,249	12,782
Depreciation and amortization			2,157	2,106
Capital expenditures			312	2,376
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues			1,796	2,519
Operating income	[1]		(6,147)	6,813
Gain on settlement of postretirement benefit plan obligation, net of plaintiffs' attorneys' fees				14,306
Depreciation and amortization			180	513
Capital expenditures			$ (16)	$ 71
[1]	Results for the three months ended March 31, 2016 included a $14,306 gain on the settlement of a postretirement benefit plan obligation, net of plaintiffs' attorneys' fees (see Note 11).

Segment Information (Reconcilia

Segment Information (Reconciliation of Assets from Segment to Consolidated) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating assets	$ 322,236	$ 321,751
Consolidated income taxes receivable	13,286	13,283
Consolidated deferred income taxes, long-term	3,798	4,221
Total assets	339,320	339,255
Manufacturing [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating assets	194,100	211,043
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating assets	$ 128,136	$ 110,708

Fair Value Measurements (Fair V

Fair Value Measurements (Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2015
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash equivalents	$ 15,156		$ 20,172
Restricted certificates of deposit	5,970		5,720
Escrow receivable	1,910		1,910
Purchase price in escrow				$ 1,960
Asset impairment charge	1,255	$ 1,255
Non-financial assets measured on a non-recurring basis			0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash equivalents	15,156		20,172
Restricted certificates of deposit	5,970		5,720
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Escrow receivable	$ 1,910		$ 1,910

Marketable Securities (Details)

Marketable Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Held-to-maturity Securities, Current	$ 10,996	$ 0
Maximum [Member]
Marketable securities, original maturity	1 year
Minimum [Member]
Marketable securities, original maturity	90 days

Inventories (Narrative) (Detail

Inventories (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Inventories [Abstract]
Inventory valuation reserves	$ 4,489	$ 4,307

Inventories (Schedule of Invent

Inventories (Schedule of Inventory Current) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Inventories [Abstract]
Work in process	$ 74,019	$ 83,576
Finished new railcars	919	11,858
Parts inventory	2,563	2,470
Total inventories, net	$ 77,501	$ 97,904

Revolving Credit Facility (Narr

Revolving Credit Facility (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	Jun. 13, 2016USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Minimum net liquidity	$ 35,000
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity		$ 44,280	$ 44,280
Letter of Credit Sub-Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 30,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date		Jul. 26, 2019
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 50,000
Outstanding borrowings		$ 0	0
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate Description		rate of LIBOR plus an applicable margin of between 1.25% and 1.75% depending on the Company's consolidated leverage ratio or at a base rate, as selected by the Company. Base rate loans will bear interest at the highest of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (b) the prime rate or (c) LIBOR plus 1.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Collateral		Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility are secured by a first priority perfected security interest in substantially all of the Borrowers' assets excluding railcars held by the Company's railcar leasing subsidiary, JAIX. The Borrowers also have pledged all of the equity interests in the Company's direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries as security for the Revolving Credit Facility.
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Letter of Credit Sub-Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Outstanding borrowings		$ 5,720	$ 5,720
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Base Rate Loans [Member] | Federal Funds Rate [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		0.50%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Base Rate Loans [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		1.00%
Maximum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage		0.25%
Maximum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Revolving Loan Agreement [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		1.75%
Minimum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum net leverage ratio	2.50
Minimum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage		0.10%
Minimum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Revolving Loan Agreement [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		1.25%

Accumulated Other Comprehensi40

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Schedule of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Pension liability activity, reclassfication adjustment for amortization of net loss, before tax	$ 119	$ 125
Pension liability activity, reclassification adjustment for amortization of net loss, tax effect	42	44
Pension liability activity, reclassification adjustment for amortization of net loss, net of tax	77	81
Postretirement liability activity, actuarial loss, before tax		(1,689)
Postretirement liability activity, actuarial loss, tax effect		(594)
Postretirement liability activity, actuarial loss, net of tax		(1,095)
Postretirement liability activity, settlement gain, before tax		37,190
Postretirement liability activity, settlement gain, tax effect		13,076
Postretirement liability activity, settlement gain, net of tax		24,114
Postretirement liability activity, reclassification adjustment for settlement income, before tax		(15,606)
Postretirement liability activity, reclassification adjustment for settlement income, tax effect		(5,487)
Postretirement liability activity, reclassification adjustment for settlement income, net of tax		(10,119)
Postretirement liability activity, reclassification adjustment for amortization of net loss, before tax		108
Postretirement liability activity, reclassification adjustment for amortization of net loss, tax effect		39
Postretirement liability activity, reclassification adjustment for amortization of net loss, net of tax		69
Postretirement liability activity, reclassification adjustment for amortization of net gain, before tax	(80)
Postretirement liability activity, reclassification adjustment for amortization of net gain, tax effect	(28)
Postretirement liability activity, reclassification adjustment for amortization of net gain, net of tax	(52)
Postretirement liability activity, reclassification adjustment for amortization of prior service cost, before tax	4	4
Postretirement liability activity, reclassfication adjustment for amortization of prior service cost, tax effect	1	1
Postretirement liability activity, reclassification adjustment for amortization of prior service cost, net of tax	3	3
Pre-tax	43	20,132
Tax	15	7,079
Other comprehensive income	$ 28	$ 13,053

Accumulated Other Comprehensi41

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Unrecognized pension cost, net of tax	$ (10,364)	$ (10,441)
Unrecognized postretirement income, net of tax	2,229	2,278
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, total	(8,135)	(8,163)
Unrecognized pension cost, tax amount	6,363	6,405
Unrecognized postretirement income, tax amount	$ 597	$ 623

Accumulated Other Comprehensi42

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of sales	$ 129,646	$ 132,703
Selling, general and administrative expenses, pre-tax	7,011	10,598
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment, Amortization of Unrecognized Net Loss [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of sales	129	(10)
Selling, general and administrative expenses, pre-tax	(10)	135
Accumulated Postretirement Plans Adjustment, Amortization of Unrecognized Net Loss [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of sales		96
Selling, general and administrative expenses, pre-tax		12
Accumulated Postretirement Plans Adjustment Amortization of Unrecognized Net Gain [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of sales	(2)
Selling, general and administrative expenses, pre-tax	(78)
Accumulated Postretirement Plans Adjustment, Amortization of Prior Service Cost [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of sales		$ 4
Selling, general and administrative expenses, pre-tax	$ 4

Stock-Based Compensation (Narra

Stock-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Stock-based compensation	$ 214	$ 219
Unrecognized compensation expense	$ 1,446
Remaining requisite service period	35 months

Employee Benefit Plans (Narrati

Employee Benefit Plans (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 25, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Cash payment for settlement of postretirement benefit plan obligation	$ 31,616		$ 31,616
Postretirement benefit plan obligation settlement interest	166
Gain on settlement of postretirement benefit plan obligation, net of plaintiffs' attorneys' fees	14,306		14,306
Attorneys' fees	1,300
Reduction in postretirement benefit obligation	$ 68,806
Defined contribution plan expense recognized		$ 620	686
Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Employer contributions		0	0
Expected total contributions for current fiscal year		0
Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Employer contributions		128	$ 112
Expected total contributions for current fiscal year		$ 403

Employee Benefit Plans (Compone

Employee Benefit Plans (Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Settlement income		$ (15,606)
Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Interest cost	$ 446	582
Expected return on plan assets	(642)	(686)
Amortization of unrecognized net (gain) loss	119	125
Plan curtailment and special termination benefits	270
Net periodic (benefit) cost	193	21
Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Service cost	12	15
Interest cost	50	738
Settlement income		(15,606)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost	4	4
Amortization of unrecognized net (gain) loss	(80)	108
Plan curtailment and special termination benefits	150
Net periodic (benefit) cost	$ 136	$ (14,741)

Contingencies (Narrative) (Deta

Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2015
Contingencies [Abstract]
State and local incentives received	$ 1,410	$ 15,733

Earnings Per Share (Narrative)

Earnings Per Share (Narrative) (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Anti-dilutive common shares excluded from computation of earnings per share amount	517,448	595,722

Earnings Per Share (Weighted Av

Earnings Per Share (Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding) (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Weighted average common shares outstanding	12,269,555	12,252,131
Dilutive effect of employee stock options and nonvested share awards	0	0
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding	12,269,555	12,252,131

Restructuring and Impairment 49

Restructuring and Impairment Charges (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 01, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016
Restructuring and Impairment Charges [Abstract]
Percent of salaried workforce eliminated	15.00%
Restructuring and impairment charges		$ 1,777	$ 2,261	$ 2,261
Asset impairment charge			1,255	1,255
Severance costs			$ 1,006	$ 1,006
Employee severance and other employment termination costs		$ 1,012