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Retirement Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 contract | Sep. 30, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of retirement plans |  |  | 5 |
Defined Benefit Plan Number |  |  | 3 |
Active Defined Benefit Plan Number |  |  | 1 |
Inactive Defined Benefit Plan Number |  |  | 2 |
Defined Contribution Plan Number |  |  | 2 |
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized | $ 585 | $ 715 | $ 1,769 | $ 2,017
Salaried Benefit Plan [Member] |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Description of Postemployment Benefits |  |  | The Company has a domestic defined contribution plan that covers all non-union hourly and all salaried employees (Salaried Plan). The Salaried Plan permits both pre-tax and after-tax employee contributions. Participants can contribute, subject to statutory limitations, between 1% and 75% of eligible pre-tax pay and between 1% and 100% of eligible after-tax pay. The Company's employer match is 100% of the first 1% of deferred eligible compensation and up to 50% of the next 6%, based on years of service, of deferred eligible compensation, for a total maximum potential match of 4%. The Company may also make discretionary contributions to the Salaried Plan. |
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized | 478 | 599 | 1,422 | 1,674
Union Benefit Plan [Member] |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Description of Postemployment Benefits |  |  | The Company also has a domestic defined contribution plan for union hourly employees with contributions made by both the participants and the Company based on various formulas (Union Plan). |
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized | 18 | 23 | 53 | 59
Canadian Employees [Member] |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Defined Contribution Plan Number |  |  | 2 |
Description of Postemployment Benefits |  |  | Rail Technologies, maintains a defined contribution plan covering all non-union employees at its Montreal, Quebec, Canada location (Montreal Plan). Under the terms of the Montreal Plan, the employer may contribute 4% of each employee's compensation as a non-elective contribution and may also contribute 30% of the first 6% of each employee's compensation contributed to the Montreal Plan. |
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized | 28 | 30 | 88 | 89
United Kingdom Benefit Plans [Member] |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Gain (Loss) | (57) | (58) | (171) | (165)
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year |  |  | 264 |
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer |  |  | 191 |
Description of Postemployment Benefits |  |  | The subsidiary also maintains a defined contribution plan covering substantially all employees at its United Kingdom locations (U.K. Plan). Benefits under the U.K. Plan are provided under no formal written agreement. Under the terms of the defined contribution U.K. Plan, the employer may make non-elective contributions of between 3% and 10% of each employee's compensation. |
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized | 27 | 29 | 95 | 84
Burnaby Plan [Member] |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Description of Postemployment Benefits |  |  | Finally, Rail Technologies maintains a defined contribution plan covering substantially all of the employees of L.B. Foster Rail Technologies, Corp. in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (Burnaby Plan). Under the terms of the Burnaby Plan, the employer may contribute 4% of each employee's compensation as a non-elective contribution and may also contribute 30% of the first 6% of each employee's compensation contributed to the Burnaby Plan. |
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized | 34 | 34 | 111 | 111
United States Pension Plans of US Entity, Defined Benefit [Member] |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Gain (Loss) | (53) | (49) | (159) | (146)
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year |  |  | 555 |
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer |  |  | $ 332 |

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- Definition Number of active defined benefit plans offered by the company. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of defined benefit plans offered by the company. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of defined contribution plans offered by the company. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of inactive defined benefit plans offered by the company. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of retirement plans offered by the company. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of gain (loss) related to change in benefit obligation resulting from changes in actuarial assumptions, for example, but not limited to, interest, mortality, employee turnover, salary, and temporary deviation from the substantive plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 30 -Glossary Gain or Loss -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6514294 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 60 -Glossary Gain or Loss -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6749293 + Details
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- Definition The increase in the fair value of plan assets from contributions made by the employer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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- Definition Amount of employer's best estimate of contributions expected to be paid to the plan during the next fiscal year beginning after the date of the latest statement of financial position. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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- Definition The amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 70 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414718&loc=d3e28014-114942 + Details
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- Definition Description of benefits provided to former or inactive employees, their beneficiaries, and covered dependents after employment but before retirement, except for: a) benefits provided through a pension or postretirement benefit plan, b) individual deferred compensation arrangements, c) termination benefits pertaining to exit or disposal activities, and d) stock compensation plans. Benefits may be provided in cash or in kind and may be paid as a result of disability, layoff, death, or other event. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 712 -SubTopic 10 -Section 15 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6410066&loc=d3e79194-111664 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Nonretirement Postemployment Benefits -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6518940 + Details
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