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Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Narratives) (Details) $ in Thousands | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) tie | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) tie | Dec. 31, 2013 tie | Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Product Liability Contingency |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued warranty | $ 10,154 | $ 8,682 | $ 10,154 |  |  |  |
Concrete ties manufactured | tie |  | 3,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Warranty period |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 years
Reserve for Concrete Ties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Product Liability Contingency |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued warranty | 7,574 | $ 7,595 | 7,574 |  |  |  |
Product warranty expense |  | $ 21 | 204 | $ 972 |  |  |
Warranty period |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years
Uprr |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Product Liability Contingency |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Concrete ties manufactured | tie |  | 1,600,000 |  |  |  |  |
Warranty period |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years
Warranty ratio |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1.5
Uprr | Reserve for Concrete Ties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Product Liability Contingency |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Product warranty expense |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 22,000
Litigation settlement, amount award to other party |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 12,000
Cure period to claim |  |  |  |  | 90 days |  |
Increase in warranty accrual |  |  |  |  | $ 8,766 |  |
Ties excluded from warranty | tie |  |  |  |  | 90,100 |  |
Two Thousand Five Contract |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Product Liability Contingency |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Concrete ties manufacturing ratio | tie |  | 1.5 |  |  |  |  |
Replacement period for ties post sale |  | 5 years |  |  |  |  |
Warranty Policy |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Product Liability Contingency |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Warranty period |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15 years
Warranty ratio |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Warranty Policy | Uprr |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Product Liability Contingency |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ties that did not meet warranty criteria | tie |  |  |  |  |  | 170,000 |
Collective Action Complaint |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Product Liability Contingency |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Litigation settlement, amount award to other party | $ 900 |  |  |  |  |  |
Litigation settlement expense |  | $ 797 | 900 |  |  |  |
Tubular and Energy Services |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Product Liability Contingency |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Product warranty expense |  | 839 |  |  |  |  |
Tubular and Energy Services | Collective Action Complaint | Adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Product Liability Contingency |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Litigation settlement expense |  | $ (103) |  |  |  |  |
Rail Products and Services |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Product Liability Contingency |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Product warranty expense |  |  | $ 1,224 |  |  |  |

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