Freight Car Modifications

When the need exists for changes to existing freight rail equipment, Starfire takes the car owner's requirements and engineers the changes needed to accomplish those requirements, with economical, thorough and occasionally creative designs. Some designs will be as simple as increased weight carrying capacity, and others will be as complex as a complete rebody to carry an entirely different commodity from the original design.

Boxcar Modification Capacity Uprate
High Side Gondola Conversion
Rule 88 Analysis
Bulkhead Flat Car Conversion
Covered Hopper Car Uprate
Coal Car Uprate
Woodchip Car (AAR) Extended Service Status Analysis
Rapid Discharge Open Top Hopper Car (GRL) Uprate

New Freight Car Design

Starfire has the expertise and capabilities to design complete freight cars from the rail up and from coupler to coupler, to meet the toughest operating conditions, at the most economical cost. Any car style, any commodity, for both interchange and non-interchange.

Cryogenic Refrigerator Car
Heavy Duty Depressed Center Flat Car
Mechanical Refrigerated Boxcar
286,000 lb. GRL Ore Car
Multipurpose, 286,000 lb. GRL Flat Car (FEA)
12 Axle, Straight Deck Heavy Duty Flat Car

Locomotive Engineering

Starfire has extensive experience in engineering for locomotive service, ranging from minor modifications to major upgrades, in both structural and electrical areas. Trucks, couplers, carbody, underframe, and air brake systems are particular areas of speciality.

SD-9 Locomotive Underframe Modification
Locomotive Fuel Spill Prevention Device
Locomotive Electrical: Master-Slug Conversion
Locomotive Main Generator Conversion
New Locomotive Truck Design Review & Evaluation
Locomotive Air Brake Modification

Passenger Car Engineering

Moving people is important to Starfire. We have extensive experience with long-haul AMTRACK, private, and transit passenger cars, ranging from minor structural, brake, and electrical work to extensive rebuilds and structural upgrades, including stainless steel equipment.

Finite Element Analysis of a Commuter Car roof Failure
Passenger Car Modification
Rebuild of Business Car (Silver Cloud): Montana Rail Link
Design Support to Repair Damaged Side & Center Sills/Collision Posts
Modify Heavyweight Passenger Car to Accept New Larger Trucks & Adapt Brake System
Heavyweight Passenger Car Coupler Conversion
Administrative Support to Commuter Rail Conversion Project
Evaluation of Truck Frame Crack Damage in Track Geometry Car
Evaluation of a Heavyweight Passenger Car for use in a Static Display

Railroad Track & Bridge

Starfire's experience with Track and Bridge engineering has assisted a number of clients with track maintenance, new industrial installations, design of track componentry, and work on both timber and steel bridges.

Engineering Support to Install an Industrial Track Spur
Trackwork Drawings For Construction