Behind the Scenes of National Defense: How Railcar Manufacturers Strengthen America’s Strategic Readiness

By RSI Staff

When Americans think about national defense, images of aircraft carriers, fighter jets or complex cyber systems often come to mind. What’s less obvious, but no less critical, is the role of freight rail and the railcar manufacturers that support the Department of Defense (DoD).

Companies like Ebenezer Railcar and its sister company, Liberty Railway Services, are part of the quiet but indispensable backbone that keeps the nation’s defense logistics moving. We sat down with Ebenezer Railcar’s CEO Jeffrey Schmarje and CFO Joel Marsh to dive into how a facility in West Seneca, NY, supports the DoD.

Purpose-Built Railcars for a Modern Military

Ebenezer Railcar has long provided purpose-built boxcars and flatcars tailored to the DoD’s transportation needs. As Schmarje explains, the company primarily works as a subcontractor, constructing highly specialized railcars designed to carry sensitive, oversized or mission-critical military materials. Their sister company, Liberty Railway Services, plays an equally important role in supporting tank and equipment mobilization at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and in providing preventive maintenance on DoD railcars operating in the western United States.

These are not everyday railcars. They are engineered to accommodate the weight, footprint and safety requirements associated with the military’s most valuable assets. And while the railcar builders rarely know exactly what the cargo is due to security protocols, they know it is essential.

An Industry the Public Rarely Sees, But Always Depends On

Many Americans may not immediately associate railcar manufacturers with national security. But as Marsh notes, the rail network is “the most efficient method for long-distance transport over land.” Whether it’s material to support the U.S. Navy, large-scale equipment or general supplies, freight rail quietly moves enormous volumes across the country.

During times of mobilization, most heavy equipment travels by rail to U.S. ports, where it is then deployed. Rail remains the most efficient and secure overland transportation method for bulky and sensitive assets. The system is so central to national stability that, as Schmarje points out, Congress and the administration have the authority to intervene to prevent freight rail strikes — underscoring how essential uninterrupted rail service is to America’s economy and readiness.

Incremental Advancements with Outsized Impact

Unlike some sectors of defense manufacturing where rapid breakthroughs are common, railcar innovation tends to be incremental but meaningful. Schmarje observes that structural requirements remain relatively consistent, but advancements increasingly focus on communications, telemetrics, GPS tracking and environmental monitoring. These technologies allow the DoD and its contractors to track railcar health, location, and conditions in real time. These are modern necessities for a military that relies on precision logistics.

Another example that Schmarje gives is the industry-wide shift toward stronger, lighter materials that can safely carry heavier loads. Traditional railcars built nearly five decades ago are nearing the end of their functional life. Most modern military-support railcars are now designed to be 286 thousand lbs., the current gross rail load standard, which is an increase from earlier generations of 263-270 thousand lb. cars. Each incremental improvement contributes to a more resilient and capable defense transportation network.

Many older heavy-duty flatcars equipped with triple-axle trucks are being phased out in favor of four-axle designs that allow for safer, more reliable operation. “That [current transportation method] has to be replaced with better technology and better equipment,” Schmarje said.

Looking Toward America 250: Preparing for the Next Generation

As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, ongoing DoD modernization efforts will require new railcar fleets to support next-generation defense systems, such as submarines and aircraft carriers. Marsh observes that the components, materials and oversized structures that make these platforms possible must be transported. Companies like Ebenezer Railcar stand ready to support this effort.

Railcar manufacturers will continue evolving by strengthening materials, improving load capacities, modernizing monitoring systems and ensuring cars operate safely and reliably. These changes may not make headlines, but they are essential. Defense infrastructure doesn’t function without mobility, and mobility wouldn’t be possible without the rail system that quietly carries the weight of America’s security.

Railcar manufacturers may play a relatively small role in the DoD, but it’s one the country cannot do without.