FAQ (Freqently Asked Questions)

We hope you have enjoyed Paragon Bridge Works and Paragon Railcar Salvage's web site. At this point we hope you have browsed all of our other pages which has given you a much broader prospective of what Paragon has to offer and bridge building in general.

If there are still unanswered questions we hope this page will help you find the right answer. Please feel free to contact Paragon should you need additional information.

Please note that you might need to close and re-open the main tab if your selected answer runs over the tab below it.

About

Please select a question below:

Is Paragon a minority owned business?

Yes, it is 51% Hispanic owned.

Is Paragon a women majority owned business?

49% of Paragon is women owned.

Does Paragon support the community?

Paragon sees itself as a community partner and supports local non-profit organizations whenever possible with special consideration given to faith based organizations or other organizations that promote giving a hand up and not a hand out.

How long has Paragon been in business?

Paragon "unofficial" was started in 1999 but was formally organized in January of 2000.

Does Paragon hire illegal workers?

Paragon submits itself to various Federal programs in order to ensure all of its employees are legally allowed to work in the US.

Who is United Capital LLC?

United Capital (UC LLC) is a for-profit organization set up to fund start up companies, like Paragon Railcar and Paragon Bridge Works. UC LLC has a passive role in day to day operations at Paragon.

Is Paragon interested in real estate?

Paragon is always looking for opportunities to build a wider distribution system throughout the US...and beyond.

Is Paragon interested in partnerships?

Paragon is always looking for good installation contractors throughout the US as it ultimately benefits our clients. Paragon has several unofficial partnerships with installation subs and contract shops throughout the US. Paragon takes these relationships very seriously and only deals with organizations that can prove to Paragon that they are qualified and have excellent customer services skills. Such relationships are cultivated over time and working experience.

Contact

Please select a question below:

Does Paragon have any sales people?

No, Paragon does not have any sales people. Paragon does have a number of Project Managers who can provide any information a potential client may need but that same person will typically handle that project from beginning to end, including making site visits during installation. Paragon believes our products and services sell themselves, we just need to inform you about them.

Can Paragon make a site visit free of charge?

Site visits within an hour of our Northern Colorado facility are free of charge. Site visits to government projects are also free of charge so long as your desire meeting date is fairly flexible as we will try to schedule multiple site visits in that area on that same trip. You may also be eligible for a discounted site visit fee if we happen to have one of our employees in that area already.

Can I visit any of Paragon's facilities?

The only facility that is permitted to have visitors is our Northern Colorado facility. All other facilities are sub-contracted shops with no arrangements for client visits. Keep in mind these contract shops are heavy industry shops with large heavy equipment moving around and potentially dangerous or hazardous conditions. Paragon's main goal when picking contract shops is experience and location. We are able to get better shop / storage rates if we ensure them they will not have our clients visiting their shop.

Can Paragon pick me up at the airport when I visit?

Paragon would be happy to pick you up and drop you back off at the airport. The biggest air port around here is Denver International Airport (DIA) which is about 45 minutes from our shop.

I plan on visiting, where in Northern Colorado should I get a hotel at?

There are no hotels in Gilcrest (there isn't even a stop light in town). Best place to stay is in Greeley, CO which is just 20 minutes north of Gilcrest where you will find several hotels and plenty of restaurants. Brighton, CO is about 25 minutes south of us and is also a good place to stay and eat.

Parts

Please select a question below:

Does Paragon donate goods?

From time to time Paragon does donate items to local non-profit organizations but limited exceptions are allowed.

Is there a detailed parts list available?

No, Paragon does not maintain part lists. What ever is sitting around is for sale.

Can you help me locate a part Paragon does not have?

In certain cases we can help or maybe point you in the right direction. Most railcar part vendors and railcar repair shops do not welcome the general public. Its more of a hassle than what its worth. We can try helping but do not expect much here.

Do you buy parts?

In general, no. Most people think their parts are worth far more than they actually are. We don't want to hurt anybody's feelings.

Bridge Process

Please select a question below:

Do I need permits?

It varies from site to site. In general, most cities will require some sort of permit but nobody has "bridge permits". Check with your city then county before you start any work.

Can I build the abutments or set the bridge myself?

There is considerable cost savings in doing things yourself but you need to have at least 3 years of general construction experience before you attempt this.

How long does this entire process take?

Engineering usually takes the longest. Paragon standard plans using a common bridge span can take 2 to 3 weeks while creating custom features or engineering a less known bridge span can take 4 to 6 weeks. Obtaining a professional engineers license in states where our engineers are currently not licensed can also add 3 to 6 weeks. We only need a 10 day lead time for abutment delivery and basic bridge spans are usually in stock. Lead time on bridge delivery varies with the type of options selected. Lead time for bridge with few modifications should take 2 to 4 weeks while lots of options and modifications can take up 4 to 8 weeks.

Bridge Services

Please select a question below:

Can Paragon provide engineering for a railcar I already have?

Yes, we can. There is a premium for doing type of work. Adding 30 to 50% of our warranty price should give you a good idea of what you should expect to pay.

Can Paragon take a look at a bridge I already have?

Yes, we can with some limitations. Our fee would be similar to a "consultation fee" listed on our estimates but price depends on the type of service requested. In some cases, we have worked with clients who's engineers said their bridge , make of railcars, would not support their desired load. Paragon was able to make a few modifications to the bridge which allowed it to support clients intended use. Modifications were considerably less expensive than replacing the entire bridge span.

Does Paragon build highway bridges or heavy volume public bridges?

No, we do not. There are several other bridges companies that can do this kind of work, which we would be happy to refer you to. Paragon can build private bridges, commercial and industrial bridges, and low volume public bridges but we leave the big jobs for the big boys and their expensive toys.

Does Paragon design and build new bridges?

Yes, Paragon can design and build new steel bridges. We can also design you a new bridge and allow you to have a local steel fabricator build your bridge for you with our bridge plans.

Bridge Options

Please select a question below:

Can Paragon match other guardrails, handrails, or other features?

Yes, we can with certain limitations. We have worked on projects that the client wanted their existing vehicular guardrails matched but their existing guardrails did not comply with AASHTO standards. We were able to come close but we can not guarantee it.

Are handrails/guardrails/decking applied before or after delivery?

We try to build everything we can at our shop with little left that needs to be done after delivery.

Does Paragon offer raw materials for customers to build their own guardrails?

Yes, most of our option packages are also offered as a "materials only" fashion. We will ship raw materials to you and you will need to cut everything down after goods are delivered. This is especially popular with our Premium Brown Pressure treated wood products that are not widely available elsewhere in the country.

Bridge Prices

Please select a question below:

Who or when does Paragon offer discounts?

Paragon does offer discounts to several non-profit organizations. Paragon usually has some type of promotion available, such as free labor for painting or free/reduced freight charges.

Does Paragon sell neoprene bridges pads?

Yes, neoprene bridge pads are included in all of our bearing assemblies. However, you can also purchase AASHTO compliant neoprene pads alone.

Are the prices listed on this web site firm?

No.

Anything else...

Please select a question below:

How can I sell goods or services to Paragon?

Paragon is always looking for products or services that allows us to get things done better, faster, and more cost effective. Please send your product and/or service information to admin@prsx.com

How can I apply for a career at Paragon?

Resume's should be sent to hr@prsx.com

Is Paragon a union shop or an open shop?

While Paragon regularly hires union labor and union sub-contractors, Paragon itself is an open shop.