People Living in Train Cars? It’s a Thing.

It certainly is. Some train car homeowners live in them, as with the picture here. Others rent them out as novelty vacation rental homes. You can even stay in one to try out the lifestyle!

It’s not even a new idea. The concept of living in a train car has attracted people for generations.

A Tiny Home? Art? Or a Little of Both?

One creative couple, Dan and Annabel, spotted an old railcar at a scrap yard.

Turns out they’d stumbled onto a World War II train car, brimming over with rich historical value. The pair offered full price for the train car. So the dealer agreed to move it to their Colorado land. Now, it’s the couple’s dream home.

Some renovators might be inspired by a German couple who got attention on the internet a few years back, having fashioned their stylish home out of a pair of train cars. They even repositioned the roof to build a second floor.

Of course, turning part of a train into a home depends on having plenty of resources. Just ask the Frenches. They’re an Idaho family that picked up an antique train car for $3,000—and spent $150K renovating it. Their reward, beyond pure satisfaction? They managed to successfully rent the home out as an Airbnb.

On the Lakefront, Refurbished with Local Wood

Then there’s the historic railcar Airbnb on Skaneateles Lake in Homer, New York. The railcar is nearly a century old. The restoration of the structure included panels made of cherry and oak wood from the grounds. It now features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen with water sourced from the lake, a sitting room and a dining area. There’s a beautiful view from the outdoor deck. We know, because the railcar gets plenty of praise from guests, for both its interior charm and its outdoor amenities. It’s spacious, sturdy, and secure in any weather, the owner and fans point out.

Another great place to stay overnight in a train car is in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. It’s called the Red Caboose Motel and Restaurant. Ride a train, then stay the night. Located beside the old Strasburg Rail Road, the attraction is described as “the ultimate railfan experience.” 

Make Yourself a Home? Pick Your Railcar.

Railcars come in various styles. Those dreaming of making a railcar into a home of their own could consider recycling one of these train car types:

• The parlor car. Remember the Pullman parlor car? It was styled for comfort. As Pennsylvania’s Strasburg Rail Road says on its blog: “These cars are spacious and would give you and your contractor some creativity to create a space that feels larger than it actually is.” The design could involve walling off the interior into bedrooms, sitting areas with recreational features or fireplaces, baths, and a kitchen and dining area.

• The caboose. Once upon a time in the railroad days, the conductor would occupy a train’s caboose. All of the employee’s gear would be in there. Spanning anywhere from 30 to 50 feet, the caboose contained ample room to rest. Yet a caboose is compact compared to the longer cars, and can be moved from site to site. A small caboose might be set on wheels and become a mobile home. That would mean less interior space for making separate rooms, though.

• The boxcar. It’s possible to convert a shipping container—essentially what a boxcar is—into a tiny home. A boxcar can be around 50 or 60 feet in length and more than nine feet wide. These containers are made to withstand any kind of pressure or weather. To know what would go into this, search online for “shipping container home conversion” wherever you look up DIY video clips. And keep this in mind. Living in a shipping container or placing it on a residential property will not be allowed in many places.

It’s important to have enough interior space if the plan is to create a kitchen, living area, and a bedroom or two.

But Not Before All Due Diligence Is Done!

Serious planning is needed for a project like this. For one thing, train cars are massive and extremely heavy. A special service will be needed for transport, unless the seller is handling that part of the plan. Shipping is expensive.

One thing a finished railcar home has in common with other residences? It needs to meet building and zoning rules issued by the local government. Check the local code for permit rules for a permanent structure. There will be devils in the details, depending on how the railcar is built. Will it need to be set on top of rails? Or will the conversion allow for putting the structure flat on the ground?

You’d want to visit the local planning department to discuss whether the rules and standards would allow your idea. For safety’s sake, the city or county will have standards and inspections. These pertain to a home’s size, structure, setback minimums, windows, alarms and vents, and so forth. Electricity has to meet safety codes. Bathrooms must have plumbing correctly installed. You’ll need permitting to connect to the sewer or septic system.

Due diligence is essential before starting any home creation project. If the idea gets local approval, you’ll need to know how the titling will work. Some of these homes may be treated as accessory dwelling units (where allowed) if they are placed on a property that already has a residence built on it. Some railcar homes are movable rather than fixed. Homes on wheels are mobile homes.

And this raises a key question in planning. Do you already own the land where you plan to place the railcar? You’ll need to plan out exactly how the home is to be positioned and fixed on the site.

Read more on Deeds.com about titles and taxes for fixed and mobile homes.

For Most, It’s Fun to Imagine, But…

By now you probably have an idea why such a home might be desirable. It’s the ultimate conversation piece. A train car home would be fantastic for parties, historical association gatherings, entertaining the grandkids… It would be the perfect home base for the railroad buff. For all those hardcore “railfans” out there, for those who love restoration, or for those with a creative streak, there could hardly be a more interesting challenge. 

It’s just about the ultimate in sustainability, too. First, it’s disused material, given a new life. Second, the relatively compact size of a railcar home means it’s a frugal energy user if correctly insulated.

All aboard, then? Well, at least it was a good daydream. Because the whole process of getting every step permitted and having every aspect of the railcar meet those plans would prohibit it in most cases.

Maybe it’s best to just take an overnight train ride. Or just plan a stop at the Red Caboose Motel.