High costs of living have inspired some truly unique living situations over the years. There's the old school bus turned RV, the tiny homes made of storage containers, and now introducing refurbished train wagons. If you've ever seen a vintage rail car, you have to admit that they're quite captivating. They offer a quaint quality that few structures can provide for your home. They transport you back in time and can become quite the cozy living space.
Caboodles offers a variety of train cases to fit in with any style to make you shine wherever you go. Shop all classic train cases Caboodles has to offer. Weighing in at around 15 tons or so, but typically measuring only about 10 by 30 feet, old cabooses are massive marvels no longer made by the rail industry. But if you want a ready-made, weather-resistant and flood-water-lofted house, there are much less adorable places to start your search. Our offerings extend from 1869 through 2019, focusing on the best that the steam and transitional eras had to offer. We are among the only content developers for Trainz that frequently model 1890s and early 1900s equipment. Cabooses4sale.com does not broker railcars nor equipment. We purchase, then sell railcars and other equipment, so you deal with us as the equipment owner. Our mission: To exceed our clients. Description TDCX Transfer Caboose JR EOT Device Mesh Library Barber-Bettendorf Truck (black dirty) 5in? 9in Brg 33in wheels & Generator.
Finding a caboose for sale might sound like it would be a challenge, but it just might be the easiest part of the process. As a form of tiny living, you might prefer refurbishing in a rail car over building a tiny house from scratch. Learn how you can turn a deserted train caboose into your dream home!
Living in a Train Wagon
There are a number of ways you can transform a train car into your new home. Here are some fine examples to help you find inspiration for your tiny house.
A Modern Rail Car
Image source: Izaak Walton Inn
This rail car might look classic on the outside, but the interior has been fully modernized. With a full-sized kitchen and room for four, this tiny house's layout ensures that guests are far from roughing it. If your dream house doesn't include a wood stove or an impossibly small bathroom, then take inspiration from this modern design.
A Tiny House Caboose
Image source: Tiny House Hotel
For a more rustic way of living, a tiny caboose turned tiny house might be more up your alley. You might not be able to host a dinner party, but something this small would be far easier to power. If you're looking for a tiny house on wheels, this size might be more suitable for traveling.
A Not-So-Tiny House
Image source: Airbnb
The train car you select doesn't have to be vintage. If you come across a sterling rail that's out of commission, you might want to jump on it. Not only does it offer more space, but it has the potential to expand an existing structure if you know what you're doing. It also helps to camouflage the building for those interested in living off the grid. No one would think twice about seeing this house from a distance.
A Boxcar Rail Tiny House
Image source: Goods Home Design
Larger than the caboose and smaller than the sterling rail is the boxcar rail. Their high ceilings offer the illusion of open space, and could even be built with a lofted bedroom. Since boxcars are used for shipping, there's no need to gut them during the restoration process. That tends to be a huge draw for those looking into the tiny house community.
Different Available Dimensions For a Caboose
There are many sizes available for a Caboose. Each of the manufacturers has its own sizes, so it varies a lot from one to another. But as a guideline, the dimensions should be around those numbers:
- Lenght: 30 to 50 feet
- Width: between 9 and 10 feet
- Height: 10 to 14 feet (depending if you count in the cupola)
If you are building a caboose looking tiny house, there are no dimension standards. Your imagination and the building regulations in your state are the limit!
Where to Find a Caboose for Sale
Image source: Northfork & Southern Historical Society
Finding a train car for sale might sound like it would be a difficult task, but it's actually fairly easy. All you need is access to the internet. A simple search can provide you with a number of options. Here are a few places you can start:
Check Online Classifieds
Websites like eBay and Craigslist are great for finding hidden gems like this. It might take you a while to find the right caboose for sale, but this is where you'll find the best prices. You'll also be able to find rail cars that have already been refurbished or fully converted into tiny homes. These are perfect for those who aren't interested in having a big project on their hands. It might take you a few months to find what you're looking for, but likely the price will make the wait worth it.
Caboose and Rail Car Sales Websites
There are many websites to choose from that are dedicated to selling train cars and related materials. You can buy a caboose, a boxcar, or even a sterling rail. Some of these websites have full refurbished rail cars listed as well. The prices are a little higher, but you won't have to wait for something to pop up on Craigslist. Here are a few websites to check out:
Call Local Scrapyards
If a scrapyard near you ends up with an old rail car, you might be able to buy it for close to nothing. Contact a few places and let them know that you're in the market for a train caboose or boxcar. They might be nice enough to give you a call when they come across one.
Cost of Restoring a Train Cabin
Image source: Inhabitat
Now that you know where you can buy a train cabin, you're ready to start coming up with a budget. If money is tight, stick to buying your materials at local junkyards and garage sales. When it comes to tools, try borrowing from friends and family first. Here are the average costs you can expect when restoring a rail car:
Rail Car Shipping
$1200 for loading plus $1.10 to move by highway
$1.30/mile to move by rail
Note: You might have to pay costly repairs for a train car to be shipped by rail
Rail Installation
$4,000-7,000 for every 99 feet of rail installed
Setting Rail Car On Tracks
A crane operator for $300 to $1,000 per hour
Securing Caboose To Track
Rail Installation
$4,000-7,000 for every 99 feet of rail installed
Setting Rail Car On Tracks
A crane operator for $300 to $1,000 per hour
Securing Caboose To Track
Chains and lock $50
Exterior Restoration
$1,000-$3,000 for a rail car up to 1,500 square feet
Image source: Airbnb
Interior Restoration
Windows And Skylights - $4,000
Flooring - $300
Light Fixtures - $400
Insulation - $1,200
Plumbing - $700
Solar Power System - $2,800
Water Heater - $1,100
Bathroom Appliances - $1,400
Kitchen Appliances - $2,700
Summary
If you're ready to leave behind high living costs and get creative with your dream home, restoring a rail car is the perfect solution. Unlike other tiny homes, starting out with a caboose or boxcar will save you from having to build a shell for your new house, office, or she-shed. The possibilities are endless, and you'll spend far less than you would on most other living spaces.
Joining the tiny house community means you won't be going at it alone. You have the support of hundreds of people online that are familiar with the restoration process and are eager to answer any questions you have. Now that you know where to find a caboose for sale and have the tools you need to create a budget, you're ready to start preparing for your very own rail car tiny house!
Want to buy a Caboose?
Let us help you find the right ressources to get your project going!
Trainz Forge Freeware
Boxcar - Presently using lilb's 40' boxcars from JointedRail
Flatcar - Presently using lilb's from JointedRail
Gondola - Presently using lilb's from JointedRail
Tank Car - I assume a 39ft or 40ft but I haven't found one yet
Trailer On Flat Car - JR has these in TS12 already
Coal Hopper - I assume the USRA 55 tonners were still in commmon use at the time
Covered Hopper - Got a few from JR but they look too modern I think
Caboose - I insist on an interior so I have one from RRMods, it's good enough, but I wish it matched up with JR's rolling stock.
Now, for me, lilb's freeware represents my 'baseline' for the bare minimum. Not that his cars are bare minimum at all, just that in 2012 I feel like animated hoses, sounds, auto running numbers, etc should be on all cars.
Needless to say this makes finding matching rolling stock is a little hard. Of course I expect someone will pop in a suggest some car with no details, blury textures, and couplers that look like 2 cubes - but that's what I'm trying to avoid.
I'm largely asking because I don't have an FCT, otherwise I'd 'audition' some cars myself.
Thanks in advance for your consideration, and special thanks to lilb for his awesome work creating the great freeware rolling stock he has already.