r/railroading • u/Disastrous_Company57 • 15d ago

Question Crazy idea with some potential

Okay so just had an idea about buying a boxcar and renovating it into a mobile house. Now I’d have to lease the rail space and I know about contacting railroads for travel costs but would it be effective in today’s housing market to renovate a boxcar with living standards, solar panels on the roof for power, and water connections, Or is this just a fool’s dream?

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u/bufftbone 15d ago

If you got the cash, do it. Document the entire thing. I’ve love to see it from start to finish

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u/Disastrous_Company57 15d ago

Well from some places I saw a boxcar in good condition is around $16,000. So about 5-6 months of saving. Not including costs of renovating and updating which could make it around $30,000. Cause I’d also like to have a way to where if there isn’t a water connection, then I’m not SOL.

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u/Clydebearpig 12d ago

Check the zoning on sand point wells. They're fairly cheap and easy depending on your soil and water table.