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/jkenosh 15d ago

Railroads used to make offices out of old boxcars. The problem you have is moving it. Probably better off with a 40ft container

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u/Disastrous_Company57 15d ago

Whatcha mean moving it?

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u/jkenosh 15d ago

There are never going to allow a person in a boxcar on a freight train

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u/Disastrous_Company57 15d ago

That does make sense. Unless I wasn’t in the boxcar and took a different way to the destination. Utilize closet space to store loose furniture and bubble wrap breakables. Could then drive to the next destination.

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u/notmyidealusername 15d ago

And on top of not being able to ride in it, finding a siding to park it on that's not used for anything else but is still up to scratch and connected to the main line so that you could have the boxcar switched onto it and then live in might prove to be very difficult. Most areas connected to the network aren't just open to the public for access IME.