{"id":346,"date":"2022-10-04T08:36:02","date_gmt":"2022-10-04T08:36:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quistarnemavo.com\/?p=346"},"modified":"2025-07-21T13:46:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T13:46:03","slug":"a-railroad-apartment-tips-to-help-you-make-the-most-of-your-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quistarnemavo.com\/index.php\/2022\/10\/04\/a-railroad-apartment-tips-to-help-you-make-the-most-of-your-space\/","title":{"rendered":"A Railroad Apartment: Tips to Help You Make the Most of Your Space"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today as the area of homes seems to be increasing, a railroad apartment seems like a relic of the past. But these unique apartment styles offer some measurable advantages over traditional spaces. They are also a great way to keep your costs low in high-cost cities like New York and San Francisco.<\/p>\n

\"Railroad
Jonathan Schloss \/ Architect<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yet, there are also some downsides to a railroad-style apartment. Along with the low cost to purchase these homes comes a lower resale price down the road.<\/p>\n

According to Jonathan Miller in the New York Times<\/a>, railroad apartments sell for 15%-25% less than other apartments of the same size with standard layouts. Yet, in places like New York City<\/a>, almost every home is a good investment because prices remain high.<\/p>\n


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What is a Railroad Apartment?<\/b><\/h2>\n

A railroad apartment is constructed in a narrow fashion. These apartments run from the front of the building to the rear in a long succession of rooms.<\/p>\n

The rooms are connected to one another without hallways in between much like railroad cars. Railroad apartments are also called \u201cfloor-through apartments\u201d.<\/p>\n

The railroad apartment was known in common usage as a railway flat. These were first introduced in New York City in the 1830s to help with overcrowding. At this time, there were not the standardized building codes common today.<\/p>\n

Railroad apartments were functional units and not designed with thoughts toward beauty or comfort. Most of the railway-style apartment units were unsanitary, cramped, shabby, and had poor lighting.<\/p>\n

These types of apartment configurations became common in other large cities like Chicago and Boston. You can find railroad apartments in large tenement buildings and more narrow brownstones.<\/p>\n


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Design of a Railroad Apartment<\/b><\/h3>\n

A typical railroad apartment layout has three to five rooms. Most of the New York City railroad flats do not have hallways, though some railroad apartments in other cities have hallways.<\/p>\n

Modern people value privacy, so efforts have been made to add partitions and screens to railroad flats to provide a more usable space. Some railroad apartments are even large enough to subdivide rooms and add hallways to create a more liveable home.<\/p>\n


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Pros and Cons of a Railroad Apartment<\/b><\/h3>\n

There are definite advantages to a railroad style apartment for young home buyers and renters. But, for others, these style homes present a challenge to modern living styles.<\/p>\n

Pros<\/b><\/p>\n