What Is A Railroad-Style Apartment?

A railroad apartment features a layout of succeeding rooms that lead directly into one another. Railroad-style apartments do not have hallways, and they are typically found in older tenement buildings, subdivided brownstones, or row homes. In most railroad apartments, you have to walk through one room to get to another, as if moving through the cars of a train (hence the name).

Railroad apartments usually include rooms at the front and back of the building and may or may not feature windows in the central spaces. They are often found in historic homes, and while the layout is sometimes challenging to decorate, many of these apartments feature beautiful architectural details.

Characteristics of a Railroad Apartment

• Commonly found in tenement-style, walk-up, multi-family buildings
• Long and narrow rectangular floor-through layouts
• Rooms flow into one another generally with hallway(s)
• Railroad layouts may include one central hallway, room-dividing archways, or in some cases, a hallway off to one side with multiple entry points
• Tall ceilings
• Windows at the front or back but not in the long middle portion
• Few closets and little storage
• Range in size with generally 3 to 5 rooms
• Bedrooms are often placed on the far end for flow and privacy reasons
• Kitchens are often in the middle
• Living spaces frequently at the front
• Bathrooms might be off to the side of the bedroom(s)

Railroad Apartment Pros and Cons

Pre-war and earlier railroad-style apartments often offer historic buildings' charm, character, and period details, such as moldings, fireplaces, exposed brick walls, and original pocket doors. They're also an excellent choice for first apartments or those on a budget because their unconventional layout typically puts them at an affordable price point. And, because they are generally considered less desirable and less functional than more conventional layouts, they often offer more space for the money.

However, one thing to remember with the layout is that it does make privacy a challenge, meaning that railroad apartments are generally more suited to today's singles and close-knit couples than roommates and families. There can also be a lack of airflow and natural light, particularly in the middle of the apartment.

History of the Railroad-Style Apartment

The design of railroad-style apartments was a response to overcrowding in cities in the United States in the mid-1800s. Railroad-style apartments were built into the early 20th century in tenement buildings. They subdivided brownstones in urban areas such as New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington D.C. but can be found elsewhere.

Railroad-style apartments were constructed when building regulations around sanitation, light, air, and privacy were not yet standard, and amenities such as elevators were not part of the package. Modern standards generally consider railroad-style layouts awkward and tend to be less desirable.

Today, architects and interior designers use creative solutions to make original railroad-style apartments livable in the 21st century. They look at innovative ways to divide the space, create built-in storage, and let more natural light into the apartment core.

Railroad vs. Shotgun Style Apartments

Railroad- and shotgun-style apartments and homes are modest dwellings. The term "railroad apartment" is often described in the same breath as "shotgun-style" apartments and homes found primarily in the southern United States, where they were the most popular house style after the Civil War and into the 1920s.

Shotgun homes, with roots tracing back to Haiti, have narrow front profiles and long rectangular silhouettes. Railroad-style apartments often have a central hallway similar to that of a series of train cars (or a side hallway with multiple entry points in the style of a train sleeper car). Narrow railroad apartments that aren't wide enough to fit a central hallway often skip it in favor of dividing curtains or archways. The rooms are connected directly without hallways in a shotgun-style apartment or house.

While there is debate over the origin of the "shotgun" term, modern real estate folklore claims it references the fact that a bullet fired from the entrance could theoretically travel in a clear shot to the back.

Railroad and shotgun apartments share similarities with the historical "enfilade" style found in European palaces, chiefly from the Baroque period, in which one room leads into the other, creating perspectives and a sense of grandeur. The enfilade style of interior architecture is typical of museums, where one gallery leads into the next.

Tips For Decorating a Railroad-Style Apartment

• Clear clutter and use vertical space for built-in storage or open shelving.
• Keep furnishings and decorative objects to a minimum to maintain an airy feel.
• Use modular space-saving furniture such as Murphy beds, wall-mounted desks, or convertible dining tables.
• Incorporate sliding panels, French doors, or curtains for privacy between rooms or embrace open-plan living.
• Focus on compensating for the lack of natural light with wall-mounted sconces and hanging lamps with a thin profile to keep floors clear and to create layered and balanced lighting.
• Maximize natural light and open up a narrow floorplan with mirrors and metallics.
• Hang mirrors directly opposite one another on long side walls to create depth and perspective.
• Consider replacing swinging closet doors with sliding doors.
• Separate zones with arches.
• Paint walls, trim, and ceiling in the same light neutral color to create a sense of cohesiveness and spaciousness.
• Depending on privacy needs, avoid heavy window treatments in favor of naked windows or solar shades.