caboose or box car for clubhouse- where to look

Equipment comes up for sale on this site once in a while.

https://www.discoverlivesteam..../fullscale/index.htm

http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=2

Ozark railcar

I go to Sterling Rail to do some window shopping from time to time.  Pretty sure you'll find what you're looking for there:

http://sterlingrail.com/classifieds/index.php

Check your zoning and building codes.

Rusty

Yes, check with your local government - and any neighbors!  I recall someone buying a real wood caboose that they wanted to fix up and install in their backyard as a playhouse for their kids to play in. (IIRC it would be without trucks, just the body on a foundation.) All their neighbors put up a fight against it, claiming it would bring in mice and rats and generally be an eyesore. Oddly, the same neighbors were fine with him building a full-size wood caboose replica for the kids, but wouldn't accept a real caboose.

Not too far from here there is a property with a number of old rusting boxcars on it, with crossbucks, indicating probably a railroad fan.  It is rural and likely to be zoned agricultural, but that is not always a safe defense from local governments. There was a caboose, now gone,  on a lot, used for parking, that sold tobacco products, surrounded by other small business.  Have seen more than one used by the Chamber of Commerce; those probably were approved, heh, heh.  I probably couldn't find a side door caboose, if l wanted a real one,  but here all is allowed are swingsets and oudoor pools. Kill all the snakes before you write a check.

For the price of a rail car + moving costs + vacant land you could have a decent down payment for purchasing an existing permanent building. 

Existing buildings have running water, sewer, heat, etc., that a boxcar doesn’t.