The Arthur at Tiny Digs: A Yellow Train Car Tiny House with a Cupola Loft

Reset A− A+ The Arthur at Tiny Digs in Portland looks like a bright yellow caboose that pulled off the tracks and decided to stay. It’s named for owner Pam Westra’s grandfather, who had a passion for trains, and it’s packed with toy trains, maps, and railroad memorabilia.

At 180 square feet, it’s a long, narrow house, like a real rail car. The curved, cedar-lined cupola over the sleeping loft is what keeps it from feeling cramped.

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A Rail Car Layout That Runs Front to Back

Inside, the Arthur reads like a dining car: kitchen counter down one side, a double-sized couch bed down the other, and a door to the bathroom at the far end. The warm acacia floor and pine ceiling soften all that yellow, and the long sightline makes the room feel bigger than its width.

Image courtesy of Tiny Digs Hotel

Image courtesy of Tiny Digs Hotel

A Kitchenette for Light Cooking

The kitchenette has a fridge, an induction burner, a sink, and dishware, which is plenty for coffee, breakfast, and takeout from the dozens of restaurants within walking distance. A classic enamel percolator fits the train-depot theme.

Image courtesy of Tiny Digs Hotel

Fold-Down Tables for Meals or Work

Instead of one fixed dining table, the Arthur has two small tables, including a fold-down one with a lantern and a little caboose on the windowsill. Small tables that drop out of the way are one of the most useful ideas in any narrow tiny house.

Image courtesy of Tiny Digs Hotel

Image courtesy of Tiny Digs Hotel

Design Details

• Size: 180 sq ft, two floors
• Sleeps: Up to 4: queen in the cupola loft plus a double sofa bed downstairs
• Theme: Train car / caboose, named for Pam’s grandfather
• Kitchen: Fridge, induction burner, sink, dishware
• Bathroom: Flush toilet and hot shower
• Comfort: Electric heat, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, deck
• Pets: Not pet-friendly
• Every Tiny Digs house: running water, flush toilet, hot shower, electric heat, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, coffee and tea, self check-in

What Makes the Arthur Special

• A cupola adds headroom: The raised, curved roof over the loft turns a crawl-space loft into one you can actually sit up in.
• A theme with a story: The best themed rooms feel personal, and this one is a family tribute.
• Long and narrow done right: Keeping the center aisle clear makes a 180 sq ft rail-car shape feel open.
• Two small tables beat one big one: Fold-down surfaces give you dining and work space without permanently eating the floor.

Stay at Tiny Digs

Tiny Digs is at 2646 NE Glisan Street in Portland’s Kerns neighborhood, with close to 50 restaurants, breweries, and bars within a 10-minute walk. Rates vary by date, so check availability on the Tiny Digs site.

• The Arthur at Tiny Digs
• Check rates and availability
• Tiny Digs 10th Anniversary Open House (Sunday, October 25, 2026)

More Tiny Houses at Tiny Digs

Tiny Digs has twelve themed tiny houses on one lot in Northeast Portland. Here’s the full lineup:

• The Finlandia (280 sq ft): 280 sq ft Scandinavian design with two lofts. The biggest house on the lot, sleeping up to five.
• The Barn (150 sq ft): 150 sq ft little red barn with a Dutch door and a whiskey-barrel vanity. Pet-friendly.
• The Arthur (180 sq ft, you are here)
• The Beach (150 sq ft): 150 sq ft Cape Cod cottage with shake shingles, turquoise accents, and a cedar loft.
• The Cottage (180 sq ft): 180 sq ft Victorian shabby chic with gingerbread trim, stained glass, and a fireplace.
• The Cabin (150 sq ft): 150 sq ft log cabin with Port Orford cedar siding, a hand-hewn log stairway, and a fireplace.
• The Merlot (140 sq ft): 140 sq ft wine-country theme with a vaulted ceiling, a main-floor queen bed (no loft), and a wrap-around deck.
• The Bamboo (150 sq ft): 150 sq ft Japanese-inspired house with a koi pond, grass-cloth walls, and tansu stairs.
• The Zen (128 sq ft): 128 sq ft designed by Bryce Langston (Living Big in a Tiny House). Main-floor queen and a two-person shower.
• The Modern (150 sq ft): 150 sq ft retro-modern with a see-through lounge loft over a main-floor queen bed.
• The Boho Wagon (150 sq ft): 150 sq ft bohemian wagon with a bowed cedar roof and a canopied main-floor bed. Pet-friendly, no loft.
• The Rock ‘n’ Roll (230 sq ft): 230 sq ft 1950s theme with vinyl, a rotary phone, a fireplace, and a skylit loft.

See the full guide: Tiny Digs Turns 10: Inside All 12 Tiny Houses

Highlights

• 180 sq ft yellow caboose
• Sleeps up to 4
• Cedar-lined cupola loft
• Railroad memorabilia throughout
• Named for the owner’s grandfather

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Alex

Alex Pino is the founder of Tiny House Talk, a leading resource on tiny homes and simple living since 2009. He helps readers discover unique homes, connect with builders, and explore alternative living.

Latest posts by Alex (see all)

• The Modern at Tiny Digs: A Tiny House with a See-Through Floating Lounge - October 17, 2026
• The Zen at Tiny Digs: A Tiny House Designed by Bryce Langston - October 17, 2026
• The Bamboo at Tiny Digs: A Japanese-Inspired Tiny House with a Koi Pond - October 17, 2026