3 days ago
Historic train carriage built here to live on as Airbnb
A train carriage that was built in Swindon almost 130 years ago has been transformed into an Airbnb.
The second class 1895 Great Western Railway carriage has been restored on the outside with original colours from old drawings and charts, while the interior has been given a stunning makeover.
The inside includes wallpaper from the same period alongside new additions such as a bed and stove.
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It has now been moved to Saddleworth, Great Manchester and is owned by Nigel Brooke, who lives in the former Delph railway station.
The 68-year-old said: 'The carriage was built in 1895 in Swindon, it's a GWR carriage. It ran on the Metropolitan Railway. It was decommissioned in 1940, and it was all painted in dark colours because of the war, I think.
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'It was just chocolate brown everywhere, it became a workman's carriage static somewhere.'
'One side was covered in tin – that must have been put there in the 50s or 40s to protect one side.
A train carriage that was built in Swindon in 1895 has been turned into an AirBnB. (@SWNS)@swindonadver
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'The woodwork of the frame was in great condition, with it being built of oak. They built these in Swindon out of oak.
'What I had to do was take each piece off carefully that was rotten and replicate it and rebuild it, using the original bits. It was in reasonable condition.
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Nigel is a former decorator and wanted to restore the carriage and use it for something good.
He spent £8000 on the carriage and then £27,000 on the restoration, which now sits where the original platform of Delph station was.
He continued: 'It's quite early, 1895, for a carriage – it's getting towards disintegration at that age if they've not been restored, this will be good for a long time now.'
'It is beautiful, and it's unique here. I bought this place in the 80s when I was in my 30s. I was quite lucky to acquire such a nice old historic building.
'I may turn one of the waiting rooms into an Airbnb with an ensuite, so when people stay in this carriage, if they've got friends, they can stay in the waiting room at the station house.'
'People adore it, there's a lot of history here. It's a beautiful place."
Passenger train service ceased in the area in the 1950s, but – thanks to a loving £27,000 restoration – visitors can once again board a train at the station, by staying inside a £200 per night luxury Airbnb.
