A holiday home with a Hollywood twist hits the market
For sale: A piece of luxury railway heritage which doubles as a holiday home. Tony Henderson reports
An offbeat line in holiday homes which could be just the ticket for railway enthusiasts is up for sale in Northumberland.
The Stannington Pullman is a 23m-long converted railway carriage which has been refurbished to provide holiday accommodation for up to four people and is described as retaining its “authentic first class ambiance”.
Sited near the East Coast Mainline five miles to the south of Morpeth, the carriage features gas central heating, a separate shower room and toilet, a fully-fitted shaker-style kitchen and its own WiFi network, while the dining area is made from an authentic leather East Midlands Railway booth.
The project took two years to complete from first concept through to its opening in 2022.
The tracks on which the carriage sits, which were used in the original Mission Impossible film series, are part of the sale package, along with the ballast underneath, the outside decking and all the fixtures and fittings.
Co-owner Emma Williams said: “We had originally looked at putting a couple of log cabins on the land, but with the site being so close to the East Coast Mainline, we had the idea of converting a train carriage instead.
“After finding the right option for the space we had, we came up with a design that both provided everything that you would expect from high quality holiday accommodation and also retained the character of the carriage.
“It’s been a brilliant project to create, especially with the amazing response we have had from our guests over the last three years, and it’s been extremely popular all year-round, but it’s now time to find a new place to stop.”
Built in 1978 and originally known as Coach 41207, the Stannington Pullman served Inter-City routes to London and then worked around the East Midlands before reaching the end of its working life.
Emma said: “Train enthusiasts and former railway workers have made a significant proportion of our guests, especially given the great views that the Pullman has of the East Coast Mainline, but it’s been popular with people who were just looking for a quirky place to stay.
“We are happy to give help and advice on how to transport and set up the carriage, and would love to think that it goes to someone who’ll enjoy having it as much as we have.”
Offers are invited around £70,000. For further information on the Stannington Pullman email thestanningtonpullman@gmail.com.