A unique Northumberland holiday home is set to start the next stage of its travels after being put up for sale.
The Stannington Pullman is a 23m-long converted railway carriage that has been fully refurbished to provide luxurious holiday accommodation for up to four people.
Currently positioned near the East Coast Mainline five miles to the south of Morpeth, the 23m-long 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, and has since proved extremely popular with a wide range of guests, many of whom have stayed in the Pullman several times a year.
The tracks on which the carriage sits, which were used in the original Mission Impossible film, form part of the sale package, along with the ballast underneath it, the outside decking and all the fixtures and fittings.
Co-owner Emma Williams says: “We’d 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’d 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’ve had from our guests over the last three years, and it’s been extremely popular all year-round, but it’s now time for the train to pull out of the station and 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 Williams continues: “Train enthusiasts and former railway workers have naturally 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 and also with children with special educational needs who’ve loved having the chance to stay in a train.
“We think any number of buyers could be interested, from holiday park owners or destination venues who want to add an extra dimension to their site through to people like us with some land to use for something interesting or someone who just wants to use the Pullman as their own personal bolthole.
“We’re happy to give help and advice on how to transport and set up the carriage, and we’d love to think that it goes to someone who’ll enjoy having it as much as we have.”
For further information on the Stannington Pullman, please email thestanningtonpullman@gmail.com