Latest news with #NigelBrooke
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
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. Be the first to know with the Swindon Advertiser! 📱 💡 Our flash sale brings the latest local happenings directly to you. Save over 50% on an annual subscription now. 🔗 #SpecialOffer — Swindon Advertiser (@swindonadver) July 4, 2025 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. @SWNS @swindonadver — Alex Lane-Kieltyka (@alex_elkay21) July 16, 2025 '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 — Alex Lane-Kieltyka (@alex_elkay21) July 16, 2025 '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. Recommended reading Barclays bank fined £42m by financial watchdog over money laundering checks Wiltshire award-winning energy efficiency scheme extended for a year No sign of life at closed town centre attraction three months on 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.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
I transformed abandoned UK train station into ultimate Airbnb steeped in Victorian character – now I make £200 a day
A RAILWAY fanatic who lives in an old station has spent thousands converting a former train carriage in to a luxury AirBnB apartment. Nigel Brooke, 68, lives in the old Delph railway station in 7 Nigel Brooke was inspired by fittings from the original period when he designed the interior Credit: William Lailey 7 The carriage sits level with the old Delph station, where Nigel lives Credit: William Lailey 7 Passenger train services ceased in the area in the 1950s, but - thanks to a loving £27,000 restoration - visitors can once again step inside a carriage at the station. Instead of a ticket price, they'll have to part with the £200 per-night cost for the luxury accommodation. The second class 1895 Nigel used on the outside with original colours from old drawings and charts, while the interior has been given a stunning makeover. READ MORE IN NEWS The inside has been given a stunning makeover to create a cosy bedroom in the style of the same period. Some additional features , such as a bed and stove, were necessary to make it inhabitable. Retired wallpaper designer Nigel said: "I designed all that interior decor, but it was led by original pieces that I found doing the restoration. "The carriage was built in 1895 in Swindon, it's a GWR carriage. Most read in Money "It ran on the Metropolitan Railway. It was decommissioned in 1940, it was all painted in dark colours because of the war, I think. "It was just chocolate brown everywhere, it became a workman's carriage static somewhere." End of an era as King Charles AXES royal train after 150 years as cost of keeping iconic vehicle going hits £1.2m a year Nigel splashed £8,000 on the carriage, which was hauled up from Gloucester by road. It now stands on two concrete walls designed to keep it completely level to Delph station's original platform, making it accessible step-free. In total, the dad-of-three says he spent £27,000 on the restoration. He added: "One side was covered in tin - that must have been put there in the 50s or 40s to protect one side. "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. 7 Before Nigel got his hands on it, the carriage was a dusty, unloved shell 7 Nigel is expanding his offerings with another chamber in the station's former waiting room 7 A stay in the plush room will set you back £200 a night Credit: TNT SPORTS "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." Nigel is now planning on expanding his Airbnb offering with a new chamber in the station's former waiting room, to allow larger groups to visit. Nigel said: "People absolutely adore it, there's a lot of history here. It's a beautiful place. "It is beautiful, and it's quite 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." 7 Nigel says that people absolutely love his creation Credit: Splash News
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
I transformed abandoned UK train station into ultimate Airbnb steeped in Victorian character – now I make £200 a day
The carriage was a dusty, unloved shell before this enthusiast had his way GOING LOCO I transformed abandoned UK train station into ultimate Airbnb steeped in Victorian character – now I make £200 a day A RAILWAY fanatic who lives in an old station has spent thousands converting a former train carriage in to a luxury AirBnB apartment. Nigel Brooke, 68, lives in the old Delph railway station in Saddleworth, Greater Manchester. Advertisement 7 Nigel Brooke was inspired by fittings from the original period when he designed the interior Credit: William Lailey 7 The carriage sits level with the old Delph station, where Nigel lives Credit: William Lailey 7 Passenger train services ceased in the area in the 1950s, but - thanks to a loving £27,000 restoration - visitors can once again step inside a carriage at the station. Instead of a ticket price, they'll have to part with the £200 per-night cost for the luxury accommodation. The second class 1895 Great Western Railway carriage has been restored to its former glory on the outside and finished in the original colours - gleaned from old drawings and charts. Nigel used on the outside with original colours from old drawings and charts, while the interior has been given a stunning makeover. Advertisement READ MORE IN NEWS 'BRIGHT LIVES LOST' Heartbreaking tributes to Brit pals who drowned in Algarve pool The inside has been given a stunning makeover to create a cosy bedroom in the style of the same period. Some additional features, such as a bed and stove, were necessary to make it inhabitable. Retired wallpaper designer Nigel said: "I designed all that interior decor, but it was led by original pieces that I found doing the restoration. "The carriage was built in 1895 in Swindon, it's a GWR carriage. Advertisement "It ran on the Metropolitan Railway. It was decommissioned in 1940, it was all painted in dark colours because of the war, I think. "It was just chocolate brown everywhere, it became a workman's carriage static somewhere." End of an era as King Charles AXES royal train after 150 years as cost of keeping iconic vehicle going hits £1.2m a year Nigel splashed £8,000 on the carriage, which was hauled up from Gloucester by road. It now stands on two concrete walls designed to keep it completely level to Delph station's original platform, making it accessible step-free. Advertisement In total, the dad-of-three says he spent £27,000 on the restoration. He added: "One side was covered in tin - that must have been put there in the 50s or 40s to protect one side. "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. Advertisement 7 Before Nigel got his hands on it, the carriage was a dusty, unloved shell 7 Nigel is expanding his offerings with another chamber in the station's former waiting room 7 A stay in the plush room will set you back £200 a night Advertisement "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." Nigel is now planning on expanding his Airbnb offering with a new chamber in the station's former waiting room, to allow larger groups to visit. Advertisement Nigel said: "People absolutely adore it, there's a lot of history here. It's a beautiful place. Advertisement "It is beautiful, and it's quite 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. Advertisement "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."
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
I transformed abandoned UK train station into ultimate Airbnb steeped in Victorian character – now I make £200 a day
A RAILWAY fanatic who lives in an old station has spent thousands converting a former train carriage in to a luxury AirBnB apartment. Nigel Brooke, 68, lives in the old Delph railway station in Saddleworth, Greater Manchester. 7 7 7 Passenger train services ceased in the area in the 1950s, but - thanks to a loving £27,000 restoration - visitors can once again step inside a carriage at the station. Instead of a ticket price, they'll have to part with the £200 per-night cost for the luxury accommodation. The second class 1895 Great Western Railway carriage has been restored to its former glory on the outside and finished in the original colours - gleaned from old drawings and charts. Nigel used on the outside with original colours from old drawings and charts, while the interior has been given a stunning makeover. The inside has been given a stunning makeover to create a cosy bedroom in the style of the same period. Some additional features, such as a bed and stove, were necessary to make it inhabitable. Retired wallpaper designer Nigel said: "I designed all that interior decor, but it was led by original pieces that I found doing the restoration. "The carriage was built in 1895 in Swindon, it's a GWR carriage. "It ran on the Metropolitan Railway. It was decommissioned in 1940, it was all painted in dark colours because of the war, I think. "It was just chocolate brown everywhere, it became a workman's carriage static somewhere." Nigel splashed £8,000 on the carriage, which was hauled up from Gloucester by road. It now stands on two concrete walls designed to keep it completely level to Delph station's original platform, making it accessible step-free. In total, the dad-of-three says he spent £27,000 on the restoration. He added: "One side was covered in tin - that must have been put there in the 50s or 40s to protect one side. "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. 7 7 7 "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." Nigel is now planning on expanding his Airbnb offering with a new chamber in the station's former waiting room, to allow larger groups to visit. Nigel said: "People absolutely adore it, there's a lot of history here. It's a beautiful place. "It is beautiful, and it's quite 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." 7
