A man converted an abandoned railway station into a home that comes with a working 1950s train and tracks. Now he's selling it for $592,000 take a look.
Mikhaila Friel
- A former train station that was transformed into a 6-bedroom house is for sale.
- Saughtree Station in the south of Scotland is on the market for $592,000.
A former train station in Scotland that was converted into a 6-bedroom house is on the market for £500,000, or around $592,000.
Saughtree Station in the south of Scotland is certainly a train fanatic's dream. The six-bedroom, six-bathroom house is on the market for around $592,000, according to Savills' online listing, and the property comes with a 1950s train and tracks that the owner installed himself.
The property was derelict and had no electricity when the current owner purchased it in the '90s.
The train station dates back to 1867. After it was closed for use in the 1950s, the property was "completely derelict" until the current owner, Geoff Mann, 85, and his late wife purchased it 30 years ago, Mann told Insider.
It didn't have any electricity at first, and they spent the first couple of years making renovations to ensure it was "habitable," he said.
A couple of years after purchasing the property, the owners installed train tracks.
Mann told Insider that they purchased the property because he loves trains, and he thought it would be fun to turn the station "back into what it once was." The train station had been empty for many years, and there were no train tracks because everything had been "ripped up" by British Rail when the train operator discontinued the Waverley Route in 1969, he said.
After around five years in the property, Mann said they made other refurbishments, including adding an extension with a library. They also purchased and laid 200 meters of train tracks. He said an acquaintance initially helped with laying the tracks until he learned how to do it himself.
Six months later, Mann and his wife purchased a 1950s train to sit on the tracks.
"After six months, we thought, 'What's the point of having railway tracks if there's no train?'" Mann told Insider. They ended up purchasing a 1950s train, which Mann said is operational and can travel up to a third of a mile.
Mann didn't disclose how much he spent on the train, however, he said it cost more to have it delivered than to purchase it.
Mann told Insider that he has been obsessed with trains since he was a young child.
"I lived with my parents in Coventry, before Hitler tried to throw bombs at Coventry. Because it was dangerous, my mother would take me on the train to Crewe, which I loved," Mann said, reflecting on his experience growing up in England during World War II.
Mann said he can still remember being in his stroller at Crewe Station in Cheshire, England, and watching the steam trains go past.
Mann's daughter, Rachel, currently lives in the property and turned it into a B&B in 2015.
Mann told Insider that he and his wife lived in the property part-time, splitting their time between Scotland and London until his wife became unwell in 2014.
When it became clear that his wife wasn't able to travel, the couple spent more time in Scotland and their daughter, Rachel, and her husband, Rob, moved in to help look after her before her death in 2017.
Rachel and Rob turned part of the property into a B&B in 2015.
"We came from down south to look after Rachel's mother, so they asked if we wanted to come and live in the house. We said, 'We're both losing good jobs, so we'll need to do something.' So we came up with a B&B," Rob told Insider.
The B&B has two bedrooms and can host two guests. The price for two guests plus breakfast is £100 per night, or around $120, the website states.
Inside the property, there's a cozy living room with a fireplace and a built-in bookshelf.
Rachel and Rob currently live in the extension part of the property, while guests reside in the main house, Mann told Insider.
There are views of the train from the living room.
"I've made it pretty clear that I'd like the train to stay here with the property, but it's not essential," Mann told Insider.
"I want someone to really enjoy it, rather than exploit it," he added.
The B&B portion of the property has a kitchenette, two single bedrooms which are joined, and an ensuite bathroom.
Rob said the B&B is currently still accepting bookings, and it would be up to the potential buyer whether they want to take over the business.
The kitchenette has a dining table, lounge chairs, kitchen facilities, and a selection of food and beverages.
Rob told Insider that overnight guests are given a selection of tea, coffee, cheeses, yogurt, bread, fresh fruit, and snacks such as chocolate and chips.
The family hopes to stay in Scotland after the property is sold.
Other than attracting train fans, Rob and Mann said the property would appeal to those who enjoy the countryside. The former station is located in a remote village and there are hardly any neighbors, Rob said.
Mann said he's selling the property because he wants to downsize, but hopes that he and the family can stay in Scotland because they love the peace and quiet.
"I'm 85 now, and it's a very big place just for me. Like a model railway, once you've built it, it's not as much fun," Mann said.
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