All aboard: a pair of Victorian train carriages form the heart of this unusual seaside home

Enjoy the delights of train travel from a bygone age in the comfort of your own home...
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Becky Davies20 September 2017

Behind the facade of this rather ordinary-looking bungalow lurks a surprise - the heart of this house is formed of two Victorian-era train carriages.

The 1,200sq ft, three-bedroom house near Bognor Regis, West Sussex, was built around a pair of Midland Railway carriages dating from 1885, which have been restored to their former glory.

The house is in Pagham, which is famous the world over for the number of houses created from former train carriages after the First World War.

They were originally used by wealthy people as sturdy and comfortable beachfront homes, but a shortage of housing for returning soldiers and a demand for cheap holiday homes meant they were soon turned over to ordinary people. In the Thirties alone, more than 300 bungalows were created from pairs of carriages.

Historic features: two Victorian-era train carriages form the centre of this bungalow
Farndell

Although the living room in this property is in the conventional part of the £500,000 house, you will have to step aboard the carriages for dinner and bed as the dining room and bedrooms - or sleeper compartments - are in the lovingly restored carriages.

The 18ft dining room shows off the arched ceiling of one of the carriages, while the hallway that runs between the carriages has been decorated to resemble a station platform, complete with period equipment including a porter’s trolley.

The master bedroom is 18ft long, while one of the other two bedrooms is currently being used a study and features a banquette-style bench to continue the railway theme.

The garden surrounds the house and includes a raised decked area as well as a covered seating area with a bar which is perfect for hosting garden parties for your envious friends.

At the end of the gated drive lies a double garage kitted out with a workshop.

If you really love trains and don’t want to drive to the capital, Bognor Regis station is just three miles away, with frequent trains to Victoria taking from 90 minutes.

The train carriage house is for sale through Farndell Estate Agents for a guide price of £500,000.