Vintage Train Carriage Converted to a Steampunk Inspired Cabin

COVID-19 -Update. August 24 2020
We will continue to offer FULL refunds to anyone unable to travel due to government restrictions and guidelines.
We have adapted the recommended enhanced cleaning routine.
Self check-in and checkout via key-safe.
The property has reliable fast WiFi and we are open to longer stays.

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As seen on Better Homes and Gardens Channel 7- March 2020
For more photos follow us on instagram @dufflebird_getaways

Take a step back in time, to bygone era, where life was simpler. Where people spent time with dignified entertainment and seemed to have more space and time. Welcome back to the great age of Steam.......

The carriage was used as a workshop, when the original owner was building the house next door. Parts of the train were stripped and used in the house construction.

When we started renovating the carriage it was a complete mess. There was not enough intact to restore it authentically, so we have developed our own style that is vaguely steam-punk influenced. We approached several builders, but none were prepared to take it on, certainly not for a fixed fee. Eventually we found George, a full time artist and part time builder, who shared our passion for the renovation (as long as it was on an hourly rate).

Almost every surface had to have something done to it. We thought we would strip out and move around a few panels and dividers, but we found that carriages were really tightly put together (all that rattling) and hard to pull apart. When we did get panels off, we had no idea what we would find. We completely stripped and rewired the electrical, and did plumbing from scratch. Renovating anything nearly a century old will have its challenges, but this was exceptional.

It is not 5 star luxury, and certainly not for everyone, but it is one of a kind. Steam's popularity with guests has amazed us.

Forrest is a gorgeous small town of weatherboard shacks, surrounded by towering Mountain Ash rain forest with lush ferny under-story. The dawn birdsong is extraordinary. There is a lot to do around Forrest even if you are not a mountain biker.

FEATURES :
- 3 bedrooms. Can sleep 6 guests but 2 or 4 would be more comfortable. See Sleeping Options below.
- Linen, towels, hand towels and tea towels are provided. The beds will be made up when you arrive.
- Bathroom with shower
- Open plan kitchen/living room
- Wood fire box heater with wood supply included
- Nobo heaters
- Full small kitchen with stove, oven, sink, fridge
- No washing machine and dryer
- WiFi
-Bluetooth sound system
- Italian style stove-top coffee maker
- Basic provisions like olive oil, spices, tea, coffee, Vegemite and Glad Wrap
- With great regret we no longer offer the four free bikes. The expectation of having bikes in good working order was a service we could not reliably offer without living nearby and maintaining them between guests. Bring your own mountain bikes or you can hire bikes at Forrest Hire Bikes, two minutes walk away.
- Pets and children welcome. The yard is fenced but not necessarily dog proof.

NO TV. There is a sound system, books and board games.

Enter via Sanderson Lane. You cant miss it, it is the only train carriage at the elbow in the lane.

SLEEPING OPTIONS
The train can sleep six people, but four would be more comfortable.

The small bed rooms used to be train seating compartments, only 2.1m square, so they are only just longer than a bed. The rooms are close together, the bath room is between the kids and second bedroom and there is not a lot of audio insulation. You can hear what is happening in the next compartment.

It is ideal for:
• A couple (with the whole train for themselves it is pretty spacious).
• A couple and two kids.

It should work well for:
• A couple, and up to four kids. Two kids would need to sleep in one queen bed. It would be a great place for kids to bring a friend.
• Two couples, as long as they were good friends. It would be close living.

It may work for:
• Four adults, one in each bed. The single beds are train beds, like caravan beds (750mm wide).
• Any more adults would be possible, but only if you are planning to be out most of the day and out for dinner. If it a just place to sleep, it could work.

BEDROOMS
Master: Two compartments long, with a queen bed.
Second: Single compartment with two thin single beds.
Third: Single compartment with a queen bed.

PRICING
Steam is priced to make the property attractive to both smaller families and also groups of up to 6. Big groups take much longer to clean-up after and use more electricity, water and firewood, so we have set up a sliding price scale. There is a flat rate for up to 4 guests. Each guest above this is an additional $50 per night – this way small groups aren’t excluded and it covers the additional cleaning and utility costs for larger groups. A flat rate works well for some properties but are trialling this system to make it less expensive for smaller groups.
CARRIAGE HISTORY
The carriage is no stranger to conversion. It has had an amazing history, with 7 lives and 5 conversions. It was built as a First Class carriage in 1926 and converted between First and Second Class 4 times, then retired in 1983. More detailed history, some photos and original plans of the carriage are available on booking.

THE GREAT AGE OF STEAM
Steam, certainly wont be for everyone, but we have had great feedback from the young and the young at heart. There seems to be a great fondness for the "Great Age of Steam", when locomotives were so important, linking towns across the country. At the turn of the century trains were the greatest technological achievement of humans, they opened new horizons, and were a symbol of power and progress. We hope we have tapped in to this, and we're excited to be able to offer this unique accommodation to guests.

Steam is managed by Dufflebird,
Two time Stayz State Title Winner,
Two times Stayz National Title Winner.