The restoration of old train cars has led to a beautiful story that in turn is a successful business. This is the idea that occurred to a family from Deary (Idaho, USA) in 2020 and that the American network portrays in a report.
Isaac French, 27, along with his relatives, took over a train car, number 306, which was abandoned on a neighbor’s farm. It didn’t cost them, relatively, much. They took it for about $3,000. Today, those cars generate an estimated $75,000 to $110,000 a year. And without leaving the tracks, but how?
The answer comes down to a single term that is well known in many countries around the world: tourist accommodation or AirBnB. Indeed, what this American family did with in the future. The performances speak for themselves.
An investment of $100,000 far exceeded
It should be noted that to restore and condition these carriages, the family had to make a significant investment. Not only to prepare them, but to create the magical environment in which it is located and that is part of the accommodation experience. It was exactly $150,000, including $3,000 to purchase the train car and $10,000 to move the 61-foot-long structure to his 145-acre property.
The rest of the loan, $137,000, was used for six months to remodel the cars themselves. This is how they turned the old passenger room into a living room and the mail room into a bedroom. “They wake up in the morning and have panoramic views of the countryside. It’s a really spectacular place to sleep,” explains the family of this accommodation, which has a sauna with a mirror, a jacuzzi and a fire pit.
It should be noted that the night on this dream train costs between $325 and $350. How much has this business generated? In its first year, the train car had 90% occupancy and generated revenue of $14,179. Since then, income has increased to between $75,000 and $110,000 a year, according to the financial documents reviewed by CNBC for its ‘Make It’ section. But last year, in 2024, the train car generated $110,172 in Airbnb revenue and was booked for 140 nights on the digital platform.
