Sleep in a Train Car
Trains are a romantic form of transportation, slow-moving and with someone else doing all of the work. Sleeping in a bedroom on a train, if you've never done it, is an experience worth seeking out. But if you'd rather do it without rolling down the rails, these stationary train bed and breakfasts and small hotels fit the bill.
Be sure to read through all four pages of this article to find in-train bed and breakfasts across the United States, as well as in Canada, England and Australia.
Alaska
Forget-Me-Not Lodge and the Aurora-Express
Fairbanks, Alaska
Rails: Situated on 400 feet of track overlooking Fairbanks and the Tenana Valley is the Aurora-Express, consisting of three private cars and one four-suite car. Private cars include the Golden Nellie Caboose, with queen bed, gilded ceilings, velvet drapes and covered observation deck; the National Emblem, a 1956 Pullman sleeper car with room for seven; and Arlene, an 85-foot car with two bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room. The National Domain car contains four suites, each with a queen bed, private entrance, 10-foot-high hand-painted ceiling, crystal chandeliers and antiques.
Breakfast: A full-course breakfast is served family-style in the Lodge.
More: Offering an additional three guest rooms, the Forget-Me-Not Lodge is set on 10 and 1/2 acres, featuring views of the Tenana River, the Alaskan Mountain Range and Fairbanks. It is open May through September.
Arizona
Canyon Motel, The
Williams, Arizona
Rails: Guests can choose from two Santa Fe Railroad cabooses or the Grand Canyon Railcar Suite.
Breakfast: A continental breakfast is served seasonally.
More: Located a few blocks from the Grand Canyon Railway Depot and surrounded by a forest of ponderosa pines, the Canyon Motel also offers 18 flagstone cottages. The grounds include an indoor heated pool (open in season) and swing set. Williams is about 60 miles south of the Grand Canyon.
Karrels' Double K Ranch Bed & Breakfast Inn Homestay
Tucson, Arizona
Rails: A restored and refurbished Southern Pacific caboose contains a double bed, railroader's bunk for children, lounging area, claw-footed tub and refrigerator.
Breakfast: A full ranch breakfast is served on the patio. Room service is available.
More: In the foothills of the Santa Catalina mountains at the far northeast corner of Tucson, this four-acre bed and breakfast also offers one room and one suite in the main house. Guests can make use of the pool, heated spa, garden railway, private trails and home office, including a fax and online computer. Featuring railroad memorabilia and model trains, Double K Ranch is also home to a wild burro, two Weimaraners and a cat.
Arkansas
Livingston Junction Cabooses
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Rails: Nestled on a mountainside in Eureka Springs are three restored and renovated cabooses, each with a private driveway resembling a railroad bed, deck with hot tub, hammock and grill. Caboose #101 with country decor was built in September 1967 in Kenton, Ohio, and ran on the Burlington Northern rails; Caboose #102 with Victorian decor was built in March 1930 at the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad shops in Aurora, Illinois; and Caboose #103 with Old West decor was built in 1926 and ran from St. Louis to San Francisco. Among the cars' furnishings are an original brakeman's desk, original cupboards and cabinets, and railroad memorabilia, including photos and books.
Breakfast: Breakfast is not provided.
More: Livingston Junction includes one additional overnight accommodation, the Junction Depot, a replica of a railroad depot with a queen bed and pullout couch. The property offers nature trails and a picnic area, and guests may hear the steam engine of the Eureka Springs & Northwest Arkansas Railway excursion train passing nearby.
California
Featherbed Railroad Company
Nice, California
Rails: Overlooking Clear Lake in Northern California, nine refurbished cabooses reflect such themes as Wild Wild West, Orient Express, Wine Country, Casablanca and Easy Rider. All rooms have feather beds and refrigerators and most have Jacuzzis for two.
Breakfast: Guests can enjoy a full breakfast in their railcar or at the main house.
More: An outdoor pool and spa highlight the property, which also includes a private beach with a pier and boat dock and ramp. Nice is located about 130 miles north of San Francisco.
Be sure to read through all four pages of this article to find in-train bed and breakfasts across the United States, as well as in Canada, England and Australia.
Alaska
Forget-Me-Not Lodge and the Aurora-Express
Fairbanks, Alaska
Rails: Situated on 400 feet of track overlooking Fairbanks and the Tenana Valley is the Aurora-Express, consisting of three private cars and one four-suite car. Private cars include the Golden Nellie Caboose, with queen bed, gilded ceilings, velvet drapes and covered observation deck; the National Emblem, a 1956 Pullman sleeper car with room for seven; and Arlene, an 85-foot car with two bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room. The National Domain car contains four suites, each with a queen bed, private entrance, 10-foot-high hand-painted ceiling, crystal chandeliers and antiques.
Breakfast: A full-course breakfast is served family-style in the Lodge.
More: Offering an additional three guest rooms, the Forget-Me-Not Lodge is set on 10 and 1/2 acres, featuring views of the Tenana River, the Alaskan Mountain Range and Fairbanks. It is open May through September.
Arizona
Canyon Motel, The
Williams, Arizona
Rails: Guests can choose from two Santa Fe Railroad cabooses or the Grand Canyon Railcar Suite.
Breakfast: A continental breakfast is served seasonally.
More: Located a few blocks from the Grand Canyon Railway Depot and surrounded by a forest of ponderosa pines, the Canyon Motel also offers 18 flagstone cottages. The grounds include an indoor heated pool (open in season) and swing set. Williams is about 60 miles south of the Grand Canyon.
Karrels' Double K Ranch Bed & Breakfast Inn Homestay
Tucson, Arizona
Rails: A restored and refurbished Southern Pacific caboose contains a double bed, railroader's bunk for children, lounging area, claw-footed tub and refrigerator.
Breakfast: A full ranch breakfast is served on the patio. Room service is available.
More: In the foothills of the Santa Catalina mountains at the far northeast corner of Tucson, this four-acre bed and breakfast also offers one room and one suite in the main house. Guests can make use of the pool, heated spa, garden railway, private trails and home office, including a fax and online computer. Featuring railroad memorabilia and model trains, Double K Ranch is also home to a wild burro, two Weimaraners and a cat.
Arkansas
Livingston Junction Cabooses
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Rails: Nestled on a mountainside in Eureka Springs are three restored and renovated cabooses, each with a private driveway resembling a railroad bed, deck with hot tub, hammock and grill. Caboose #101 with country decor was built in September 1967 in Kenton, Ohio, and ran on the Burlington Northern rails; Caboose #102 with Victorian decor was built in March 1930 at the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad shops in Aurora, Illinois; and Caboose #103 with Old West decor was built in 1926 and ran from St. Louis to San Francisco. Among the cars' furnishings are an original brakeman's desk, original cupboards and cabinets, and railroad memorabilia, including photos and books.
Breakfast: Breakfast is not provided.
More: Livingston Junction includes one additional overnight accommodation, the Junction Depot, a replica of a railroad depot with a queen bed and pullout couch. The property offers nature trails and a picnic area, and guests may hear the steam engine of the Eureka Springs & Northwest Arkansas Railway excursion train passing nearby.
California
Featherbed Railroad Company
Nice, California
Rails: Overlooking Clear Lake in Northern California, nine refurbished cabooses reflect such themes as Wild Wild West, Orient Express, Wine Country, Casablanca and Easy Rider. All rooms have feather beds and refrigerators and most have Jacuzzis for two.
Breakfast: Guests can enjoy a full breakfast in their railcar or at the main house.
More: An outdoor pool and spa highlight the property, which also includes a private beach with a pier and boat dock and ramp. Nice is located about 130 miles north of San Francisco.
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