Train car number 306, once part of the Washington, Idaho & Montana railway, lay abandoned for decades in Deary, Idaho. This structure, approximately 18,5 meters long, served as a grain storage facility and was home to 20 feral cats.
Isaac French, 29, stated that his father discovered the train car in december 2018 while helping a neighbor clear snow. Despite significant damage to its wooden exterior and window system, the family recognized the faded numbers "306" on the tail end – the identification mark for a car manufactured by American Car & Foundry in Missouri in 1906. After the railway line through the area was dismantled in the 1950s, the previous owner moved the car to their farm for storage.
The French family negotiated to purchase the train car for 3,000 USD. The restoration process took place from january to august 2020, with total renovation costs amounting to approximately 147,000 USD.
Transporting the train car proved challenging due to its large size and deteriorated condition. In february 2020, a semi-truck moved the car a three-hour journey across snow-covered roads to the family's property. There, the French family constructed a wooden-framed shelter to protect the car's structure from the elements.
To minimize costs, family members undertook most of the construction work themselves. They collectively installed electrical and plumbing systems, treated wooden surfaces, crafted brass details, restored gilded lettering, and sourced antique furniture for decoration.
The century-old train car before and after its transformation into accommodation. *Image: isaacjfrench*
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The family referenced original photographs from 1906 to restore the car's authentic details. Much of the original wooden frame remained in good condition, protected for years within the warehouse. Decayed wood sections around the window frames were treated with specialized adhesive.
After its refurbishment, the train car was repurposed into an accommodation space while retaining its original partitioned structure. The former mail compartment became the main bedroom, the cargo area transformed into a bathroom, and the previous passenger section was converted into a reading room, complete with a wood-burning stove and a small kitchenette.
The accommodation has been welcoming guests since august 2020, with an average nightly rate exceeding 350 USD. Occupancy rates reached approximately 90%, allowing the family to recoup their investment after about one year of operation. Isaac French stated that running the accommodation is a way to maintain and preserve the train car's historical value.
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