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| Railway hideaway |
| From public transport to child's playroom to new home: who would have thought a rail carriage could have so many uses? |
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Someone obviously forgot to tell George Cegg's dad that when the kids ask for a locomotion, they mean a model train set or Kylie Minogue album. Twelve years ago, George's father decided to buy a train for the kids. He came home with a nine metre long Queensland Rail Carriage that was so big, two trucks and a crane were needed to transport it.
The three Cegg's kids got years of enjoyment from their "toy". Eventually the novelty wore off and now that George is an adult, he doesn't need a playroom, but his very own apartment. The solution — convert the old carriage into a new home.
George's quirky accommodation is on his parents' 26 acre semi-rural property, just out of Brisbane. The family decided to convert the carriage when George entered the hospitality industry. The apprentice chef often works the graveyard shift and comes home at all hours of the night. So that his night movements wouldn't disturb the family, George agreed to move out.
George wasn't the first one to realise the train had potential as a house and when the renovations began, they discovered a family of bats and a carpet snake had already taken up residence. The animals were quickly relocated, but George claims that some nights he is still visited by a former resident — a fury little bilby.
The train originally consisted of seven compartments, but this has been reduced to five. As a result the train is more open-plan and some of the compartments are larger. The main compartment faces both entrances and this is where George likes to sit and read. To one side is a queen size bed that has been wedged between the original seats of a compartment. The original fittings have been retained.
A modest bathroom is situated near the bed with original basin, new toilet and running water. The site was once an orchard so water pipes were already installed and all that was required was a connection. The only catch — the water's cold. Of course the luxury of living close to mum and dad is you can always duck home for a hot shower and bite to eat. There isn't a phone but electricity has been installed so George has all the necessities — his own sound system, TV and video.
The carriage has its pros and cons. It's very cold in winter and George doesn't have a heater — oil heating would take too long and an open bar would probably send the whole thing up in smoke. To keep warm, George snuggles down with six blankets. George says the best thing about his carriage is the privacy and that it's easy to clean — once a month he simply hoses the carriage out.
George has landscaped and paved an area outside the train and added a BBQ. His mates think the set-up is pretty cool, and George plans to stay there at least until he finishes his apprenticeship in 2001.
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