Off The Rails, Carriage B&B

Willangi Bush Escapes would like to welcome you aboard our 1918 and 1923 Railway carriages, Boutique studio style accommodation.

Located a short 1.5km from the Main Street of Peterborough, on the edge of town so you have the seclusion of being in a farm/country setting while having the town’s conveniences a short drive or leisurely stroll away.
The Carriages are set up in such a way that you have splendid views of Peterborough or looking over the magnificent farming land and hills of the area.
There is a nice deck area for you to enjoy evening nibbles and drinks or maybe breakfast.
Because it’s the attention to detail and the little things that make a stay special each room has all the things you need and a few luxuries to make your stay relaxing and enjoyable.
Keeping with the yesteryear feel the rooms are beautifully decorated with antique furniture while not skimping on comfort or modern luxuries.

The Kitchen has a fridge, microwave, toaster, kettle, coffee plunger and Espresso coffee.
Sit in comfort while watching TV or having an after dinner chat in period lounge chairs.
The bathroom and dressing area is well appointed with soap and shampoo/conditioner for you use, a hair dryer and just outside the bathroom there is a table with a mirror for the ladies to do their make-up, a cupboard to hang your clothes and an iron and ironing board.
At the end of the night jump in to a comfortable bed complete with an electric blanket
No matter the weather outside regulate your inside temperature year round with the reverse cycle air conditioner.
You can choose between a Queen room (1x Queen Bed) or a family room (1xQueen Bed and one Bunk bed).
Feel free to have a look though our gallery .

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL, Minimum of 12-24hrs prior to arrival.
#Prices Effective 1st July 2023 and includes continental breakfast for one morning unless otherwise stated.

Queen Room:
FROM $140 per couple
Family Room:
FROM $190 

*Minimum 3 nights Easter Weekend @ $140.00 Queen or $190 Family per night
*Minimum 2 Nights standard weekends @$140.00 Queen or $190 Family per night
OR
* Queen Room $190 for 1 night (Fri/Sat)
*Family $240 for 1 night (Fri/Sat)

Basic History
Originally First class bogie carriage 56 feet long over frame, 10 feet wide and 13 feet 6 inches in height 76 seats.  Was a centre-loading carriage which made it ideal for suburban work.  There were four points  of exit/entry compared with just two doors (one at each end) of country passenger carriages.  Also, in keeping with suburban train operations, no toilet facilities were provided – this enabled the optimum number of seats to be available for passengers.

Whilst these cars would have spent most of their lives in service on suburban trains, there were occasions when these cars could be found in the consist of country passenger trains – especially at busy times like Easter, Long Weekends and Christmas/New Year.  They could be found spliced into trains that consisted mainly of “centenary” carriages – a suburban carriage had to be coupled with a centenary car to provide access to toilet facilities in the centenary car which also had step down facilities at stops where no platform was provided – this was especially the case on lines that had originally been narrow gauge e.g. Hamley Bridge to Moonta and Gladstone.
 

After their life on the rails they were taken to Tanunda and converted in to Motel Accommodation, were they stayed for around 30 years, until the Motel closed at the end of 2013 beginning 2014 and the Trains were brought and moved to a cow paddock near Strathalbyn where we found them.