Great Western Coffee Shop

Worldwide demand for slate grew to the point where the horses couldn't get the empties back to the quarries quickly enough and in 1863 the railway became the first narrow gauge line in the world to introduce steam locomotives.

With the line^s adoption of this new technology, new staff were needed and Coed y Bleiddiau was built; its first occupant being Henry Hovenden and his large family.

Anna Keay, Director of the Landmark Trust said: "Coed y Bleiddiau has much in common with some of Landmark^s earliest projects: it is modest in scale but deeply special for its place in our history and landscape. This wonderful steam railway has been revived thanks to the heroic work of the Ffestiniog Railway.

[snip]

Since the death of Bob and Babs Johnson, the last tenants who lived at Coed y Bleiddiau from the 1950s, the building has fallen into disrepair.

"Landmark hopes to start the project in summer 2016 and needs to raise 400,000 pounds to breathe life once again into this neglected building.

"It would open for bookings of up to four guests some time in 2017, who will be able to flag an approaching train from its own tiny private platform," added Ms Keay.

The building has remained the property of the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway Trust, with whom the Landmark Trust is partnering.

As with the slate for the newly and urgently restored roof, the materials and manpower will all be carried to and from the site by train.

This got me thinking...............are stations buildings ever sold which are on working main lines? I would love to see the estate agents description..

Yes! Dawlish Warren signal box - not sure what its current use is though!  (photo by Adrian Copley (forestade) on photobucket)
Image snipped to reduce space..

This got me thinking...and searching..so to help me ask my question i came across this example...

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-35833901.html

As far as I know the above property is not on the main rail network (I think it is on the North Yorks Moors Line) but are stations buildings ever sold which are on working main lines? I would love to see the estate agents description..

This property IS on a working mainline railway, Glaisdale being a passing loop on the Esk Valley Line (Whitby-Middlesborough), but also passed by North York Moors steam trains on occasional forays out to Battersby.  It would have made a lovely purchase for a rail enthusiast who only likes to see a train now and again as a treat.  :)

Thats not the original Dawlish Warren signalbox.  It's a new build replica now about 8-10 years old.  The orignal signalbox was on the other (Down) side of the line.

Thanks PhilWakey

If I read this right the signal box is a listed building - is this the same signal box? (See ref 491370)

It doesn't look like it from the photo

http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/media/pdf/5/p/Listed_Buildings_List_-_correct_-_Redesign.pdf

An appeal has been launched to save a remote cottage on a train line which was immortalised in the much-loved children's television programme Ivor the Engine.
Coed y Bleiddiau was built in the Victorian era as a home for the superintendent of the Ffestiniog Railway, which runs through the Snowdonia National Park in North-West Wales.
The property - which is only accessible by rail - later became a holiday home and was then let out as a private house, before falling into ruin in recent years.