Idaho plumber transforms 120-year-old cat-infested train wreck — and makes a fortune doing it

An average Idaho man has turned a dilapidated train car into a successful luxury travel company that brings in more than $85,000 in bookings annually.

Isaac Frans shared his father’s remarkable journey to recovery and entrepreneurship X on Wednesday.

“My father bought this 120-year-old train car for $2,000. It was a rotting, cat-infested wreck. But after a $147,000 investment and five months of work, we bought it back. Today, it’s one of the most profitable and exclusive properties in the country,” French explained.

French told Dailymail.com: ‘It was really tough… I didn’t see any hope in it at first. I don’t think anyone believed in it at first – the hardest part was getting started.’

But the results are remarkable. “It paid for itself in 18 months,” French said. “It’s now bringing in $75,000 to $85,000 in bookings.”

The story begins when French’s father, a plumber who owns a construction company and runs a business that provides agritourism accommodations on his family’s farm, responds to a call from an elderly farmer who needs help shoveling snow from a collapsing barn roof.

An ordinary man from Idaho has turned a dilapidated train car into a thriving business, earning him $85,000 a year

In the barn he discovered an old wagon (passenger, mail and freight car) in which about 20 cats had lived.

Isaac French (pictured) shared his father’s remarkable journey to recovery and entrepreneurship on X on Wednesday

After some research they identified the wreck as WI&M Car 306, built in 1906.

The wagon had been taken out of service in the 1950s when the local railway lines were torn up. A farmer had dragged the wagon 10 miles to use it for storing grain and feeding cows.

Car 306 was originally purchased in 1909 by the Washington Idaho & Montana Railway to serve its booming lumber industry.

After decades of service, the animal ended up in a barn where cats were kept, until French’s father discovered and rescued it.

French’s father purchased the car for $2,000 before taking on the challenge of transporting the 60-foot-long train car over winding, hilly backcountry roads.

Two months and $10,000 later, a local truck driver successfully moved the car to its new home.

The family then embarked on an extensive restoration project.

After some research they identified it as WI&M Car 306, built in 1906

The wagon had been taken out of service in the 1950s when the local railway lines were pulled up and a farmer had towed it 10 miles to use it for storing grain and feeding cows.

Car 306 was originally purchased in 1909 by the Washington Idaho & Montana Railway to serve the thriving lumber industry

French’s older brother built a wooden shed and platform around the wagon, following traditional depot architecture.

“And then the *real* work began…” French wrote. “My older brother built a wooden shed and platform around the car, with a roofline that mimicked traditional depot architecture. (This would be crucial to protecting the special car and adding to the train atmosphere.)”

‘It was early 2020… With a pandemic raging across the world, it was the perfect time to embark on an adventurous outdoor project.’

“That’s exactly what we did. My brothers and I each took on different parts of the job, laboriously restoring every piece of the car. We reimagined the space…” he added.

The interior was completely renovated: the mail room became a bedroom, the luggage room a bathroom and the passenger area a kitchenette and lounge.

After investing $147,000 and five months of work, they listed the converted train car on Airbnb. French said bookings immediately “came flooding in.”

“But then something unexpected happened…” he wrote.

French’s father bought the car for $2,000 before taking on the challenge of moving the 61-foot-long train car over winding, hilly backcountry roads

The interior was completely renovated, with the mail compartment becoming a bedroom, the luggage compartment a bathroom and the passenger compartment a kitchenette and lounge

After investing $147,000 and five months of work, they listed the converted train car on Airbnb. French said bookings “came flooding in immediately.”

When asked about the inspiration behind this unique restoration project, French told Dailymail.com: ‘It was very much a family collaboration and my father was the original inspiration with his love of trains. I’ve always been passionate about creating unique experiences.’

The success of this project led to further opportunities.

The family purchased and restored the nearby Deary train station, transforming it into a unique three-unit residence.

‘Just a few miles away in Deary (population 550), the old train depot — the very place this car had stopped countless times — was up for sale. It wasn’t worth much to most people, so we jumped on it. You guessed it, we also restored it and turned it into a one-of-a-kind 3-unit retreat! But it gets better…’

They also bought an old railcar and converted it into a rental property, restoring rail service in Idaho.

Trainset 306 has been open for four years now and has an occupancy rate of 90 percent, at rates of over $350 per night.

The interior of the train (pictured here is the entrance) was completely renovated, with the postal compartment and freight area converted into bedrooms and the passenger area into a kitchenette and lounge

Trainset 306 has been open for four years now and has an occupancy rate of 90 percent, at rates of over $350 per night.

French describes it as ‘one of the most exclusive properties in the country’ and said: ‘Guests go crazy for it…’

The project has not only created a lucrative business, but has also attracted visitors from all over the world to their small town.

French stressed that this success did not require a fortune, but only “a vision, faith and some old-fashioned loving labor.”

The success of this project has had a huge impact on the local community, French explains.

“The transformation was incredible,” he said. “This project, the train car alone, was revolutionary in our community. We had over 85 guests from people all over the country who flew all the way from Belgium to come to the middle of nowhere to stay in this train car.”

Since then, French has started a company to help others with their entrepreneurial endeavors called Experiential hospitality, founded to help others create their own unique hospitality offering.