All aboard! Seven houses perfect for rail fans

While trainspotting is less popular these days than it was in the golden era of steam, it's still a hobby for as many as 100,000 people across the UK. It takes dedication - and stout clothes, as standing about for hours on a railway platform certainly isn't for the faint-hearted.

Fury after being fined £615 for four-minute train journey

But some lucky people get to enjoy their hobby from the comfort of their own home: we look at seven houses perfect for rail fans.

Combe Florey, Somerset

You couldn't get closer to the West Somerset Steam Railway than this - the track runs right past at head height, making for some surreal views. And this four-bedroom house comes with a two-bed barn conversion, so there's plenty of space for train-spotting friends. It's a lovely old stone house, Grade II listed, and there's a beautiful south-facing garden. It costs £585,000 through Purple Bricks.

Monks Close, Cornwall

Trains haven't run through Old Luckett Station since 1966 - which is probably a good thing, as the station-house itself faces a leisure complex, created from the old waiting room and ticket office, across the tracks. The four-bedroom house is immaculately presented, and the leisure complex houses an indoor heated swimming pool as well as a sauna, spa bath and shower room/WC. There are several other outbuildings in the two and a half acres of land, and lovely views across Dartmoor and the Cornish countryside. The house costs £695,000 through Purple Bricks.

The homes we most wanted to buy last year

St Pancras Place, Kings Cross, London WC1

It won't be finished until July, but this two-bedroom duplex apartment is just yards from King's Cross and St Pancras stations. It consists of an open-plan reception with contemporary fitted kitchen and large master bedroom with access to a private terrace, as well as a second bedroom with access to outside space, luxury family bathroom and guest WC. Close to Eurostar, it would make the perfect pied-a-terre for the European train traveller with £1,150,000 to spare; it's available from My London Home.

Burnham, Buckinghamshire

A 170-yard light railway track winds its way round the garden of 1920s farmhouse Lea Rig - 'a relic back to the passions of a previous owner', say agents Hamptons. The six-bedroom detached house is centered around an octagonal hall, and there are three further reception rooms plus a study. For those wishing to commute via rather larger trains, Taplow station is just a short walk away. There's an asking price of £1,450,000.

Penmaenmawr, Gwynedd

"Whether you are a train enthusiast or looking for a mixed residential or commercial investment which could produce an income of over £20,000 per annum this is your chance to buy a piece of North Wales & railway history," say agents Auction House North West. For a guide price of £125,000, you'll get Penmaenmawr Station itself, which is on the main Euston to Holyhead line with 20 trains stopping there each day. On the ground floor, there's a chunk of retail space, and there's a three-bed flat above, It's up for auction on 18 May.

Retirees plan to splash cash on holidays and hobbies

Southwold, Suffolk

The attic room takes up most of the top floor of this period house, and has a large working Hornby railway running all the way round. There's a fitted cupboard - though the railway currently runs right through it. The railway can be removed, or sold separately. There are another two bedrooms, a brand new kitchen diner, and the house is just minutes from the beach. It costs £725,000 from iMove Estates.

Preston, Lancashire

This last property is purely a commercial proposition - but it'd be easy enough to find somewhere to live nearby. Transport Models was founded in 1989 and turns over around £771,000, with a gross profit of around 33%. There's over £400,000 worth of good quality stock at cost value, including model railways, collectable diecast and plastic soldiers. It's up for sale for £100,000 through agents Hilton Smythe Commercial.