Donated train 'valuable resource' to Blyth SEN school
A project involving a repurposed Pacer train to use as a classroom for children with specialist needs is nearing completion. Volunteers from Northern's Heaton TrainCare Centre fixed leaks in the train's roof and its power supply after the train was donated to the Dales School in Blyth by company Porterbrook in 2020.The second part of the initiative involved engineers repairing the wipers, headlights, signal buzzer and fan in the driver's cab which has recently been finished. The volunteers also restored the train's public address system, which the school's therapists said would be a "valuable resource" for pupils to make announcements and develop their speech and language skills.
The engineers and apprentices also installed a walkway over a section of track, which was donated by Network Rail. The school, near the new Northumberland Line at Blyth, said the new driver's cab would give children opportunities to learn about rail safety and the hazards of trespassing. The project was featured on George Clark's Channel 4 show Amazing Spaces in 2023 and it also received last year's Love Northumberland award.
Pupil Leo said: "I love the train as I'm going to be a train driver when I grow up and I get to practice on the train controls and tell everyone where the train is going."Meanwhile Lennie said: "My favourite time of the week is when we go on the train, I like the train driving simulator, it's like I'm driving a real train."
James Groundwater, outdoor learning teacher at the school, said the volunteers had "made the train come to life" and now it was watertight for future use. Heaton TrainCare Centre's manager, Garry Roseby, said he was "extremely proud" of the engineers who spent their weekends and holidays restoring the train.
"It has also given the apprentices an opportunity to work on the legacy fleet which has served the North East so well over the years, allowing them to develop their skills on a different electrical and mechanical system," he said.The engineers said they would return in July to fit guttering to the train roof.
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