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Train Blog

Train Blog 16/10/2023

16th October 2023Lee Wilkinson

Heaton Depo and Rescue Pod

Heaton Depot and Rescue Pod were back at The Dales School. They were working on the roof to stop the leaks and helping to seal the windows.

Thank you to Tom Joyce (Northern), Gary and Vicki (RescuePod) and Gary Barnes (Heaton depot).

As you can see by the pictures a lot of hard work went into fixing the roof.

Thank you so much.

The Harrison Foundation donates Laptops

The Harrison Foundation has donated 20 laptops to The Dales school. The laptops will be used by children on the trains STEM carriage as well as inside school.

The Dales School train is part of the Harrison Foundations Centre for Social Mobility.

We are extremely grateful for the donation. Thank you to Daniel and Peter from the Harrison foundation.

Two of our students, Liam and Riley, worked together to create this amazing house, complete with doors, seats and even flooring tiles. They used the Large Lego (Ever Blocks) that forms a part of our STEM carriage on the train.

There was a lot of Maths involved to work out how to get the house at the same level. They even worked out the square meter of their house. We can’t wait to see some more students designs.

Official Opening of the Train

21st July 2023Lee Wilkinson

The train was officially opened after the recent completion of the STEAM hub. The Dales School had a chance to say thank you to the different organisations, volunteers and community who have helped make the train so fantastic.

We were also featured in the Chronicle and News post leader.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/blyth-school-officially-opens-converted-27313084

The Train is used as a resource to help children with life skills and basic skills, as well as developing early career aspirations, railway safety and reading for enjoyment.

Thank you to the Laurel trust, Harrison Foundation, Hargreaves foundation, Platten family Fund, Dreager, the Freemasons, Northern Rail, Barbour, Port of Blyth, Blyth Town Council, Avery Dennison and TEXO for the amazing support and funding.

On the journey of the train we have had some fantastic volunteers and workshops from Morgan Sindall, Northumberland County Council, AECOM, Network rail, the Police cadets and Aln Valley Railway.

Our amazing ticket office and waiting room was donated from Wickes and built by Blyth Manshed. Elaine Bambrough also worked hard in the STEAM room with painting and joinery.

In preparation for teaching early careers aspirations and learning how to travel on the railway we have had some amazing support from Marie Adderson from Northern rail, Nicola Buckley from Transpennine Express and Rachel Bateman and Mark Ellis from the Northumberland line.

Thank you to Mick Hodgeson from Network Rail for laying the train track and also Noel Forte from Henkel and Gary Barnes from Network Rail for donating products and helping to weatherproof the train. We would also like to thank Neil Blagburn for all the amazing support and local MP Ian Levy.

We have made some fantastic friends along the way. It was great to see everybody at the train event and look forward to working with you in the future.

Heaton Depot and Rescue Pod build level crossing for The Dales School train.

19th July 2023Lee Wilkinson

Staff from Heaton depot and Rescue pod were back at the Dales school. This time they were making a level crossing. The Dales school is working hard to promote railway safety, so it is important children understand the dangers of crossing a railway track. Thank you so much to Heaton Depot and Rescue pod for all the hard work.

We would like to thank Gary Barnes, Gary Roseby, Tom Joyce and Vicki Carr for the amazing work.

The team even managed to get the train’s tail lights working and patched up the leaking roof.

Kerry Peters, regional director at Northern, said: “Our team are proud to be able to support The Dales School and it is vital that children learn how to use the railway safely.

“At Northern, we aim to make a positive impact for the North East and the communities we serve.”

Transpennine Express Trip to York

19th July 2023Lee Wilkinson

Classes from Ashlade and Blythdale went on a fantastic journey to York. The classes were B12, A6 and A7.

We would like to say a big thank you to Nicola Buckley, Lisa Yemm, Gary Braddock, JJ Fletcher and Stephen O’doherty for the complementary train tickets and for making us feel very safe and comfortable on the train. We all had an amazing day.

We started our journey at Newcastle central station and we met Gary Braddock from Transpennine. Gary took us over to the Transpennine train and showed us to our seats. We had a very comfortable journey to York. The train was very fast.

At York we met Lisa Yemm. Lisa had a surprise for us, it was a Trenspennine goody bag, it was like a party bag, but even better.

We then walked over to the railway museum. We sat on the real bullet train and looked under a steam engine. Bradley even spotted a Dr.Who Tardis on the model railway layout.

We then got the train back to Newcastle and we were able to stand next to the train for a photo.

Northumberland Line Train Volunteers

9th May 2023Lee Wilkinson

Our new STEM carriage is now on track to be completed thanks to Northumberland Line volunteers who have helped prepare the carriage ready for painting.

Thank you to Neil Blagburn who works as the Northumberland Line Delivery Director for arranging the volunteer day.

Morgan Sindall, the Northumberland Line, AECOM, SLC Rail, Department for Transport, and Seamans volunteers worked very hard to strip back the paint and clean the train. Thank you so much for the work and your time, we could not have done it without you.

Harrison Centre for Social Mobility

28th March 2023Lee Wilkinson

On the 17th March we had a visit from Daniel and Peter from the Harrison Foundation and our local MP Ian Levy.

The STEM/Railway Safety carriage has been funded by the Harrison Foundation and is now part of their social mobility centres. The Dales School is very excited to be part of such a fantastic organisation. A huge thank you to Daniel and Peter!

Ian helped the school make contact with the Harrison Foundation and has been helping to support our fantastic train project. We would like to thank Ian for all his support.

The STEM carriage will be used to help children develop early career aspirations and develop skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths as well as helping to deliver Railway safety using a real train.

https://harrisoncentre.org/mp-welcomes-new-harrison-centre-in-blyth/

VIP Guests

6th March 2023Lee Wilkinson

We had a visit from some very important guests. We had the pleasure of welcoming Glen Sanderson – leader of NCC, Richard Wearmouth – Dep leader of NCC, Neil Blagburn – Northumberland Line project delivery director and Kim Waugh – NCC comms, on board the train.

We first met Glen, Richard and Neil at the Ashington hoardings event where students were pictured with members of Northumberland County council and Morgan Sindall. Maddison even made it to the front page of the journal and Bradley, Archie, Millie and Ellie May were seen proudly standing next to their picture.

Our guests all had a great time visiting the Dales school train and even had a go at using the Train driving simulator

Northumberland County Council Leader, Glen Sanderson, said:

I’m so impressed by this fantastic educational tool providing such an interesting way for children to learn. The dedication from the school and the local community and everyone involved is very inspiring.

This is such a unique environment which will help children learn vital rail safety in a really engaging way while at the same time allowing a space for them to learn life skills together with teachers, parents and carers alike. I am very proud that The Dales School are so supportive of this rail scheme as their enthusiasm shines through.

I want to say a huge well done to all involved for thinking outside of the box to help our future generations thrive.

Click here to view an article on The Dales School by the Northumberland Line.

Thank You TransPennine Express

15th February 2023Lee Wilkinson

This week we had a visit from Nicola Buckley who works for TransPennine Express. They are an important railway company who run trains all over the UK.

Mrs Collins and Mr Groundwater enjoyed showing Nicola around the train and school.

TransPennine Express will be working with The Dales School as part of our railway safety lessons and in our STEM carriage to help develop career aspirations and life experiences using trains.

We would like to say a big thank you to Nicola and TransPennine Express for their amazing donations that included The Dales School station sign. This was originally the station sign for Huddersfield station and was converted by Alan Conway from Texo.

An official platform sign used on our station:-

Tickets for our Wickes and Blyth Man Shed ticket office:-

Nicola brought us sweets and chocolate for the children and staff:-

As well as keyrings, travel pillows, pens and items to use for railway resources:-

Thank you so much TransPennine Express and Nicola for helping us with our school train. We look forward to showing you around the new STEM carriage when it is complete.

The Harrison Foundation kick starts the STEM train carriage transformation

9th February 2023Lee Wilkinson

We have received some amazing news this week. Funding from The Harrison Foundation has made it possible to turn our second train carriage into a STEM hub. The Stem hub will be part of the Harrison Foundations Social mobility centres.

The Harrison Foundation partnership will have a major impact helping to target various issues including giving disadvantaged children life skills and opportunities aiming to break the cycle of poverty, using the train as an inspirational setting to learn.

The Dales School in Blyth recently appealed for additional support to transform the second train carriage into a Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) room to target early career aspirations with local businesses in ICT, mechanics, architecture and science.

After hearing about the project from Blyth MP Ian Levy, the North-East based Harrison Foundation has stepped in to provide additional funding for the STEM room, which will also be used to teach practical railway safety and independent travel skills for children with special educational needs.

Dr Sue Fisher, headteacher at The Dales School, commented: “The Dales School is extremely proud to be working with the Harrison Foundation, particularly as they have helped so many individuals to gain life experiences, this is something we are passionate about at The Dales School. Their community work aligns within our vision for the STEM carriage. With the Harrison Foundation as our partner, we will be able to achieve our vision and aspirations to benefit and inspire the next generation.”

Harrison Foundation trustee, Daniel Harrison, added: “I’m delighted that the Harrison Foundation is supporting The Dales School and the next phase of this great idea. Our projects come in all shapes and sizes and which school children would not be excited to have a real train in their playground, where they can read and learn? It’s a great idea and one that we’re delighted to support.”

“I’d like to also thank local MP Ian Levy who played a vital role in connecting us with the Dales school and paving the way for the support we’re able to offer this amazing project.”

Blyth Valley MP, Ian Levy, said: “I’ve been really impressed with the ambition of this project and am happy to have been able to help in some small way. The school, and James Groundwater in particular, deserve huge credit for their persistence in making it happen and I’d like to thank all of the organisations and companies who contributed including the Harrison Foundation. It’s great to have such a wonderful facility in Blyth Valley and to see it on the television.”