On 20th June 2011 a Year 6 class from Ingrow Primary school in Keighley, West Yorkshire, took part in a days learning experience at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR). They were the passengers for a small group of adults who had paid for the “Footplate Experience”. This is a day’s programme which provides experience of the various jobs involved in running a train (including driving the engine!)

 

This day was the start of a project to develop a range of links between the school and the KWVR. The aim of the project is for the school to link with local businesses and establish itself more firmly in the community. This matches with the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway’s aim which is to develop their educational provision and so attract a wider range of visitors. This event was an ideal platform for both establishments to link and begin to achieve their aims.

 

Steam trains have a rich history as they were utilized to transport many goods across the UK when they were first invented. A pupil from Ingrow Primary commented “We learned how steam trains were used in the olden days when steam trains were used to transport food, bottles and also certain mail.” As well as being educational, this event was enjoyed by the pupils and the staff from the school. While learning about steam trains they also had a fun time as another student excitedly commented: “It has certainly been more fun because we are with our friends.”

 

Another student added “Although I have been here before with my family this experience is better because we were educated more about steam trains”.  Therefore it could safely be said that this was an enjoyable learning experience.
For many of the pupils the best part was climbing up onto the footplate to look at (but not touch!) the controls and listen to an explanation of how coal, water and heat are combined to drive the huge engine along the track.

 

A parent who accompanied the children also liked the footplate experience on Keighley and Worth Valley railway. She said “It fits in with their scheme of work they are doing in school; we thought it would be brilliant if they were in a real steam train to experience it in real life”.

 

The adults who had paid for the Footplate Experience loved working in co operation with the primary school children. They felt that picking them up at the Ingrow station near their school as “real passengers” had added to their own enjoyment of the day. One customer described the experience as being “Excellent.”

The main person from the KWVR who organised the link with the school said “Most people in England, Scotland & Wales should be aware of steam trains as they were used in such high demand a long time ago, I would love to educate the children more about the advantages and history of steam trains as steam trains have a rich history”.

 

All this took place in the beautiful county of Yorkshire surrounded by serene and beautiful scenery, all greatly appreciated by the participants. Such work in local communities should be encouraged between local businesses and educational institutions as co operation of this sort is vital to establish socially cohesive communities and societies based on co-operation, co-existence and unity.