A unique new installation celebrating the values of Flimby Primary School has officially arrived at Flimby railway station, thanks to a partnership between Community Rail Cumbria, part of Cumberland Council, Flimby Primary School, Northern Trains and Gen2.
The station has seen a series of improvements since the school adopted it in 2018, including the Our Flimby boards following the Covid-19 pandemic, the creation of Flimby history boards and, more recently, the striking mural that runs along the Barrow platform.
The latest addition is the Train of Values, a bespoke steel train planter inspired by artwork created by pupils and designed to reflect the values that underpin life at Flimby Primary School.
The idea was first developed by Executive Headteacher Tanya Peers and brought to life by apprentices from Sellafield and Mitie, who worked alongside Simon Farrar, Welding and Fabrication Trainer/Assessor at Gen2, to transform the children's design into a permanent feature for the station.
Over the last 12 months, the apprentices have worked tirelessly to create the installation, gaining valuable practical experience while contributing to a lasting community project.
Key partners came together on the 17 July to celebrate the official launch of the Flimby Train of Values, with School Chair, Jimmy Nelson cutting the ribbon.
The project follows the successful ship planter installation at Whitehaven railway station, created by apprentices in partnership with Community Rail Cumbria, Northern Trains and Gen2. With more projects already being explored, passengers can look forward to seeing further creative collaborations along the Cumbrian Coast Line in the future.
Tanya Peers, Executive Headteacher, said:
“This wonderful project showcases our school vision and values in a way that can be seen and enjoyed by everyone passing through the station. It is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when schools, businesses and the local community work together.
“A huge thank you to Sellafield, Community Rail, Mitie, Gen2, and Northern for their support in bringing this project to life.
“Be sure to pop by Flimby Station and take a look at the planter display for yourself – a lasting reminder of the values that inspire and guide us every day.”
Simon Farrar, Gen2, said:
“At Gen2 we work closely with the community and strive to help where we can, this helps us build good relationships within Cumbria.
“We started with Community Rail Cumbria and we now have three sculptures located at stations along the Cumbrian Coast Line with more in the pipeline. This gives students a sense of pride in what is made as they can say ‘I helped with that.’ Being able to help the community shows what we can achieve at Gen2 and how the students can go above and beyond their normal curriculum.
“For this project we were provided a painting produced by the pupils of Flimby Primary School, the brief to keep the sculpture as close to the painting as possible, hopefully this is what we have managed to achieve.”
Jane Murray, Northern Trains Ltd Station Manager, said:
“The arrival of the new metal train sculpture at Flimby Station is a fantastic addition that will be enjoyed by customers and visitors for years to come.
“This inspiring project brought together Northern, Community Rail Cumbria, Gen2, and the pupils of Flimby School, who collaborated to design and create this remarkable piece of artwork. The sculpture stands as a lasting testament to the power of partnership and community engagement.
“I am incredibly proud to have been involved in this project. The train will take pride of place on the station platform, serving as a visible reminder of what can be achieved when organisations, schools and local communities work together to create something truly special.”
Warren Birch, Community Rail Partnership Officer, said:
“It was wonderful to collaborate with these key partners once again to deliver this iconic train planter, but more importantly to recognise what the Train of Values means to Flimby Primary School.
“We hope this vibrant display will brighten up the platform for passengers passing through on the train or alighting at Flimby railway station.”
