Train carriage converted to library opened at Derby school

BBC News

12-02-2025

A train carriage has been converted into a library for pupils at a special school in Derby. The 1974 rolling stock, which was built in Derby and used for parcels and passengers, was transported by police escort from Burton-on-Trent to Ivy House School, in Littleover, last year before work began to convert it. The library, which includes the carriage's original chairs and outside is a departures board announcing Derby Railway Station's live train information, was officially opened by Googlebox star Baasit Siddiqu on Tuesday.Head teacher George Turner said it was now "a pristine and beautiful converted library".
Mr Turner added: "It came on a massive HGV. We had to line it up perfectly and it got tilted and slid across onto the tracks. "It was a little bit hairy at times. We were concerned it might not go on the track, but it did. "It started as an old parcel carriage. It use to have seats in one end, and the other side was cages and containers."The departures board on the platform was bought online and can be linked to provide information from any station in the UK.
Mr Turner said it had been "a huge community project" and school staff were "blown away" after they were "inundated" with offers of help from people and companies.He added volunteers helped to move the train, lay the tracks, convert the inside, paint the exterior, and add vinyl to the outside.Mr Sadiqiqi, who also works in education, said it was "brilliant"."You can tell it is an absolute labour of love," he added. "It is such a lovely, lovely space for them."
Ian Armstrong, executive head teacher for Shaw Education Trust, told the BBC students "loved" the new library.He said: "Because of our children's special educational needs and complex health, the vast majority of them struggle to get out in the community and experience some of the normalities that we take for granted. "We know lots of our students have never been up to a train, been on a train, so it was fantastic opportunity to come and learn in one."