Swindon Steam Railway Museum
- Swindon Steam Railway Museum
Swindon 'Steam' Railway Museum is located at the site of the old railway works in Swindon, England - Wiltshire's 'railway town'. Apart from the museum itself, the site has become home to the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet and, since 2005, the Head Office of the National Trust.
The site
The museum is housed in a restored Grade II listed railway building. [cite web | title=Great Western Railway Museum | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=318750 | accessdate=2006-10-01] This was part of the old Swindon Great Western Railway works, which was one of the largest in the world and operated from 1843 to 1986. In its heyday, it covered more than 300 acres (120 hectares) and could turn out three locomotives per week.
The museum
Apart from many exhibits of interest to railway engine and rolling stock enthusiasts, it tells the social story of the railway community in Swindon, with recorded personal experiences and film archives. Life-like exhibits show people at work and human interactions. There are exhibits explaining the construction of locomotives, of railway equipment and of the railways themselves. It also tells the history of the Great Western Railway and the life of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the famous Victorian engineer, who masterminded the Great Western Railway. There are many hands-on exhibits and interactive displays. Enthusiastic ex-railway workers are on hand, to give a personal insight into many of the exhibits.
There is a series of reconstructions of areas of work, such as office, stores, workshop, signal box and foundry.
The museum holds a massive archive of books, periodicals, photographs, drawings and plans, relating to the Great Western Railway.
Location
The museum is near Swindon's town centre, adjacent to the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet Village. It is located at Ordnance Survey mapping six-figure grid reference SU 143848
References
External links
* [http://www.steam-museum.org.uk/ STEAM Museum] official website
* [http://www.steam-museum.org.uk/gettingtosteam.pdf Map of location]
* [http://www.fosrm.org.uk/ Friends of Swindon Railway Museum]
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