GWR STEAM Museum in Swindon.

Evening All,

Last month I took the train down to Swindon to visit the GWR STEAM Museum and I was quite impressed. If anyone's thinking of going, do. The pictures I took are now on my Flickr site and they might tempt you to go; this is the first one in the Photostream :

RD14396. 6000 at STEAM. by Ron Fisher, on Flickr

They can also be found in this album :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/albums/72157677206202873

Hope they're of interest.

 

Most certainly of interest Ron I enjoyed looking through the album. I haven't been to Swindon since 1955 when in the RAF and the railway works were in full swing at that time I guess. My wife is often suggesting a train trip to London but I think as she is only interested in a train ride Swibdon would be a better choice for me anyway.

 

Well, it's on you way to London - and there's a large shopping complex next door!

 

I found your album very interesting, especially as I've not yet visited Steam.

What struck me what how well Steam have interpreted their exhibits, using life-like dummies and other artefacts to bring exhibits to life and give them context. The NRM (and some other museums too) could learn a lot from Steam's displays.

Still one or two minor irritations, like an engine separated from its tender, and obtrusive information panels, but on the whole a very impressive exhibition.

 

Resurrecting an old thread, I came across an image from 2005 on Flickr recently (linked below), which shows a running line for STEAM alongside the railway face of the former works, now outlet centre. Does anyone know if it was ever used? I like STEAM, but it’s a very static museum.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/37260/6512530729/in/album-72157628421367127/

 

The first running line at STEAM came in September 2004 for the visit of City of Truro. The track was hired in and it was laid directly on top of the Outlet Village service road. City of Truro ran with a Toad giving brake van rides, 18 driving wheel turn forward and 18 turns back! The track remained another month for a Thomas event, where the Seven Valley Railway's The Lady Armaghdale was used to give rides.

In 2005 the museum brought a track which was once again laid on top of the road for September. This time 9466 was brought in to give rides for the Railway Festival Weekend. The Lady Armaghdale returned that October as Thomas to give rides. Then the last use of the running line was in November/December where Santa Specials were run, with Peckett Lady Angela from the South Devon Railway.

My photo records show the track remained in place until the summer of 2006 but not used, but it was lifted and stored behind the museum by 813's static but in steam visit for the September Railway Festival.

I believe it was looked into for laying the track permanently, but there were issues in getting the land for it. The future electrification of the GWML was one of the issues if I remember right. After many years of being stored, the track ended up going to another railway. A Toad which had been a generator van, was converted by the Museum Volunteers for passenger use. That Toad was used giving rides at the GWSR GWR 175 Gala in 2010 on the private line at Gotherington Station. And is now on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway. Agecroft No.3 was striped down and work on the boiler started for use on the running line, before donated funds ran out. Happily, Agecroft No.3 is now back in steam again.

Today, the local road steam group bring engines to the September Railway Festival. One of which, provides steam to the replica Works Hooter fitted in 2016 and still in place to bring back the sound of Hooty once a year.

 

That’s terrific, thanks for those photos. Such a shame the line wasn’t made permanent. I was looking at the works turntable outside the pattern store this week and thinking how easily it could be connected to a demonstration line on the alignment of the temporary track shown in your photos. Nice to dream!