| Steam Museum, Swindon Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 14:55, 18th November 2012 |     |
With thanks to bobm for bringing this to my attention, from the BBC:
GWR's Swindon locomotive is the only engine to have had wheel guards decorated with the Swindon coat of arms
A "rare" wheel guard from the Great Western Railway's Swindon locomotive has been bought by the STEAM museum.
The splasher, decorated with the Swindon coat of arms, is one of a pair of wheel guards from the GWR Castle Class locomotive No. 7037 Swindon.
Spotted at a recent auction by museum staff, it was bought for ^3,300 using donations from visitors. Curator Felicity Jones said she was "particularly excited" as she was "not aware that it even still existed".
Princess Elizabeth carried out the official naming ceremony in 1950
Built in August 1950, No. 7037 Swindon was the last in the line of GWR's famous Castle Class express passenger locomotives. Named by the Queen - Princess Elizabeth as she was then - at Swindon Works, the locomotive is the only engine to have had wheel guards decorated with the Swindon coat of arms.
This distinction, according to a museum spokeswoman, made the splasher a "must have acquisition - particularly as the museum already holds both of the Swindon locomotive nameplates".
"We are thrilled to be uniting the splasher with one of the Swindon nameplates, after all these years apart," said Ms Jones. "Given its royal connections, it is especially significant to bring the splasher back to its Swindon home during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year."
| Re: Steam Museum, Swindon Posted by Cynthia at 22:53, 21st December 2013 | |
Not sure if this is the right place for this topic - or rather, question, but no doubt someone will put me right...
I have been meaning to visit the Steam Museum in Swindon for some time, and with the advent of the improved services available from Melksham, what better way to utilise the additional trains, rather than just travel as a 'basher' (Now how on earth did that expression develop?!)
I can't see on their website whether dogs are allowed in the museum; have sent an e-mail to ask, but have had no reply as yet. I'm hoping someone on this forum might know. Thank you.
| Re: Steam Museum, Swindon Posted by bobm at 23:41, 21st December 2013 | |
I don't know for certain - but this page would seem to suggest only assistance dogs are allowed.
http://www.steam-museum.org.uk/steam/steam2007-visiting-accessibility-2.htm
There are combined rail and entrance tickets available - but I don't have the details to hand.
| Re: Steam Museum, Swindon Posted by Cynthia at 23:46, 21st December 2013 | |
I didn't look at the 'Accessibility' page; you're right bobm, I may have to leave Echo at home. Drat & double drat, Mutley.
| Re: Steam Museum, Swindon Posted by Cynthia at 21:55, 8th January 2014 | |
Not sure if this is the right place for this topic - or rather, question, but no doubt someone will put me right...
I have been meaning to visit the Steam Museum in Swindon for some time, and with the advent of the improved services available from Melksham, what better way to utilise the additional trains, rather than just travel as a 'basher' (Now how on earth did that expression develop?!)
I can't see on their website whether dogs are allowed in the museum; have sent an e-mail to ask, but have had no reply as yet. I'm hoping someone on this forum might know. Thank you.
Quick update on this one; I eventually received an email from the Steam Museum! It confirmed that only assistance dogs are allowed in the museum.I have been meaning to visit the Steam Museum in Swindon for some time, and with the advent of the improved services available from Melksham, what better way to utilise the additional trains, rather than just travel as a 'basher' (Now how on earth did that expression develop?!)
I can't see on their website whether dogs are allowed in the museum; have sent an e-mail to ask, but have had no reply as yet. I'm hoping someone on this forum might know. Thank you.
| Re: Steam Museum, Swindon Posted by grahame at 16:12, 27th July 2019 | |
A question / comment today from a recent(ish) visitor to Steam to took overseas visitors with him. He tells me that no translations of the information there was available for them, and as a result they rapidly found it rather boring.
My Question - from member's knowledge, have I been correctly informed about this like of data for visitors for whom English isn't their language of choice? And if I have, does anyone know if this is something the museum have considered but ruled out??
| Re: Steam Museum, Swindon Posted by JayMac at 19:41, 20th February 2026 | |
Swindon's STEAM museum has acquired GWR's HST simulator after it was donated to them by FirstGroup.The simulator will form part of a new exhibit and will be open to the public as an additional ticketed attraction. It is being transported to Swindon from its former home in Plymouth. It will be installed at STEAM by its original manufacturer and is due to open in time for the summer holidays in 2026.
From Swindon Borough Council:
All aboard! New simulator set to arrive at Swindon museum
A new High Speed Train (HST) simulator is on its way to the Swindon Borough Council-owned STEAM Museum in Swindon.
Published: Friday, 20th February 2026
The attraction, which will be part of a new display opening in the summer, has been gifted by Great Western Railway (GWR) after the retirement of the company’s HST fleet.
Arriving in a few weeks, the simulator looks unassuming from the outside but, on the inside, the high-tech marvel is capable of running a number of test routes designed to test drivers to the limit, being able to put them through their paces in all weathers and emergencies, as part of their training.
When it’s ready, the simulator will form part of the museum’s visitor experience with special extra-ticketed options available for those who want to experience what GWR drivers use to hone their skills. GWR offered the simulator to the STEAM Museum to form part of a re-imagined display at the end of the venue’s main galleries - set to be the museum’s largest update in 25 years.
The simulator was disassembled in its original home in Plymouth and getting the 8ft black cube into the museum itself will be no mean feat as it will involve temporarily removing the existing Buffet Car to enable it to be manoeuvred into place. Once safely in place the simulator will then be re-assembled by its original manufacturer.
Work will then get underway to create the new exhibition and get the simulator up and running before the summer holidays.
Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Planning, said: “The high-speed simulator will bring a whole new dimension to the visitor experience here at STEAM. It’s something for people to really get stuck in to and experience life on the railways first hand. The museum has already updated its entrance area and has some wonderful smaller exhibitions, and it’s great that we’re now creating something brand new and giving the venue its biggest update in 25 years. I’m really looking forward to the simulator being fully installed and operational – not least because I want to have a go! And of course it’s a great way to inspire the train drivers of tomorrow.”
Joe Graham, GWR Business Assurance and Property Director, said: “The HST made history when first introduced to the UK railway network, operating on the Great Western Main Line, so it is really fitting the heritage of this iconic train will be preserved in such a unique way. We are really pleased this driver simulator will have a lasting future where it can be enjoyed by thousands of visitors.”
While more information on the re-display itself is still to be revealed, the train simulator will undergo a number of operational tests in order to make it accessible to the public later this year.
A new High Speed Train (HST) simulator is on its way to the Swindon Borough Council-owned STEAM Museum in Swindon.
Published: Friday, 20th February 2026
The attraction, which will be part of a new display opening in the summer, has been gifted by Great Western Railway (GWR) after the retirement of the company’s HST fleet.
Arriving in a few weeks, the simulator looks unassuming from the outside but, on the inside, the high-tech marvel is capable of running a number of test routes designed to test drivers to the limit, being able to put them through their paces in all weathers and emergencies, as part of their training.
When it’s ready, the simulator will form part of the museum’s visitor experience with special extra-ticketed options available for those who want to experience what GWR drivers use to hone their skills. GWR offered the simulator to the STEAM Museum to form part of a re-imagined display at the end of the venue’s main galleries - set to be the museum’s largest update in 25 years.
The simulator was disassembled in its original home in Plymouth and getting the 8ft black cube into the museum itself will be no mean feat as it will involve temporarily removing the existing Buffet Car to enable it to be manoeuvred into place. Once safely in place the simulator will then be re-assembled by its original manufacturer.
Work will then get underway to create the new exhibition and get the simulator up and running before the summer holidays.
Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Planning, said: “The high-speed simulator will bring a whole new dimension to the visitor experience here at STEAM. It’s something for people to really get stuck in to and experience life on the railways first hand. The museum has already updated its entrance area and has some wonderful smaller exhibitions, and it’s great that we’re now creating something brand new and giving the venue its biggest update in 25 years. I’m really looking forward to the simulator being fully installed and operational – not least because I want to have a go! And of course it’s a great way to inspire the train drivers of tomorrow.”
Joe Graham, GWR Business Assurance and Property Director, said: “The HST made history when first introduced to the UK railway network, operating on the Great Western Main Line, so it is really fitting the heritage of this iconic train will be preserved in such a unique way. We are really pleased this driver simulator will have a lasting future where it can be enjoyed by thousands of visitors.”
While more information on the re-display itself is still to be revealed, the train simulator will undergo a number of operational tests in order to make it accessible to the public later this year.
