This summer, STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway – is set to become a real focal point for Swindon’s cultural calendar, as it unveils new ways to explore two centuries of railway history.
Thanks to support from GWR’s Customer and Community Improvement Fund, the museum has launched both a photographic exhibition and a monthly event designed with young families in mind.
The new under‑fives activity, Little Locos, began only last month and immediately struck a chord with parents, carers and children alike. Themed around railways and the museum’s rich collection, the sessions combine songs, play and stories. During the first event, families climbed aboard the footplate of the legendary City of Truro locomotive to discover its levers and controls before enjoying a reading of Duck and Diesel Engine from the much‑loved Thomas the Tank Engine series.
Feedback was glowing, with one parent commenting, “The children loved going on the train. I loved that it was informative and that we learnt things during our visit.” Another added, “We enjoyed being able to get up close to the trains and the singing.”
Little Locos will now run every month, each time inspired by a different object from the museum’s collection. Spaces are limited and pre‑booking is essential, with the next session taking place on 23 July.
Alongside the family sessions, STEAM has unveiled Recording 200 Years of the Railway, a new exhibition created in partnership with Historic England. Using archives from both organisations – each housed in buildings that were once part of the original GWR works – the exhibition brings together photographs from the earliest days of the railway right through to modern times.
The display, housed in Caerphilly Castle Hall, explores themes such as construction, railway workers and the railways’ role during wartime. Visitors will encounter striking images that capture how the network grew, shaped communities and connected lives across Britain.
Gary Winter, Archive Engagement & Content Officer for Historic England, said: “Among the millions of photographs in the Historic England Archive are images that tell the story of the nation’s railway heritage from both the ground and the air. It is a pleasure to see them alongside STEAM’s own collections in this setting.”
Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Planning, added: “Seeing the little ones climb on engines is a joy. They connect with heritage in a way that is fun and direct, while the photographic exhibition gives people of all ages a glimpse into how the railways shaped Britain.”
With two fresh experiences to enjoy, STEAM has made itself a must‑visit destination over the summer months. Further information and booking details are available via the museum’s website.
