Steam Museum, Swindon

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

With thanks to bobm for bringing this to my attention, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'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."

[Cynthia]

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.

[bobm]

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.

[Cynthia]

I didn't look at the 'Accessibility' page; you're right bobm, I may have to leave Echo at home.  Drat & double drat, Mutley.

[Cynthia]

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.

[grahame]

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??