Swindon Railway Festival will remember former event organiser

After two years’ absence, the Swindon Railway Festival will return to STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway on Saturday, 10th, and Sunday, 11th September.

The festival will remember Owen Rees Gibbon, who with his brother John helped to organise the festival for the last 21 years, and were instrumental in attracting the best model railway layouts and demonstrators to the show.

Among the exhibitors, there will be trade stands selling model railway locomotives, kits and accessories, tools, railway books, and gifts. A considerable number of local and national heritage railway organisations will also attend the event.

Throughout the weekend, visitors can watch fascinating modelling demonstrations, and chat with specialist modellers for tips and advice on loco and wagon building, soldering, and weathering techniques.

Visitors will also be able to view STEAM’s three new exhibitions for 2022:

• ‘High Voltage – Electrification of the Western Network’;
• ‘The Diesel Decades’;
• ‘Changing Trains – the Journey from Broad Gauge to Standard Gauge’.

STEAM’s refreshed displays explore the story of changes to train travel on the GWR network.

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Also inside the museum, there are family activities including special children’s interactive model railways, activity trails, and thought-provoking activities.

Admission prices are £14.50 for adults, £9.70 for children, and £11 for students and seniors. Under threes go free, and family tickets are also available. STEAM Season Ticket holders receive 10 per cent off the event admission ticket price. Tickets include entry to the Swindon Railway Festival and admission into STEAM’s award-winning museum displays.

Doors are open between 10 am and 5 pm on both days, and visitors are encouraged to book tickets in advance via the STEAM Museum website at www.steam-museum.org.uk. Tickets are on sale now.

Ian Surtees, STEAM’s Deputy Manager, said: “Due to the pandemic we have been unable to stage our popular Swindon Railway Festival event for the last two years, however, the museum is now looking forward to showcasing the finest model railway layouts and all things GWR once again.

“This year’s event will pay tribute to our dear friend Owen, who for many dedicated years worked with staff at STEAM to develop the Swindon Railway Festival and really brought the hobby to life. He will be sadly missed when the show returns in September, but we wanted to highlight the significant role he played in making our event everything it is today.

“More than 20 high quality model railway layouts will be part of this year’s event, all of which were specially selected by Owen before he sadly passed away last year. Among the layouts on show will be Monksbury (0 Gauge by Jon Hewlett) and The Parlour Railway (7 mm scale by Peter Boyce).”