The Swindon Railway Festival returns to STEAM on Saturday 13th September and Sunday 14th September 2025, 10am – 5pm!

Experience the amazing detail of over 20 of the UK’s finest model railway layouts that will be uniquely displayed alongside iconic Swindon-built locomotives.

You’ll also see new special exhibitions, unique trade stands and modelling demos.

Event Highlights

Magnificent Model Railways

Experience the amazing detail of some of the UK’s finest model railways in a variety of scales. Taking place throughout the Museum, the Swindon Railway Festival combines all STEAM’s award-winning displays with a feast of model rail layouts.

These include:

Gauge 3

7mm Fine Scale Broad Gauge and Narrow Gauge

4mm Fine and Narrow Gauge

2mm Scale

Societies

This year we will be joined by a vast array of societies. More information coming soon.

Dynamic Demonstrations

Talk to specialist modellers and receive tips & advice on:

• Loco Rolling Stock
• Soldering
• 2mm Fine Scale
• Electronics and Sounds
• Display and Demo Culham Station BG
• Weathering Techniques
• Locomotive and Wagon building

Unique Shopping Experience

Browse and purchase an incredible range of model railway locomotives, kits and accessories, plus railway books and gifts.

A full list of traders will be announced soon.

Iconic GWR Locomotives

Get up-close to Swindon-built GWR locomotives:

• No. 6000 King George V*
• No. 2818
• No. 3717 City of Truro*
• No. 4073 Caerphilly Castle*
• No. 2516 Dean Goods*
• No. 9400 Pannier Tank*

*On loan from the National Railway Museum.

For Families

Families will love the special children’s interactive model railways, activity trails and thought-provoking activities inside the museum, including bridge-building!

How to Find Us

Please be aware that there is no free parking for the event. Where possible, visitors are encouraged to use alternative methods of transport where possible.

Find out more about sustainable transport options on the Swindon Travel Choices website: www.swindontravelchoices.co.uk

Regular bus services provided by Swindon’s Bus Company www.swindonbus.co.uk and Stagecoach West www.stagecoachbus.com

Car parking for STEAM special events is in the Swindon Designer Outlet North and West car parks. Please note there is no free parking for STEAM special events. There is strictly no car parking outside of the Museum.

To find the North car park using a Sat Nav, please enter Kemble Drive. For the West car park, it’s Penzance Drive. Please be aware, the Swindon Designer West Car Park (accessible via Penzance Drive) is likely to be a little less busy than the North Car Park on Kemble Drive.

Please note the bus lane next to the West Car Park should NOT be used. Cameras are in use and fines will be issued by Swindon Borough Council to any car drivers using the bus lane.

To enter the West Car Park avoiding the bus lane, please use the postcode SN5 7JL.

Please be aware that road traffic around Kemble Drive and the Swindon Designer Outlet car parks can get very busy at weekends, especially when there is a special event happening. We advise you allow plenty of time for parking as there may be traffic queues for these car parks.

Alternative parking is available at the nearby Bristol Street car park (postcode: SN1 5EQ), which is approximately a 7 minute walk away from STEAM.

To reach STEAM from Bristol Street Car Park on foot, please leave via the same access you used to drive into this car park; there is a blue pedestrian sign to guide you. Turn left once outside the car park and continue until you come to a pedestrian plinth sign directing you through the GWR tunnel connects to the Churchward site. Your route will pass the Historic England offices and residential apartments, soon leading to STEAM.

Nearby car parks also include the Brunel North and Brunel West multi-storey car parks, located 10-15 minutes walk from STEAM.

Entrance tickets cover access to both the STEAM Museum and the Swindon Railway Festival event.

STEAM Season Ticket holders receive 10% discount on event admission!

Simply select the Season Ticket discount option when booking your tickets online and type in your unique Season Ticket number at checkout when prompted.