The Museum of the Great Western Railway, otherwise known as STEAM, is an award-winning museum that tells the momentous tale of the railways spread from London to Bristol.

STEAM tells the story of the people who built, operated and travelled on the Great Western Railway. This new museum, which opened in June 2000, is located in the centre of Swindon's Great Western Historic Area.

The brainchild of legendary Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the railway was a transforming force that turned small towns into throbbing hives of industry.

Brunel was an engineering genius whose many achievements still stand today. He was responsible for building great ships, bridges and the Great Western Railway from London to Bristol.

Luckily for Swindon, then a small market town, Brunel chose it to be the centre of the engineering works for the Great Western Railway in 1843.

From then on, Swindon became a centre for railway innovation. Built into this landscape is Steam, housed in a beautifully restored railway building.

A highly rated museum, Steam was Wiltshire Family Attraction of the Year 2003 and received a special commendation for the Eurpoean museum of the Year in 2002.

There are other buildings of note in this area including the Swindon Records Centre, and a popular outlet shopping centre.

A railway village was built for the workers, row upon row of small pretty cottages, now protected by their listed building status.

www.steam-museum.org.uk