STEAM museum 'tired' and 'absolutely dead', Swindon mum says

Hannah Pajak of Old Walcot was visiting the railway museum during the Easter holidays with her two children.

The museum, found on the site of the old railway works on Fire Fly Avenue, provides visitors with information on the history of Swindon’s railway past.

Despite it being a well-known attraction in the Wiltshire town, the 35-year-old was left disappointed with what she saw last week.

“It was absolutely dead as there was only us and a couple of other mums with their kids,” said Hannah, who is standing as  a Liberal Democrat candidate for the Central ward at next month's Swindon Borough Council elections.

Swindon's STEAM museum was founded in 2000. (Image: Newsquest)

“I went when it first opened in 2000 and it hasn’t changed at all with the exhibits seeming tired.”

Hannah, who works as a teacher, took her two-year-old son George and her one-year-old daughter Agnes to the Swindon landmark.

“We’ve never been before [as a family] but my son has just become aware of transport and trains,” she continued.

“He is autistic and he likes interactive activities like most children but there was only one exhibit like that there.”

Along with the lack of interactivity, the Swindon mum was left thinking about how different museums she had visited in the country were better.

“Museums on trains can be very interesting such as the National Railway Museum in York,” said Hannah.

Hannah's son George is autistic and enjoys interactive activities. (Image: Hannah Pajak)

“They need to rethink STEAM because, as a parent, I believe it could be so much better.”

STEAM’s building is used for other events from time to time but Hannah believes that this option could still be utilised more.

“Apart from the Lego shows and Comic Cons, they don’t seem to do much in the building,” she said.

“Nothing new is ever added which is surprising given that it is a huge and cavernous space.”

The 35-year-old brainstormed an idea on how to update things in Swindon’s railway museum.

“We’re all mourning the loss of the Swindon Museum & Art Gallery in Old Town so we’re already a museum down,” said Hannah.

“Why can’t we just exhibit the Old Town items in STEAM instead as that would definitely attract people.”

Swindon's STEAM museum documents the town's railway past. (Image: Newsquest)

Hannah, a born and bred Swindonian, is proud of her town's past but feels it could be represented better overall to the public.

“We have the history but we seem to be losing our cultural heritage down a sieve at the moment,” she said.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “We really value every bit of feedback we receive from visitors to the museum as it helps us improve the experience we are able to provide for all our customers.

“One thing we do pride ourselves on, is providing a great day out for all the family which includes a variety of interactive displays and activities for children to enjoy.

"We are continually updating the displays and attractions on offer which includes major locomotive changes through our excellent relationship with the National Railway Museum. This year alone we will have 11 temporary exhibitions across the year.  

“We hold a variety of family events throughout the year and over the school holidays. During 2023, we are running ‘Time Travellers’ events at STEAM, which for the first time enables families to access our recreated air raid shelter, facilitated by our amazing Learning Team.

"Over the past couple of years we’ve also introduced new permanent interactive elements to our displays including three touch screen InfoActive multimedia devices, a new four-track Hornby layout, a large play-railway layout for interactive learning, and a fantastic new bridge building interactive using Polydron geometric shapes."

The candidates for Central ward at May's elections are: Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh (Labour), John Cristovam Barreto (Consevative Party Candidate), Hannah Louise Pajak (Liberal Democrat), Mariano Rodrigues.