Dads deserve a treat, so bring them along to enjoy 200 years of Great Western Railway history and start the day with a delicious father's day breakfast.
In addition to our usual attractions, your Father's Day Special feature which includes:
A separate booking is available (numbers are strictly limited and pre-booking is mandatory) if you would to select this option. Arrival for the breakfast option will at 8.30am for breakfast at 9am, so don't be late!
Please note that whilst we can cater for vegetarians, we cannot offer a gluten free option for this event.
Over the course of the rest of the day, take advantage of everything else we have to offer and travel back in time to the golden age of the Great Western Railway. Savour the sights, sounds and smells of steam as you explore this 24-acre living museum with trains dating from Victorian times to the 1960s.
Steam trains will be operating on at least one of the Centre's two demonstration lines, allowing you to take unlimited rides. On many days, the second line will be running too and may feature a pioneering diesel railcar, a heritage diesel locomotive or a small branchline steam engine. Check our Locomotive Roster to see what we expect to be running on the date of your visit.
Pick up our colourful Centre Guide, explore this 21-acre living museum and unearth almost two centuries of railway history. Get up close and see them at close quarters. Stroll through the original 1932 Engine Shed and see magnificent preserved locomotives – find 5900 Hinderton Hall, climb onto the footplate and listen to Archie, the driver, and Stan, the fireman, prepare their loco! Listen out for the sounds of a working engine shed and see if you can hear Stan fetch his supplies from Jonah, the storeman.
See surviving track from Brunel's Broad Gauge, discover painstakingly restored buildings, coaches and wagons and learn more about the development of railways and how they changed everyday lives.
There's a chance to get hands-on in The Signalling Centre where you can find out how trains have been controlled through the ages. The Swindon Panel will be open on 10th and 11th February 2024 with further dates to be added as the year progresses. Descend into a shelter* built to keep Didcot's enginemen safe in WWII and experience an air raid or immerse yourself in the varied collection of fascinating, smaller artefacts in the museum. Don't miss the carriage display with coaches dating from Victorian times to the 1940s that evoke bygone eras. See the VIP Saloon reputed to have been used by General Eisenhower during the preparations for D-Day and later used in the GWR Royal Train!
Children can also make tracks to the outdoor play area or dress up as a station master*. You can relax over lunch or enjoy a snack in the refreshment rooms and don't forget to pick up a souvenir in the gift shop. The modern trains running past the centre complete the picture and mean you can experience over 180 years of railway progress in just one day!
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