Exhibition: The Last Blast – The Closure of Swindon Works

On 26 March 1986, at 4.30pm, the Swindon Works hooter blew for the last time, marking the closure of the Works and the end of 143 years of railway engineering in the town.

The Works was a casualty of a period of cuts, uncertainty and turmoil for the British railway industry, during which locomotive building was outsourced and railway workshops across the country closed. Works employees and Swindon residents fought hard against the closure, but they were ultimately unsuccessful.

This March is the 40th anniversary of the closure of Swindon Works. We are marking the occasion with a special exhibition, titled The Last Blast, The Closure of Swindon Works, which tells the story of the last years of the Works and the end of Swindon’s history as a railway town.

The Last Blast features photographs and original objects that illustrate the decline of Swindon Works, the protest marches held throughout the town, and the eventual closure of the railway workshops. Objects include campaign t shirts, badges and posters; unique objects from the Works during this period; and letters from prominent politicians who supported the fight against closure.

The exhibition also includes memories from employees whose careers and lives were impacted by the closure of the Works. Visitors to the exhibition are also encouraged to share their memories to add to our special Memory Wall.