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Evening Star Lane, SWINDON, SN2 2FA

A relatively unspoilt corner of the once vast complex. Does anybody know what these buildings were used for? I have learnt that part of this range houses the chain test house with a hydraulic tester having a 130 ton pull. This corner is now being redeveloped and this view is being obscured by new buildings. The railway buildings are also being converted but the test house is to be at least part preserved with the testing kit being retained.

This is now largely apartments but some of the original equipment and the long testing pit survive. It had been slated to include a National Postal Museum but this is now in London.

Another corner of the once vast Swindon Works is being converted to houses. I believe the former chain testing shop is in this area and I believe it is to be preserved, at least in part. See an earlier view from a slightly different angle - Image

On the former Swindon Railway Works site that now includes the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet. These fine gates came from the British Rail Western Region athletics Association sports ground and have been erected here as a reminder of Swindon's railway heritage. They are outside the former chain testing house that is now largely converted to apartments but does retain some preserved machinery.

This is part of the former Great Western Railway locomotive works at Swindon that has now been converted to houses. This section has been retained in more or less original condition and this was seen through a window. I have no idea if there are any plans for occasional access to this site - for example on Heritage Open Days.

One of the original buildings from the Great Western Railway's massive locomotive works. This is being converted to apartments but does include a Listed chain test house that is to be preserved. This includes a hydraulic chain tester with a 130 ton pull and I look forward to seeing this one day.

Bench mark, Isambard House, former Swindon Works

The Great Western Railway (or if you are truly partisan - God's Wonderful Railway) is also colloquially known as Brunel's Billiard Table because it's flat. It is now being brought into the 21st century with 25 kV AC electrification using overhead catenary. This shows the gantries before the main wires are strung. I hope other contributors are making a better job of recording this. The steam railway photographers are understandably not amused but progress must be made.

Viewed across the B4289 Kemble Drive near Test House roundabout in mid-March 2015.