Swindon's Great Western Railway hooter will sound again

A replica of the works' hooter will be sounded at 16:30 GMT on 26 March by former worker Ron Johnson as part of events marking 40 years since the Great Western Railway works closed; a year-long exhibition called 'The Last Blast' will open that day.

Events in Swindon will mark 40 years since the Great Western Railway works closed. A replica of the works' hooter will be sounded as part of commemorations. The works had been in the town since 1843 and closed for good on 26 March 1986. Councillor Marina Strinkovsky said the closure had "a big impact" on the town. Key details: - A replica steam hooter will be sounded on 26 March at 16:30 GMT by former worker Ron Johnson, aged 75, marking 40 years since the original closing blast. - Commemorations run across the week of the 40th anniversary and include exhibitions, talks and screenings. - A pop-up exhibition of press cuttings, photographs and artefacts opens at the STEAM Museum on Tuesday 24 March. - Former railway workers are invited to a breakfast reunion at the Railway Village's Central Community Centre on the anniversary. - The day will also open a year-long exhibition called 'The Last Blast' telling the story of the works' final years, and there are ticketed events including a screening of the 1986 film Railway Town. Summary: The planned events bring together exhibitions, a reunion and the ceremonial sounding of a replica hooter to mark four decades since the works closed. The anniversary day features the opening of the year-long 'The Last Blast' exhibition and a programme of talks and screenings across the commemorative week.