A railway enthusiast is on the right track to putting Swindon on the model railway map with his latest creation.
 
Kevin Shurmer, 65, who works part-time at the STEAM museum, has made a scale model of the iconic Swindon Railway Works tunnel entrance.
 
Kevin, along with STEAM and Bachmann, the largest producer of model railways, has had the model commissioned and the group hopes to launch it alongside the museum's Swindon Railway Festival in September.
 
The model will be the first of what is hoped will be the Swindon Collection, marking the historic railway works that used to dominate the town.
 
Mr. Shurmer said, "Something based on Swindon railways has never been done before. With 14,000 people who worked at the works some time passing through that entrance, it is an iconic building. It was the main entrance into Swindon railway works. Before it, railwaymen had to cross the railway, which was quite hazardous and it wouldn't be allowed now. It was my idea. We then went to meetings with people at STEAM, then contacted Bachmann, who came up with a prototype. It was absolutely fantastic when I got the prototype. I was amazed by it. I knew it would be good, but there was nothing wrong with it whatsoever and the stonework is magnificent. I get quite passionate about it. This is going to come as a great surprise to people in the model railway world. I think people will go mad, asking where they can get one. We should never forget our heritage. More than 14,000 people worked there and there are not many people in Swindon who are not connected to it in some way. I find it fascinating and hope that plenty of people will have a part of Swindon on their model railways."
 
The Swindon Works closed 25 years ago.
 
To mark the anniversary, the museum's Swindon Railway Festival in September will pay tribute to the men and women who worked inside the famous works.
 
The model is set to go on sale at the festival, at a price of £49.95.
 
Matthew Edwards.