A MUSEUM rolled back the years at the weekend as steam power returned to Swindon again.

Visitors to Steam enjoyed a display of historic traction engines dating back to 1919.

In the burning heat the five coal fired machines stationed next to the Swindon to London railway line conjured up an image of the sights and sounds of Swindon in days gone by.

For former Great Western Railway train drivers Tom Conduit, 78, and Byron Williams, 79, it brought back memories of the age when steam ruled the world.

Mr Conduit said: "There is no comparison between these engines and the ones we drove. The smallest we had were much bigger than these.

"But the smell of the burning oil is the same. The smoke and the steam and the smell bring back a lot of memories."

Colin Meredith, a maintenance engineer from Cirencester, was giving rides on a cart pulled by his miniature traction engine.

He said: "The children come and have a look and the young ones especially like to have a ride on it.

"The adults wonder how many of them the engine can pull, and four people are no problem. It's so strong that it can tow a fire engine from a standing start."