The Wyvern Theatre and the Steam railway museum are two of Swindon's most prestigious landmarks. Both could do with a shot in the arm to turn around their fortunes and make them more attractive to the public.

Plans are now in place to revive these ailing attractions.

PUTTING steam back into the Steam museum will ultimately save the loss-making attraction, according to the man responsible for overseeing the borough's culture and leisure facilities.

Providing a miniature working railway, which takes visitors around the spacious Churchward site once home to the Great Western Railway and into the Designer Outlet Village, is part of a long-term strategy to generate new interest in the museum.

But Justin Tomlinson (Con, Abbey Meads) Swindon Council's lead member for culture and recreation first thinks the attraction needs to grab the interest of the under-16s and has sought the advice of model railway makers Hornby in a bid to do so.

Representatives of the famous toy manufacturer are scheduled to meet Coun Tomlinson at the museum later this year with a view to building a huge interactive model railway.

He said: "Steam is an excellent heritage museum, but there is so much we could do with it. I've contacted Hornby and they're coming down in September to put forward proposals. I'm thinking of something like ten tracks interlinked where children can pay 20p to see the trains stop, start or go faster.

"One of the biggest criticisms of the museum is that there's nothing for under-16s to do and if we don't get the children in we'll never get the adults. The under-16s are going to love it and want to drag their parents along.

"The council officers think this is the best thing since sliced bread because currently once you've been to Steam that's it. I'd like the Friends of Steam to help us with a changing exhibition as well.

"Once the problem of car parking has been solved it will generate a lot of interest from corporate businesses who will want to hold functions and dinners in a lovely setting.

"The museum is draining more than £500,000 a year from taxpayers so once we find a solution we'll all be happy."

Last week the editor of Heritage Railway magazine, Robin Jones, told the Advertiser that the name of the museum was misleading because it did not actually have any live steam.

And he said that the only way to generate interest in what he described as a wonderful attraction was the creation of a miniature ride-on railway.

And last month the man in charge of the largest collection of railway icons in the world said that Steam would only prosper if Swindon marketed itself as a viable tourist attraction.

Richard Gibbon, the head of the engineering collection at the National Railway Museum in York, said although Steam was a great exhibition it struggles to attract visitors because the town has little to offer tourists.

Visitor numbers for the £13 million museum are still well down on the 200,000 people expected to visit when it opened in 2000.

Entry to the National Railway Museum in York is free, but at Steam adults are charged £5.95 and children £3.80.

Full weekend in store for the rail enthusiasts

aThe Steam Museum is hosting two special events today and tomorrow.

Traction engine enthusiasts will be bringing real live steam to Swindon between 11am and 5pm on Saturday and 11am and 4pm on Sunday.

Among the machines on display will be a 191 Marshall traction engine and a 1923 Folwer Road Roller.

You can also meet former railway workers at the m useum in Kemble Drive next to the Designer Outlet Village.

The men whose working life the museum depicts will be on hand to talk about their experiences.

The event is held every fortnight, with the next event after this weekend on July 26. Normal admission charges of £5.95 for adults, £3.80 for children and £3.90 for senior citizens apply.

Call the museum on (01793) 466645 or see its website at www.steam-museum.org.uk.