SWINDONIANS are snubbing their town's railway history, according to Great Western Railway Heritage Trust secretary Steve Atkins.

Last month Mr Atkins, 53, was the driving force behind rescuing a Swindon-built carriage belonging to Queen Victoria's royal train and bringing it back to the town.

But he said it was "typical Swindon" that efforts to restore the carriage had largely gone unnoticed.

A drive to raise funds for restoration work has yielded little money and only a handful of people have bothered to visit the trust workshop.

He said: "Apart from an immediate circle from within the museum, there has been little interest and no support for the project.

"It doesn't surprise me, there is a phenomenal apathy towards Swindon's railway heritage from within the town most of the interest comes from people living a long way from here."

Last month the Advertiser reported how an important part of the town's railway past was being saved from rotting.

The carriage, dating back to 1897, was rescued from a caravan site in Aberport, Wales, and driven back to the GWR workshop, next to the Steam museum, for restoration work. The 9.5 tonne carriage, one of five built in Swindon, was used by Queen Victoria's ladies in waiting and described by Mr Atkins as a "truly magnificent piece of work".

Experts believe it was probably used to take someone to Aberport in around 1935 where it was then turned into a holiday home.

From then on it was effectively left to rot, although squatters had recently used the palatial surroundings as a makeshift home.

The 233 carriage currently rests in the workshop just yards from 234 another carriage from the royal train.

"We are in possession of a very important part of Swindon's railway heritage," Mr Atkins said.

"This is one of the five royal carriages to be built in Swindon yet it's difficult to drum up any enthusiasm to get it restored."

Mr Atkins thinks it will cost around £100,000 to restore the carriage to its original splendour.

"I appreciate that commercial companies in the town get hit by many letters asking for financial support," he added.

"I hope there is some interest out there in something as historical as this, but it wouldn't surprise me if we didn't get any support.

"The railway has made Swindon what it is.

"Swindon was the railway and the railway was Swindon but nowadays people don't appreciate its significance.

"I guess people don't tend to visit places right on their doorstep when they have grown up with it.

"It's easy to forget a piece of exquisite craftsmanship when we live in such a high-tech world."

The trust hopes to raise the money through grants, private subscription and donations.

Cheques towards the fundraising drive should be made payable to GWR Heritage Trust, Swindon Works, Churchward, Kemble Drive, Swindon.

Call Swindon 430567 for details of viewing times.