[1] The museum is housed in a former engineering workshop, built c.1842 using squared rubble from the Box Tunnel, and forming part of the Swindon Works of the Great Western Railway.

There is a series of reconstructions of areas of work, such as office, stores, workshop, signal box and foundry.

The museum holds an extensive archive of books, periodicals, photographs, drawings and plans, relating to the Great Western Railway.

The museum is near Swindon's town centre, adjacent to the Designer Outlet, at Ordnance Survey mapping six-figure grid reference SU 143848.

The museum also displays a small collection of Great Western rolling stock and equipment, including: