WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAY LIMITED
The Welsh Highland Railway Ltd operates a narrow gauge steam railway in Porthmadog in order to revive and preserve the spirit of the original railway that closed in 1937. The charity owns, maintains and operates Russell, the sole surviving steam engine from the original railway, now over 100 years old, together with other heritage rolling stock and artefacts. A new museum building opened in 2009.
Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net surplus of £66,402 for the year, with unrestricted reserves totaling £1,757,484. The trustees confirmed that the charity has adequate resources to meet its operational needs for the foreseeable future, with no material uncertainties regarding going concern. However, the core railway operations ran at a deficit of £52,586, which was offset by donations and other income.
What the accounts disclose
“The directors currently have a policy to maintain unrestricted reserves to support an operating season's expenditure costs.” — page 9
“During the year ended December 31, 2023, the company received donations from the trustees totalling £2,763” — page 29
“Subsidiary undertakings Cwmni Rheilffordd Beddgelert Cyfyngedig”
Corporate structure
- Registered company of the charity Companies House 00790125
- Trading subsidiary: CWMNI RHEILFFORDD BEDDGELERT CYFYNGEDIG Companies House 02712938
- Amounts owed to group undertakings: £202,166 (2023: £135,390)
Company officers (Companies House)
- CUTMORE, Nicholas John on trustee list
- WRAY, Alex George not on trustee list
- JONES, Myles Oliver Stephen not on trustee list
- MANN, Oliver Samuel on trustee list
- PELL, Nick not on trustee list
- CHAPMAN, Michael Mattocks on trustee list
- CURRINN, Stephen George Wentworth not on trustee list
- SINCLAIR, Richard Alexander on trustee list
- MENZIES, Robert
Property (HM Land Registry)
Trustees
- Michael Mattocks Chapman
- Nicholas John Cutmore
- Nicholas Pell
- Oliver Samuel Mann
- Richard Alexander Sinclair
- STEPHEN GEORGE WENTWORTH CURRIN
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2024 | £234k | £167k |
| 31/12/2023 | £157k | £143k |
| 31/12/2022 | £187k | £129k |
| 31/12/2021 | £115k | £75k |
| 31/12/2020 | £84k | £95k |
Common questions
Is WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAY LIMITED financially healthy?
Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net surplus of £66,402 for the year, with unrestricted reserves totaling £1,757,484. The trustees confirmed that the charity has adequate resources to meet its operational needs for the foreseeable future, with no material uncertainties regarding going concern. However, the core railway operations ran at a deficit of £52,586, which was offset by donations and other income. Its FY2024 accounts were independently examined.
Charities like this
- CYMDEITHAS RHEILFFORDD ERYRI
- WELSHPOOL AND LLANFAIR LIGHT RAILWAY PRESERVATION CO. LIMITED
- VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAY LIMITED
- THE FFESTINIOG AND WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAYS TRUST (YMDDIRIEDOLAETH RHEILFFYRDD FFESTINIOG AC ERYRI)
- THE PONTYPOOL AND BLAENAVON RAILWAY COMPANY (1983) LIMITED
- CHINNOR AND PRINCES RISBOROUGH RAILWAY ASSOCIATION LIMITED
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAY LIMITED | £234k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| CYMDEITHAS RHEILFFORDD ERYRI | £147k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| WELSHPOOL AND LLANFAIR LIGHT RAILWAY PRESERVATION CO. LIMITED | £1.2m | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAY LIMITED | £2.1m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE FFESTINIOG AND WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAYS TRUST (YMDDIRIEDOLAETH RHEILFFYRDD FFESTINIOG AC ERYRI) | £11.9m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE PONTYPOOL AND BLAENAVON RAILWAY COMPANY (1983) LIMITED | £234k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |