THE MID-NORFOLK RAILWAY PRESERVATION TRUST
Railway operation and preservation
Latest income
£2.5m
Latest spending
£2.3m
Registered
1995
Accounts read
FY2024
Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net income of £175,000 for the year ended 31 December 2024, with total funds increasing to £4.3 million. The trustees confirmed that unrestricted reserves of £4.3 million and net cash balances exceeding £1.2 million provide adequate resources for the foreseeable future, supported by secured Polar Express income through 2028.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves policy: between 6 and 12 months expenditure (held: £4.3m)
“The Trustees have examined the Group's requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation and are working towards a target whereby the unrestricted reserves held by the Group should equate to between 6 and 12 months expenditure.” — page 9
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Gift aid payment from subsidiary to charity
“During the year a gift aid payment of £739,197 (2023 - £508,500, as restated), being an amount equal to the value of taxable profits, was made from The Mid-Norfolk Railway (Trading) Limited to the Trust.” — page 46
“At 31 December 2024, the Charity owed The Mid-Norfolk Railway (Trading) Ltd £252,512 (2023 £368,811, as restated).” — page 46
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Amount owed to subsidiary
“During the year a gift aid payment of £739,197 (2023 - £508,500, as restated), being an amount equal to the value of taxable profits, was made from The Mid-Norfolk Railway (Trading) Limited to the Trust.” — page 46
“At 31 December 2024, the Charity owed The Mid-Norfolk Railway (Trading) Ltd £252,512 (2023 £368,811, as restated).” — page 46
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Amount owed to subsidiary
“During the year a gift aid payment of £739,197 (2023 - £508,500, as restated), being an amount equal to the value of taxable profits, was made from The Mid-Norfolk Railway (Trading) Limited to the Trust.” — page 46
“At 31 December 2024, the Charity owed The Mid-Norfolk Railway (Trading) Ltd £252,512 (2023 £368,811, as restated).” — page 46
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: The Mid-Norfolk Railway (Trading) Limited, Mid Norfolk Railway (I&E) Limited
“The accounts now include the combined activities both of the railway and commercial activities undertaking by The MidNorfolk Railway (Trading) Limited.”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2024)
Total income
£2.5m
Total spending
£2.3m
Cost of raising funds
£242k
Reserves (reported)
£762k
Employees
14
Trustees
- DAVID SIMON PATEYchair
- David James Collinson
- David John Golley
- Derek Orr
- Joshua Reginald Harold Quirk
- Lesley Spark
- Nigel Kenneth Edward Smith
- Paul Young
- Steven Andrew Rayner
- Stewart Robinson
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2024 | £2.5m | £2.3m |
| 31/12/2023 | £1.6m | £992k |
| 31/12/2022 | £1.7m | £1.0m |
| 31/12/2021 | £2.2m | £1.3m |
| 31/12/2020 | £1.3m | £723k |
Common questions
Is THE MID-NORFOLK RAILWAY PRESERVATION TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net income of £175,000 for the year ended 31 December 2024, with total funds increasing to £4.3 million. The trustees confirmed that unrestricted reserves of £4.3 million and net cash balances exceeding £1.2 million provide adequate resources for the foreseeable future, supported by secured Polar Express income through 2028. Its FY2024 accounts were audited by Larking Gowen LLP.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 24/02/2005 | £5k | "Education, Information And Promotion Activities Will Be Extended With Equipment Used To Collect, Collate, Record And Make Available Through" |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 17/02/2005 | £5k | Extending Archive and Promotion work |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE ADRIAN SWIRE CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £10k |
Charities like this
- SOUTH TYNEDALE RAILWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY
- WEST LANCASHIRE LIGHT RAILWAY TRUST
- WELSHPOOL AND LLANFAIR LIGHT RAILWAY PRESERVATION CO. LIMITED
- NORTH EASTERN LOCOMOTIVE PRESERVATION GROUP
- THE FFESTINIOG AND WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAYS TRUST (YMDDIRIEDOLAETH RHEILFFYRDD FFESTINIOG AC ERYRI)
- THE 2874 TRUST LIMITED
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE MID-NORFOLK RAILWAY PRESERVATION TRUST | £2.5m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SOUTH TYNEDALE RAILWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY | £297k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| WEST LANCASHIRE LIGHT RAILWAY TRUST | £99k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| WELSHPOOL AND LLANFAIR LIGHT RAILWAY PRESERVATION CO. LIMITED | £1.2m | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| NORTH EASTERN LOCOMOTIVE PRESERVATION GROUP | £226k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE FFESTINIOG AND WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAYS TRUST (YMDDIRIEDOLAETH RHEILFFYRDD FFESTINIOG AC ERYRI) | £11.9m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |