EAST LANCASHIRE LIGHT RAILWAY COMPANY LIMITED

Registered charity 1186648 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

To preserve, restore and operate the railway lines, together with such lands and buildings adjacent thereto in Greater Manchester and Lancashire and in particular the East Lancashire Railway line, for the advancement of technical, historical and general education and for the permanent preservation, of steam and other railway locomotives, rolling stock, road vehicles, equipment and relics.

Causes: Recreation · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£5.2m
Latest spending
£5.6m
Registered
2019
Accounts read
FY2022

Financial health, per its FY2022 accounts

The accounts state that the group reported a net expenditure of £115,498 for the year ended 31 December 2022, resulting in a decrease in total funds. The trustees note that the charity is dependent on a related entity for the maintenance of key railway structures and are concerned about ongoing economic pressures impacting income, though they believe sufficient reserves exist to continue as a going concern.

Automated summary of the FY2022 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Going concern: noted by the trustees or auditor
The directors are concerned by the ongoing economic pressures. The cost of living crisis is impacting on the public donations and income available from the trading company. In order to complete the ambitious plans for the future funding sources need to be identified. — page 7
Per its FY2022 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: East Lancashire Railway Limited
The subsidiary East Lancashire Railway Limited (company number 12381729) is a wholly owned trading company. — page 20
Per its FY2022 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Horsfield & Smith. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — East Lancashire Railway (matched by registered charity number).

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2024)

Total income
£5.2m
Total spending
£5.6m
Cost of raising funds
£4.6m
Reserves (reported)
£0
Employees
62

Reported reserves equal ~0.0 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).

Trustees

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Bury · Lancashire · Rochdale

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/12/2024£5.2m£5.6m
31/12/2023£5.5m£5.9m
31/12/2022£5.1m£5.2m
31/12/2021£4.6m£4.0m
31/12/2020£3.3m£2.9m

Common questions

Is EAST LANCASHIRE LIGHT RAILWAY COMPANY LIMITED financially healthy?

Per its FY2022 accounts: The accounts state that the group reported a net expenditure of £115,498 for the year ended 31 December 2022, resulting in a decrease in total funds. The trustees note that the charity is dependent on a related entity for the maintenance of key railway structures and are concerned about ongoing economic pressures impacting income, though they believe sufficient reserves exist to continue as a going concern. Its FY2022 accounts were audited by Horsfield & Smith.

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

FunderDateAmountPurpose
The National Lottery Heritage Fund30/11/2006£1.9m"Bury Transport Museum"