North Yorkshire Moors Railway Trust

Registered charity 501388 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as NORTH YORK MOORS HISTORICAL RAILWAY TRUST LIMITED, NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY

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Latest income
£9.8m
Latest spending
£9.1m
Registered
1972
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the group recorded a surplus of £728,028 for the year ended 28 February 2025, a significant improvement from the previous year's deficit. However, the charity holds no free reserves, with unrestricted general funds in a deficit position of £3,242,051, which the trustees attribute to the high cost of maintaining heritage assets. The group remains dependent on bank facilities and donor support to manage its seasonal cash flow and ongoing operational costs.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy
This position has made the highly desirable building of reserves exceptionally difficult, and therefore the Charity, in common with many others in its sector, holds no free reserves. At the year-end, free reserves were in a deficit position of £3,242,051 — page 22
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Hire of locomotives to North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group, of which Mr A Scott is President.
£39,130 was paid for the hire of locomotives to the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group, of which Mr A Scott is President — page 68
£500 was paid to the Esk Valley Railway Development company, of which Mr J Swift is a Director — page 68
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Payment to Esk Valley Railway Development company, of which Chairman Mr J Swift is a Director.
£39,130 was paid for the hire of locomotives to the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group, of which Mr A Scott is President — page 68
£500 was paid to the Esk Valley Railway Development company, of which Mr J Swift is a Director — page 68
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: NYMR Plc
The financial statements cover the activities of the NYMR Group ("the Group") comprising the NYMR and its controlled subsidiary, NYMR plc ("the PLC"). — page 5
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by BHP LLP. Discloses 3 of 6 completeness components.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — North Yorkshire Moors Railway (matched by registered charity number).

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 28/02/2025)

Total income
£9.8m
Total spending
£9.1m
Cost of raising funds
£338k
Reserves (reported)
£0
Employees
140

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: North Yorkshire

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
28/02/2025£9.8m£9.1m
29/02/2024£9.6m£10.1m
28/02/2023£7.9m£8.4m
28/02/2022£9.6m£7.2m
28/02/2021£9.9m£5.5m

Common questions

Is North Yorkshire Moors Railway Trust financially healthy?

The accounts state that the group recorded a surplus of £728,028 for the year ended 28 February 2025, a significant improvement from the previous year's deficit. However, the charity holds no free reserves, with unrestricted general funds in a deficit position of £3,242,051, which the trustees attribute to the high cost of maintaining heritage assets. The group remains dependent on bank facilities and donor support to manage its seasonal cash flow and ongoing operational costs. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by BHP LLP.

Government & lottery funding

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

FunderDateAmountPurpose
The National Lottery Heritage Fund27/06/2017£4.4m"Yorkshire's Magnificent Journey:- equal access, wider engagement, greater sustainability for England’s most dramatic steam railway (Kickst"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund11/09/2008£998k"Train of Thought"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund09/11/2005£22k"Heritage Education and Training Project - North Yorkshire Moors Historical Railway"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund21/03/2005£49k"Gresley 100, North Yorkshire"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund18/11/1998£312k"Pickering Station Restoration"