The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust

Analysis

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in County Durham. It was registered in June 1993, 33 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02636924). It says it other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust reported income of £1.2m and spending of £792k, leaving 34% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income fell from £1.6m to £1.2m (-27%), an average of -7.5% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income dropped by 22%. Over the whole period it spent 69% of the income it received.

Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust sits at the 94th percentile: it is larger than about 94% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country Ltd (£1.2m), The Downforce Trust (£1.2m) and Mersey Rivers Trust (£1.2m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 58%, charitable activities 39% and trading 2.5%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £362k. Charitable activities took 72% of spending and raising funds 28%. It employed 7 people.

Data notes from the register: The latest annual return was received after its deadline.