The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust
Analysis
The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Ripley. It was registered in November 1994, 32 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02970246). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides advocacy/advice/information and other charitable activities.
In the financial year ending December 2025, The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust reported income of £99k and spending of £151k, spending 153% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income fell from £365k to £99k (-73%), an average of -28% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 109%. Over the whole period it spent 90% of the income it received.
Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust sits at the 79th percentile: it is larger than about 79% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 71st percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Henley-On-Thames Day Centre Management Committee (£99k), Ashington Community Centre Trust (£99k) and New Virtuosi Charitable Trust (£99k).
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Other 100%
In the charity's own words
(1) - The restoration, preservation, operation and display of its steam locomotives, which includes LMS Princess Coronation Class Pacific 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland";(2) - The restoration, preservation, display and where appropriate, the operation of its rolling stock;(3) - The operation of the West Shed Museum, which aims to exhibit the full history of the LMS pacific class locomotives.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Henley-On-Thames Day Centre Management Committee | Oxfordshire | £99k |
| Ashington Community Centre Trust | West Sussex | £99k |
| New Virtuosi Charitable Trust | London | £99k |
| Evesham and District U3a | Worcestershire | £99k |