Nene Valley Railway
Analysis
Nene Valley Railway is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Peterborough. It was registered in February 1972, 54 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 01038056). It says it other charitable activities.
In the financial year ending January 2025, Nene Valley Railway reported income of £1.1m and spending of £1.1m, spending 95% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from January 2021 to January 2025, income grew from £734k to £1.1m (+53%), an average of +11% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to January 2022, when income rose by 93%. Over the whole period it spent 106% 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, Nene Valley Railway sits at the 95th percentile: it is larger than about 95% 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 Queens Hall Arts (£1.1m), Open City (£1.1m) and The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust (£1.1m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 79%, trading 15% and donations and legacies 5.2%. Charitable activities took 100% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. It employed 12 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 5.2%
- Charitable activities 79%
- Trading 15%
- Investments 0.3%
- Other 0.9%
In the charity's own words
The charity promotes the permanent preservation of lines, locomotives, rolling stock, buildings and equipment of railway interest of actual or potential historic or scientific importance and educational value. These items to be exhibited to members of the public and, where possible, operated to demonstrate the working and operation of railways in general and some aspects in particular.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Queens Hall Arts | Hexham | £1.1m |
| Open City | 1a Cripps Yard | £1.1m |
| The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust | London | £1.1m |
| Guiting Manor Amenity Trust | Gloucestershire | £1.1m |