West Somerset Railway Association
Also known as: W S R a
Our Association is established to promote education in the heritage of the railway from Taunton to Minehead by restoring, preserving and displaying railway locomotives, carriages, wagons and other artefacts (including documents, drawings, photographs, recordings and films) of historical interest and the buildings connected therewith.
Activities & Mission
Our Association is established to promote education in the heritage of the railway from Taunton to Minehead by restoring, preserving and displaying railway locomotives, carriages, wagons and other artefacts (including documents, drawings, photographs, recordings and films) of historical interest and the buildings connected therewith.
Areas of Operation
Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.
Local Authority
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 12% of UK Heritage charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 153). How is this calculated?
Higher than 29% of UK Heritage charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 11% of UK Heritage charities with income £1M to £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?
Latest Financial Breakdown
Income Sources
Expenditure Categories
Financial Trend
Annual Returns
As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2025.
One or more years show a significant change in income (over ±100%) compared with the prior year. This usually reflects a merger, transfer of activities, restated accounts, or a one-off legacy — not necessarily a real change in operating scale. See the methodology for context.
| Financial Year | Income | Expenditure | Charitable Spending | Net Assets | Reserves | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | £1,400,025 | £629,202 | £474,944 | £3,127,356 | £2,708,169 | 3 / 40 |
| 2024 | £537,772 | £397,760 | £286,701 | £2,356,533 | £2,356,000 | 3 / 30 |
| 2023 | £375,744 | £354,069 | 0 / 30 | |||
| 2022 | £633,419 | £274,001 | £273,109 | £2,194,846 | £2,195,000 | 2 / 30 |
| 2021 | £372,545 | £313,183 | 0 / 24 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about West Somerset Railway Association
What does West Somerset Railway Association do?
Our Association is established to promote education in the heritage of the railway from Taunton to Minehead by restoring, preserving and displaying railway locomotives, carriages, wagons and other artefacts (including documents, drawings, photographs, recordings and films) of historical interest and the buildings connected therewith.
How much income did West Somerset Railway Association report in 2025?
West Somerset Railway Association reported total income of £1.40m and reported expenditure of £629k for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is West Somerset Railway Association?
West Somerset Railway Association has a program ratio of 33.9%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 12% of UK Heritage charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 153 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was West Somerset Railway Association registered as a charity?
West Somerset Railway Association was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 4 November 1994 as charity number 1041901. It has been registered for 32 years.
Who runs West Somerset Railway Association?
West Somerset Railway Association is governed by a board of 9 trustees. The chair of trustees is Edward Alan Charles Martin. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does West Somerset Railway Association operate?
West Somerset Railway Association operates in Somerset, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.
Is West Somerset Railway Association a registered charity?
Yes — West Somerset Railway Association is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1041901.
Details
STATION ROAD
BISHOPS LYDEARD
TAUNTON
TA4 3BX
Registry Information
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Trustees
Also Known As
- W S R a
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 30 July 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated