Derwent Valley Light Railway – Annual Report 2020
At the Derwent Valley Light Railway, 2020 began with plans to build on the success we had seen in 2019, with demand for the railway high. Plans were in progress to increase our running days and there was a busy start to the year.
First aiders were trained in February to ensure that we had a trained group across our working volunteers, made up of those on site most often. Training days were also run to prepare us all for the season ahead.
Our first event of the year was a Volunteers Day that took place in mid-March. This was a highly successful day and attracted new members interested in a wide range of volunteer activity. Little did we know that within 10 days, the UK would go into lockdown, we would cease operating for many months and be unable to offer any of those opportunities.
By 20[th] March, it was clear that Covid was impacting on the wider heritage railway network and like other railways, we took the decision to delay the start of our running season. When the lockdown began, activity had to be restricted to security checks around the site.
As lockdown restrictions began to ease, the locos were run on a three week cycle by a core team. This ensured that when we were able to open up, the locos would be in good condition. Each loco was run every three weeks, up and down the line and maintenance checks done. Slowly we were able to reintroduce working groups in line with Government rules, to restart the wide range of maintenance around the site.
By July, Murton Park began a limited reopening but due to the ongoing restrictions on social distancing and indoor activities, we were unable to run passenger trains. As an alternative, shunting demonstrations of our freight stock were trialled and proved to be very popular with visitors. These ran every Sunday and some Saturdays into the Autumn.
Unfortunately during July the railway was targeted repeatedly by thieves. A number of items were taken including tools, spare parts and loco name plates. A security system has been installed around the site to protect the railway.
Once restrictions allowed, work began on the MK1 coach that is on loan to us from the NYMR. It needed some significant restoration, so a Tuesday team came together and made significant progress through the year.
To support the railway during this period, a fundraising campaign was started on the website and raised £1100 towards ongoing costs. The shunting demonstrations also increased donations. Despite the lack of passenger trains, our financial position over the year was stable – a good position under the circumstances – and we are grateful to everyone who contributed.
Unfortunately we were not able to run Santa Specials as we have done in the past, with Santa and elves on the train. An alternate solution was developed with Santa greeting socially distanced families in the Viking village, a new toy shop to allow the children to choose a gift from the elves and refreshments being served at the railway. Whilst different from our usual offering and sadly without a train ride, it did prove a successful event at the end of a difficult year.
Derwent Valley Light Railway Society Summary of Accounts 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2020
| 1st Jan 2020 31st Dec 2020 Variance |
1st Jan 2020 31st Dec 2020 Variance |
1st Jan 2020 31st Dec 2020 Variance |
1st Jan 2020 31st Dec 2020 Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Account | £4,347.34 | £5,483.11 | £1,135.77 |
| Savings Account | £10,611.40 | £20,619.65 | £10,008.25 |
| Cash Account | £97.25 | £481.80 | £384.55 |
| Loco Account | £2,911.57 | £2,683.87 | -£227.70 |
| Shed Account | £22,984.78 | £22,066.66 | -£918.12 |
| Total | £40,952.34 | £51,335.09 | £10,382.75 |
| Variance £10,382.75 |
|||
| Variance | £10,382.75 |
Derwent Valley Light Railway Society Main Account 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2020
| Income | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Membership | £2,080.00 | £2,140.00 |
| Donations | £4,061.19 | £2,416.26 |
| Track Hire | £1,150.00 | £0.00 |
| Events | £0.00 | £1,265.00 |
| ShopSales | £2,244.36 | £2,803.74 |
| Bank Interest | £27.81 | £51.33 |
| Santa Specials | £0.00 | £2,800.00 |
| York Steam Fair | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Driver for a Fiver | £0.00 | £630.00 |
| Yard Tours | £0.00 | £39.00 |
| Cab rides | £0.00 | £354.00 |
| Insurance Claim | £8,806.32 | £472.35 |
| Sundries(ScrapMetal) | £32.85 | |
| Total | £18,402.53 | £12,971.68 |
| Expenditure | ||
| ShopStock | £880.82 | £1,365.28 |
| HRA Subscriptions | £66.00 | £66.00 |
| Milege Payments | £200.00 | £975.00 |
| Newsletters | £594.30 | £634.76 |
| Postage & Stationary | £26.50 | £100.14 |
| Leaflets | £199.68 | |
| Site maintenance | £2,177.84 | £3,448.98 |
| Bank Charges | £92.91 | £74.18 |
| RollingStock maintenance | £2,566.25 | £3,422.04 |
| Loco Maintenance | inc. above | inc. above |
| Sundries | £0.00 | £588.33 |
| York Steam Fair | £0.00 | £331.96 |
| Advertising | £68.00 | £428.00 |
| Events | £59.25 | £345.85 |
| Tools & Equipment | £0.00 | £565.00 |
| Fuel(Non Loco) | £112.65 | £170.00 |
| Marketing | £0.00 | £390.00 |
| IT services | £239.88 | |
| Total | £7,084.40 | £13,105.20 |
| Variation | £11,318.13 | -£133.52 |
Derwent Valley Light Railway Society Loco Account 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019
| Income | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interest | £2.30 | £4.42 | |
| Mileage Money | £900.00 | ||
| Total | £2.30 | £904.42 | |
| Expenditure | |||
| Loco repairs | £230.00 | £1,144.61 | |
| Total | £230.00 | £1,144.61 | |
| Balance as at 1st Jan 2020 | 2911.57 | £3,151.76 | |
| Income | £2.30 | £904.42 | |
| Expenditure | £230.00 | £1,144.61 | |
| Balance as at 31st Dec 2019 | £2,683.87 | £2,911.57 |
Derwent Valley Light Railway Society Shed Account 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019
| 2020 2019 |
2020 2019 |
2020 2019 |
2020 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income | |||
| Interest | £17.88 | £34.33 | |
| ScrapSales | £230.95 | ||
| Total | £17.88 | £265.28 | |
| Expenditure | |||
| Topographical survey | £936.00 | £0.00 | |
| Total |
Derwent Valley Light Railway Society YMF Account 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019
| Income | |
|---|---|
| Santa Special | £4,725.00 |
| 10% Admissions | £5,060.00 |
| Bank Holidayextra opening | £450.00 |
| Total | £10,235.00 |
| Expenditure | |
|---|---|
| Mk1 coach refurbishment | £1,567.76 |
| Mk1 coach transport | £945.00 |
| Oil | £88.22 |
| Radio Servicing | £198.00 |
| Batteries | £255.55 |
| Terminals | £16.20 |
| Tarmac | £78.60 |
| Shed | £551.00 |
| Magneto repair | £500.00 |
| Fuel | £1,170.00 |
| Oil,Anti freeze etc | £1,078.97 |
| Materials | £56.27 |
| ShopStock | £112.11 |
| Colour leaflets | £760.00 |
| Leaflet Design | £400.00 |
| Insurance | £1,300.00 |
| Total | £9,077.68 |
| Balance as at 1st Jan 2019 | £6,231.00 |
| Income | £10,235.00 |
| Expenditure | £9,077.68 |
| Balance 31st Dec 2019 | £7,388.32 |