Supporting Kirkby Stephen East
This page details how you can help us to develop our impressive railway site to offer a sustainable, authentic experience for visitors.
Who are we?
Two organisations are based at Kirkby Stephen East, both of which are working hard to develop the station into a superb education and recreation resource for local people and visitors. The Stainmore Railway Company (SRC) operate the site, trains and care for the station while the Locomotive Conservation & Learning Trust (LCLT) own the J21 locomotive 65033 and the NER Bogie Stores Van which is being installed at the station as an educational facility. These organisations work closely together and, through partnership, are transforming this hidden gem of Cumbrian history. Significant progress has already been made; operating steam train rides, restoring and rebuilding original structures and becoming home to a locomotive from the National Collection - NER No.910, built in 1875 as the ‘top-link’ of express passenger motive power.
Why do we need your support?
We want as many people to feel connected to Kirkby Stephen East (KSE) as possible; to make it a real cornerstone of the community and an example to railway preservationists everywhere. Carrying out the work of rebuilding the station, rolling stock and line are expensive and any financial help, even in small amounts, gets us closer to delivering the projects we want to complete. You can also help us by volunteering - what you see on your visits has been achieved through the hard work and dedication of volunteers. More details on this can be found at the bottom of the page.
How you can help?
There are several ways in which you can help the development of Kirkby Stephen East.
Other ways of helping sustain the work at KSE
Who are we?
Two organisations are based at Kirkby Stephen East, both of which are working hard to develop the station into a superb education and recreation resource for local people and visitors. The Stainmore Railway Company (SRC) operate the site, trains and care for the station while the Locomotive Conservation & Learning Trust (LCLT) own the J21 locomotive 65033 and the NER Bogie Stores Van which is being installed at the station as an educational facility. These organisations work closely together and, through partnership, are transforming this hidden gem of Cumbrian history. Significant progress has already been made; operating steam train rides, restoring and rebuilding original structures and becoming home to a locomotive from the National Collection - NER No.910, built in 1875 as the ‘top-link’ of express passenger motive power.
Why do we need your support?
We want as many people to feel connected to Kirkby Stephen East (KSE) as possible; to make it a real cornerstone of the community and an example to railway preservationists everywhere. Carrying out the work of rebuilding the station, rolling stock and line are expensive and any financial help, even in small amounts, gets us closer to delivering the projects we want to complete. You can also help us by volunteering - what you see on your visits has been achieved through the hard work and dedication of volunteers. More details on this can be found at the bottom of the page.
How you can help?
There are several ways in which you can help the development of Kirkby Stephen East.
- Becoming a Shareholder of SRC - You can purchase shares in SRC for £10. You will be issued with a share certificate and will be entitled to attend shareholder meetings. You’ll also be invited to a Supporters Day each year, free of charge. Click here for details. You can also print a form at the bottom of this page.
- Subscription to the SRC newsletter - You can stay in touch with our work by subscribing to our printed newsletter for just £15 per annum. Click here for details.
- Joining the 1370 club - The minimum fixed costs of the station and site equate to approximately £1370 per month. You can set up a standing order for £10 per month to Stainmore Railway Company to help us cover these, ensuring other fundraising we conduct can be spent on development. You’ll enjoy benefits such as free train rides on normal running weekends and an exclusive pin badge. You will also be invited to the relaunch event of each restored piece of rolling stock at Kirkby Stephen East which will be several over coming years! Being part of this scheme also makes you a SRC shareholder with the benefits that includes. Click here for details
- Helping with grant applications - We are a not for profit company limited by shares registered in England (Company No 03959471) so have a similar status to a Charity which makes us eligible for grant funding. Over the years our director and project manager, Dr Mike Thompson, has written a large number of succcessful grant applications which has funded work at KSE. Our funders over the last five years are listed below:
- Cultural Recovery Fund supported us during the lockdown imposed by COVID19 restrictions which forced us to close for two years
- Cumbria County Council
- Eden District Council
- Heritage Lottery Fund
- Ken Hoole Trust
- Kirkby Stephen Town Council
- PRISM Fund administered by The Arts Council
- The 9F Locomotive Charitable Trust
- Westmoreland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme supported work on our footbridge, which was build in the 1860s to the design of Sir Thomas Bouch, through their connecting heritage scheme. To learn more about this fund please visit their website.
- Yorkshire Dales National Park Sustainable Development Fund supported the recent infrastruture work on our footbridge (see permanent way work). The fund is open to individual businesses, community groups or voluntary sector bodies. It provides an accessible source of money for a wide range of projects that result in positive benefits for the National Park's environment, economy and communities, whilst enhancing and conserving local culture, wildlife and landscape. To learn more about this fund please visit their website or email the Sustainable Development Officer: sdf@yorkshiredales.org.uk
Other ways of helping sustain the work at KSE
- Becoming a Friend of the J21 and other historically significant rail vehicles - You'll benefit from a quarterly newsletter and the pride of knowing that you are supporting a major development here in Upper Eden; a priceless feeling. This scheme is offered by the LCLT and you can learn more about it at http://www.lclt.org.uk/. They also offer a number of other schemes with rewards like a locomotive experience day.
- Leaving a legacy to help develop Kirkby Stephen East - One way you can give to help us to continue the development of this historic place is to leave a gift in your will. Please contact us to discuss this. This is administered through the LCLT which is a charity registered in England and Wales, No. 1129893. Click here for details
How to Volunteer
We love to welcome new volunteers into the team here at Kirkby Stephen East. We can offer a range of jobs from maintenance and restoration of our historic vehicles to showing visitors around and train operation. You can even volunteer with your whole family, if you would like. You can volunteer on the site on weekends and Wednesdays but you can also contribute remotely by helping our online team or in other roles. We work to be as inclusive as possible at Kirkby Stephen East but it is not always possible to adapt our historic equipment to suit the needs of everyone. Please contact us to discuss how you can contribute.
See our volunteering page for more details
See our volunteering page for more details
