Background

The Sustainable Transport Centre is driven by Railworld, which developed from the Nene Valley Railway, opened in 1977. In 1981 NVR urged by its main funder, Peterborough Development Corporation, set up a museum working party, under Rev. Richard Paten, NVR’s first chairman.

In 1984, Dame Margaret Weston, Director of London’s Science Museum gave support in principle for a Museum of World Railways (MWR).

In 1985, MWR was formed. However, after setbacks, MWR was changed to Railworld in 1992 (UN Earth Summit year). The Trustees refocused their effort, from past to present and so to Sustainable Transport.

In 1993, they opened the present visitor attraction, a story of incremental growth, with volunteer work and a series of grants. In 2005 it was decided to raise capital through a housing development.

The Company presently owns freehold 14.2 acres/5.7hectares of ex-industrial land.

Railworld is a registered charity (No.291515). To find out more information from the UK's Charity Commission, click here.

Railworld's principal legal objects are:

to advance the education of the public in all aspects of sustainable transport as part of the United Nations range of measures to combat human induced climate change
to advance the education of the public in all aspects of railway travel as a widely acknowledged form of sustainable transport
to create an eco-transport centre to be opened to the public for the aforesaid purposes.

Management

Railworld has a Management Board of some 8 Trustees (15 are allowed). Under Charity Commission law they receive no remuneration, Railworld being a company limited by guarantee has no shareholders; any profits return to the Company. The Board meets at least quarterly.

Board Members

Rev. Richard Paten - President
Brian Pearce - Chair
Bob Burke
John Ginns
Cllr Stephen Goldspink - Vice Chair
Dean Johnson
Mike Phillips - Vice Chair
David Topgood

Tony Warner-Smith - Company Secretary

Staff Members

John Turner - Assistant Manager
Diane Crane - Marketing Secretary