The Bowes Railway Co. Ltd was formed in 1980 as a "Company Limited by Guarantee" and is a Registered Charity. It is a non-profit making organisation run by volunteers with the aim of preserving, renovating and demonstrating a section of the former Bowes Railway. The Company has a lease from the two owner Councils (Sunderland City and Gateshead Metropolitan Borough) to occupy the site and to carry out its activities.

The Company is made up of Members, most of whom are active volunteers. Each year, at the Annual General Meeting, the members elect a Board of Directors which establishes policy and oversees the general good working of the Railway. The Company's Articles of Association require that two places on the Board of Directors are reserved for representatives of the two Councils. The Board delegates powers down to two Executive Committees: the Operating Committee and the Commercial Committee. These committees decide the day to day running of the site, the co-ordination of volunteer work and many other activities.

And finally, we must not forget the regular Volunteers - the railway has a number of volunteers who undertake a wide variety of tasks ranging through the whole gamut of restoration, maintenance, administration and operations. Everything from cutting hedges, rust removal, painting, oiling and greasing, running repairs, ticket sales, opening and closing crossing gates, signalling, engine crews, train crews, site security - you name it, we do it!

This page last updated 16th March 2007