The Trust is Charitable Incorporated Organisation No.1156931, Registered in England, and is Accredited Museum No. 1202.
The Collection held by the Trust is at present nine historic railway carriages, also three small industrial steam locomotives, a railbus, and a collection of railway posters and other miscellaneous railway items.
The Vintage Carriages Trust (VCT) is a volunteer body, based on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. It was formed in 1965 by a group of volunteers whose interest was in wooden bodied carriages.
They could see that there was a need to concentrate on the preservation of these historic items which were in grave danger of disappearing due to the weather and vandalism damage and unsuitability for regular use on preserved railways of the day.
The Trust owns the Carriage Works Museum at Ingrow - the first station from Keighley on the Worth Valley Railway. By four phases of building work commencing in 1989, this has developed into a large museum display and associated workshop, and is the Trust’s headquarters.
Although the building is named a "museum", the Trust stresses that it is the Trust as a whole that is a "Museum on the Move", and functions as a Museum anywhere where the Collection can be seen in action or on static display. Two of our locomotives are currently based at other locations.
We are an independent. volunteer-managed organisation and we do not receive any regular funding from the taxpayer.
Our shop
Our main source of income is from sales in our shop at Ingrow. We specialise in out-of-print back issues of railway-related magazines, as well as railway-related books. We also sell pre-owned model railway items.
We also sell general souvenirs, ice cream, confectionery and soft drinks.
Museum admission charges
Our modest admission charge is a vital source of income.
Carriage hire
We welcome controlled, occasional use of our carriages as an important way in which our Collection can be interpreted for the education and enjoyment of all.
Membership subscriptions and Donations from individuals
We are grateful to the 500 or so Members of Vintage Carriages Trust for their loyal support.
We are also grateful to the many museum visitors who make a financial donation when they visit.
Grants for specific projects
We have been fortunate to receive grants towards the cost of our museum building from the English Tourist Board, the Esmee Fairburn Trust, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Keighley Single Regeneration Budget, the Mercer Foundation, the Leo de Rothschild Trust, the Museums & Galleries Commission and the Pilgrim Trust.
We have received grants towards equipment, facilities and restoration work from the Museums & Galleries Commission PRISM (Preservation and Restoration of Industrial & Scientific material) Fund, Museums Development Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Museums Council.
The work of our volunteers in carriage restoration has gained recognition over the years with a number of national Awards. In 1998 the Museum building itself and the efforts put into improved access for the disabled achieved a national ADAPT (Access for Disabled people to Arts Premises Today) Award in the Museum section. We also were Runners-Up in the volunteer sector of the Yorkshire Electricity/Yorkshire & Humberside Museums Council Access Awards.
It is the Museum building at Ingrow in which all Trust members take most pride. The last 30 years have seen major advances in all facets of the Trust's activities. This been achieved by the support of all the membership and by the dedication and hard work of the working members who can now continue to enjoy their hobby and take pride in the results.
If you are impressed by what we have achieved so far, and feel you would like to be a part of this activity, either as a supportive 'armchair' Member, or by practical work at Ingrow, or in our Shop, or with our locomotives. Why not join us?
