The Appleby Frodingham Railway - Scunthorpe (AFR-S) is based at Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire. The society owns locomotives and rolling stock but not the railway it runs on. The name comes from the Appleby-Frodingham Steel Company, now known as British Steel Limited Scunthorpe after the companies buyout by Greybull Capital in 2016, and after going into compulsory liquidation in 2019, Jingye Group. The railway operates entirely within the Steelworks limits over tracks normally used for moving molten iron, steel and raw materials. Trains travel between , all within the steelworks.

History

Occasional excursion trains were run around the Scunthorpe Steel Works site (such as in 1986) using the works' own locomotives.

In 1990, British Steel PLC celebrated their 100 years of steelmaking at their plant in Scunthorpe. The works asked every department to join in with the celebrations. Keith Norris, rail traffic manager at the time, spoke with the works loco drivers and it was decided the Rail Traffic Department would borrow a steam engine and a coach to take a group of invited dignitaries around the site. After the first tour, over 100 trips were run for school children and members of the public The last trip ran in September, but requests for tours around the work kept coming in.

At the end of 1990, some of the works drivers met British Steel PLC management and asked if they could run the tours again in 1991. With this, and with management in full agreement, the idea of a railway preservation group was born.

"Bellerophon" was borrowed from the Vintage Carriage Trust at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. British Rail donated 2 ex-Class 108 DMU carriages to be used on rail tours. These tours were run throughout 1991, and donations collected were put towards the  maintenance of the coaches and rolling stock.

1992 saw the arrival of "Arnold Machin", an 0-6-0 diesel-electric shunter from (the then) East Coast Slag Co. It was overhauled and returned to working order, whilst steam traction was provided by "Sir Berkley". This locomotive was also on loan from the Vintage Carriages Trust. Towards the end of 1992, a member saw an advert in the Railway Press for a Polish steam locomotive being sold by a Polish steelworks. With these locos being ideal for operations around the work, two members decided to visit the plant in Poland and "Hutnik" (Polish for "iron worker") was purchased and brought back to Scunthorpe.

In 1993, "Hutnik" took charge of her first train, becoming the staple motive power for the next 12 years.

In 1995, after a members' purchase, a Pecket 0-4-0 saddle tank was brought to Scunthorpe, and after receiving a full overhaul, joined "Hutnik" hauling passengers.

Since then, the society has been home to many privately owned locomotives and rolling stock, including a Bagnal 0-4-0 Diesel-hydraulic bought by a members' consortium, and a steam locomotive owned by a group of volunteers at the Derwent Valley Light Railway.

On occasions, internal steelworks (radio controlled) locomotives have also been used on passenger trains to the delight of visitors, and with many thanks to British Steel.

Locomotives PhotographNumberClassNameCurrent LiveryYear builtStatusNo.1 (Works Number: 2877)Yorkshire Engine Company Janus -Appleby Frodingham Steel Company (Apple Green)1963OperationalWorks Number: 3138 steam locomotive built by Fabryka Lokomotyw im. Feliksa Dzierzynskiego, Chrzanów, PolandHutnikAFRPS Maroon1954Stored / awaiting cosmetic restorationWorks Number: 2661 diesel electric Half Janus locomotive built by the Yorkshire Engine CompanyArnold MachinEccles Slag Company, Scunthorpe (Grey)1958Under restorationWorks Number 2320 14" Andrew Barclay steam locomotiveNo.54NCB Maroon1952OperationalWorks Number: 74090-6-0DH Diesel Hydraulic Hunslet No.58 (Workington No.402)Green with both operating numbers1976Under RestorationWorks Number: 8368 diesel hydraulic W. G. Bagnall locomotive built by RSH in 1962HorsaCEGB Goldington (Bedford)1962 Under restorationNo.8 (Works Number: 2369) 16" Andrew Barclay steam locomotive - NCB East Ayr Area1955Private owner. Under overhaulClass 144 017BR Class 144 'Pacer' 3-Car DMU (DMS 55817 - MS 55853 - DMSL 55840) -Northern Rail unbranded1986OperationalNo.1 (Works Number: 1438)Peckett steam locomotive(Nechells No.1)Nechells Power Station Green1916Private owner. Under restoration

Rolling Stock +PhotographClass / TypeNumber(s)Current LiveryOwnerStatusBR Class 108 DTCL56207Carmine & CreamAFR-S Awaiting RestorationBR Class 108 TBSL59245Carmine & CreamAFR-S Awaiting RestorationOperating Department Instruction Saloon395280 (M30106M)Loadhaul Orange and BlackAFR-S Under RestorationBR 20T Shark Ballast Plough Brake VanDB993829 (6094)Departmental GreyAFR-S Operational (Restored 2023/24)BR Standard 20T Brake Van7606BR MaroonAFR-S OperationalBR Standard 20T Brake VanB955010Rail Express Services RedPrivately Owned Stored (No restoration currently planned)BR Standard 20T Brake VanB955160BR RailfreightAFR-S OperationalBR Standard 20T Brake Van (Chassis Only)DB953867 (4702) -AFR-S Used for StorageLMS 20t Goods Brake Van295516LMS Light GreyPrivately Owned OperationalMK1 Tourist Second Open Coach (Converted to a Lounge Car)E4668BR / GWR Chocolate & CreamAFR-S StationaryGWR Toad 20T Goods Brake VanBW68494 -Privately OwnedUnder Restorationex-Internal LUMB Mill Roller Wagon -Internal GreyAFR-S / BSCRestored / On Display"MELD" ex-Internal Iron Ore Hopper Wagon197 -AFR-S Stored / On Displayex-Orgreave UCC Tar Tank Wagon33Orgreave GreyAFR-S Stored / On DisplayBR 26t Steel Mineral WagonB388553Plain GreyAFR-S Used for Storage / On Displayex-Internal 4w Bolster Wagon4023 -AFR-S Stored / On-Displayex-BR Frodingham / Internal Plate Layers Van (converted 12t Fish Van)975329 (Internal: 6005)BR Frodingham RedAFR-S / BSCUsed for Storageex-Internal Short Plate Wagon4311 -AFR-S Used for Storage

Special Events

Irregular special events are organised such as 'Diesel Days' where Corus and other visiting locomotives operated a series of trains through the day. For example, in 2003 one of each type of internal steelworks locomotive: a Yorkshire Engine Company Janus, a Hunslet Anchor Locomotive and a 'High Line locomotive', together with an EWS Class 08 were used on the Gala trains, each making one round trip of around using the societies Brake Vans and Class 108 DMU Carriages.

It is not unusual for the passenger trains to be stopped to allow steelworks trains to pass. It is sometimes possible to see trains carrying molten iron from the "Queens" - Blast Furnaces.

References

External links

Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society website British Steel Limited's Website