Appleby Frodingham Railway

The Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society 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 steelworks, now simply known as Scunthorpe Works. The railway operates entirely within the Corus steelworks over the tracks normally used for moving iron, steel and materials around the works.

Occasional excursion trains were run around the works site (such as in 1986) using the works' own locomotives. Then in 1990, steam-hauled passenger trains were run as part of a works anniversary celebration, using a locomotive borrowed from the Rutland Railway Museum. This was popular enough for further events to be planned using locomotive and carriages borrowed from the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. The society now owns (or is responsible for) several steam and diesel locomotives. On occasions the (radio controlled) Corus diesel locomotives have been used on passenger trains.

Trains run on a limited number of days during the year and it is normal to book a place (via the website or by telephone) for a specific train. Trains travel between 7 and 15 miles, all within the steelworks.

Irregular special events are organised such as 'Diesel Days' where Corus or other visiting locomotives operate a series of trains through the day. For example in 2003 one of each type of Corus locomotive (a Yorkshire Engine Co 'Janus', a Hunslet 'Anchor' and a 'High Line locomotive') together with an EWS class 08 were used on special trains, each making one round trip of around 6.75 miles.

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 blast furnaces.

External links

* [http://www.afrps.co.uk/ Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society website]