Crowle, Althorpe, Barnetby and Appleby/Froddingham Railway - April 2024

The 26th April provided a unique opportunity to travel on the Appleby and Froddingham Railway. 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 in 2016, and after going into compulsory liquidation in 2019. The railway operates entirely within the Steelworks limits over tracks normally used for moving molten iron, steel and raw materials. Trains travel between 7 and 15 miles all within the steelworks. Private charter trips using either a steam or diesel locomotives with three or four brake vans allow passengers to visit the huge Scunthorpe Steelworks Complex. Photos are allowed but ONLY those taken at the Appleby and Froddingham Shed or Froddingham Station are allowed to be shared online. The three hour excursion is an incredible tour of British Steel site with informative commentary from workers / volunteers from British Steel.

Crowle and Althorpe

Staying the night before in the Lincolnshire Area we recorded a few images at Crowle and Althorpe Station on the 25th April 2025.

DB Cargo Class 66 No.66182 passes Crowle on the 25th April 2025 operating 6D12 13:32 Lackenby - Scunthorpe empty steels.

Northern Class 150/2 No.150276 is pictured at Althrope on the 25th April 2025 while operating 2P25 17:42 Doncaster - Scunthorpe.

Transpennine Express Class 185 units No.185123 and No.185111 rounds the corner into Althrope Station on the 25th April 2025 operating 1B84 15:19 Liverpool Lime Street - Cleethorpes service.

Barnetby:

A small amount of time was able to be spent at Barnetby on the 26th April 2025, with one lucky freight train appearing. The North East freight flows are very much depleted following the consistent year on year demise of coal usage in the UK and industry reduction on use of moving oil and imported materials by rail.

Transpennine Class 185 No.185136 and No.185130 arrive into Barnetby on the 26th April 2025 operating 1B71 08:26 Cleethorpes - Liverpool Lime Street service.

As an East Midlands Class 170 disappears in the distance, Colas Class 70 No.70814 pauses at Barnetby for a crew change on the 26th April 2025, while operating 6E46 04:22 Kingsbury - Lindsey empty oils.

Colas Rail Freight Class 70 No.70814 departs from Barnetby on the 26th April 2025 operating 6E46 04:22 Kingsbury - Lindsey fuel tanks.

East Midlands Railway Class 170 No.170515 is pictured at Barnetby on the 26th April 2025 operating 2T53 08:18 Newark Northgate - Cleethorpes service.

Transpennine Class 185 units No.185114 and No.185110 call at Barnetby on the 26th April 2025 while operating 1B66 06:14 Liverpool Lime Street - Cleethorpes.

Appleby and Froddingham Railway

Images taken during thee three hour trip around Scunthorpe Steelworks. Our trip took place just a couple of weeks after the plant was taken over by the Government after near collapse. Stocks of steel had begun to recover after deliveries of Iron Ore had arrived. Images taken on the trip are allowed but only for personal use and can't be shared. This is a real shame as the steelworks is an incredible site and more promotion of the site would allow a greater audience for the fantastic work which takes place to make steel at the site. The images do not show off the enormity of the site or the products which are produced. Only images taken at Froddingham Station and the Appleby and Froddingham station / depot area can be presented.

Andrew Barclay No.2320 (NCB 54) of 1952 is pictured in Froddingham Station on the 26th April 2025 operating a special guards van trip around Scunthorpe Steelworks.

Appleby and Froddingham Class 144 No.144017 is pictured at the Depot on the 26th April 2025.

Andrew Barclay No.2320 (NCB 54) of 1952 is pictured in Scunthorpe Steelworks on the 26th April 2025 operating a special guards van trip around Scunthorpe Steelworks.

Andrew Barclay No.2320 (NCB 54) of 1952 is pictured at filling with water on the 26th April 2025 operating a special guards van trip around Scunthorpe Steelworks.

Andrew Barclay No.2320 (NCB 54) of 1952 is pictured in Froddingham Station on the 26th April 2025 operating a special guards van trip around Scunthorpe Steelworks.