Toby's Brothers

Toby's brothers were the LNER J70s trams built between 1903 and 1921.

Biography
During his younger days, Toby, along with several of his brothers, worked at a harbour in East Anglia on the Mainland.

Toby is now old and his brothers were replaced by Drewry 0-6-0 diesel shunters. They were eventually withdrawn by 1955 and cut up for scrap, with Toby being the only member of their class left. He would later reminiscence about the days when he worked with his brothers.

Basis
Toby's brothers are based on a GER Class C53 0-6-0T Wisbech steam tram (reclassified as J70 by the LNER) built at Stratford Works. Twelve of these were produced. They were seen by the Rev. W. Awdry and Christopher Awdry on a holiday at Yarmouth. The J70s started their career on the Great Eastern Railway and were known as C53. They spent most of their career on the Wisbech and Upwell tramway pulling slow goods trains and, until 1927, passenger trains, though several were also assigned to the docks at Ipswich and Yarmouth. The first withdrawal came in 1942. Eventually, the sole survivor of this class was withdrawn from service and scrapped at Stratford Locomotive Works by 1955. They were replaced by BR Class 04 diesel engines, Mavis' basis.

The GER also had smaller 0-4-0 counterparts, the GER Class G15 (reclassified as Y6 by LNER). Ten were produced. By 1952, these were all scrapped. The Nene Valley Railway were building a replica of the Y6 class to perform as Toby the Tram Engine for their Day Out with Thomas events. However, the project was ceased halfway through.

Livery
Toby's brothers were painted brown with black cowcatchers and side plates. Their company's initials (LNER) were painted on their side plates in yellow. They each have a gold builder's plate on their sides. Their buffer beams are painted red with silver buffers. Their paintwork is weathered.

Appearance
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Toby, Trucks and Trouble - Toby's Seaside Holiday

Companion Volumes
Other Media=
 * 1972 - The Railway Series: Surprise Packet
 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines
 * 2007 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The New Collection

Books

 * 2005 - Thomas Goods Encyclopedia