The GER's Terrific Trams - GER "G15" & "C53" 

Do you like the Great Eastern Railway? Their early locomotives were a little too basic for my tastes, but when the G15's came out in '83, I think they really came into their own, commercial and stylistically. The trams had a clean, simple design, and a flair of public safety that really gave the tramway a big boost. They've been compared to electric trams, but I think the 15's have a far much more old fashioned and rustic appeal. In '03, Holden released these, the C53's, their most well known trams. I think most people know them as "Toby the tram engine", an engine so recognisable, most people probably don't think about the C53's. But they should, because they're not just reliable machines, and uniquely designed, they're also reflective of the state of rural tramways themself. Hey Paul! 🪓

Insert Toby The Tram Engine theme

North of the island, There lived a dear old train A little tram engine, Toby is his name He's quaint and old fashioned, but careful and wise His coach is Henrietta and she’s seen better days His mind keeps returning to the good old days When they were busy working every day But nobody rides with them nowadays They can't understand why things have changed Their line is closing down today Forever

"Is it Electric?"

I can't believe you made an entire video about tram engines *just* so you could make that pun at the end.

Fun fact: GER C53 No.127 is the real life Toby, as stated be Wilbert Awdry himself

Toby is a tram engine. He has cowcatchers and side plates and doesn't look like a steam engine at all. This is a nice video on the J70s / G15s / C53s.

"Oldies, but goldies, we still care about you"

Toby oh Toby! Where would we be without you

Speaking of Toby, I find it kinda funny how most people, Thomas fans included, don't realize he has a whistle. LNER J70s actually had their whistles inside the cab, located on the steam dome atop the firebox.

love these little guys. One of my favourite jokes to claim that a LNER Y6 was somehow related to the N&W Y6b and then see the hilarious face that people made, first when they saw the massive difference, and again when they realise that their face was the punchline!

Toby in the railway series: the wise grandpa who gives no fucks. Toby in magic railroad: " Oh diesel won't bother with an old engine like me he thinks I'm useless " Toby in the cgi series: "Which signal is mine ?"

great to give Toby the tram engine a mention,,super little locos always assosiated with Thomas

Toby always was my favorite. I had several, but he was top dawg.

I love the look of the tram engine (maybe because of a well known tram engine from a popular kids series), they look so small and cute! I looked up the G15 a while ago and they look very cute!

Nice to see Toby is getting some recognition.

One still hopes and dreams that a replica will be built one day... they're such a quirky little design. Interesting how both Rev. W. Awdry & Christopher Awdry both made use of the engine's faults & features in stories. Such as Toby running out of water, needing to fill up more frequently than the other engines, and even turning the event mentioned at 4:52 into a story starring Toby. Neat trivia about the water tanks being the running board, I never knew that! I suppose I never really wondered where Toby's water tanks were before today. And of course, you mentioned the Class 04's which serves as the basis for Mavis. But of course in the world of Thomas, Toby & Mavis both happily co-exist on the Ffarquhar Tramroad, who doesn't enjoy a happy ending?

"Toby, oh Toby, show them what you can do. The world's much nicer whenever we see you. Toby, dear Toby, there's so much to learn from you. Oldies, but goldies. We still care for you!"

Toby is NOT a shed on wheels. He is great and old fashioned but careful and wise.

Definitely the two classes of engine most in need of Tornado'esque replicas 🤔🙂

The fact that BOTH a G15 and C53 were earmarked for preservation yet still met the cutters torch is... frustrating to say the least! Even if they were preserved, I doubt that both would've steamed under their own power for long periods of time, and probably given same retirement as the T26. Having said this, with H2 Beachly head resurrected by the Bluebell being completed recently, perhaps we could find out which locomotive was earmarked for preservation and resurrect it, too. Surely building a tram engine would be far cheaper than the likes of the Grange, Tornado and the P2

The history of these little trams have always fascinated me. Thanks for covering them and opening my eyes to so many more details on their history and old line

The best part about this design is that when the original Thomas TV series used it for Toby, the trait the writers chose for him in the theme song was "...he's square."

The first steam locos were built in a shed, so it makes sense for them to come full circle.

Man this could be a great idea for a modern day rebuild, and possibly quite ideal for many shorter heritage lines with tramway characteristics. Also love the cover of its hip to be square, though all I could think about while hearing it was bees.

Never thought I'd get to see pictures of toby and his sibling on his original railway 😂

The C53, more known as the J70, was the inspiration for Toby the Tram Engine.

Train of Thought: uploads a video on the LNER Y6 and J70 trams. Everybody: “OMG IT’S TOBY!!1!”

My great grandfather worked as a shunter at Ipswich docks.

British Y6 - tiny wooden shed on wheels American Y6 - MASSIVE SUPER POWERFUL GIANT

I knew the exact types of comments I would see once I clicked this video

I decided to check the comments section before watching the video. It was exactly what I expected, full of Toby, which was very reassuring.

I saw the thumbnail and turned into the guy pointing at the screen meme

Awdry mentioned with Tody having a limited water tank in “Time For Trouble” and the trouble with cows in “Cows”. It is genius for Awdry to have Mavis be the type of shunting diesel that replaced Toby’s brothers.

Funnily enough, the next video in my recommended feed is about Toby.

YOUR NAME IS TOBY!

I remember the NVR was converting a (Belgian, I think) steam tram into one of these to go with their "Thomas." But I think they had copyright issues or something and I haven't heard an update about it in a while

I love that Toby the Tram Engine brought both his coach Henrietta and the off-screen luggage van Elsie with him on his long journey to the Island of Sodor, even though he didn't have to. I love the thought of Toby making his way across England with only his faithful coach Henrietta and luggage van Elsie behind him. And the Fat Controller gets free rolling stock!

I'm here for the "Toby" comments. .

“You’re a really useful steam train Toby!” - The Fat Controller

The Shakespeare class. Toby or not toby! I’ll get my coat….😂😂😂😂

It would be great if a group got together to produce a new J70. They have so much character ! I’d even be tempted to say they have shedloads of character 😂

My late Father would relate the tale that he was with his Grandfather on his allotment in the early 30s, Dad would have been about 6 or 7, which was next to the main line near Romford and one of these 'sheds' sped past on the mainline, heading to Stratford Works for a service. Apparently, they used the fast lines to avoid clashing with the local services, but obviously had to fit the loco's movements in the gaps in express services and allowing the small loco to take on fuel and water. The speed of the tiny (in comparison with the usual locos seen on the line) made an lasting impression on Dad.

Toby will always be one of my favs, glad to see the Tram Engine getting it's video.

Huey Lewis and the News reference at the end of the video! The Unlucky Tug also had some of the same facts to share in his Real Life Basis deep dive video today, so there are two videos out today where I learned something new about the C53s. These engines had more of a life that just being trams in a peaceful town setting from being used by the USATC to being involved in fatalities along the tramway.

Alright at this point I'm being haunted by Hewy Lewis and the News. Power of love plays at work. Back in time is recommended on my RU-vid. Heart of rock and roll plays on the radio. And now hip to be square here.

"When I was on my holiday, I met a nice little engine called Toby."

The only surviving tram is one of the Drewry diesel shunters, no. 11103, now at Mangapps Farm Railway in Essex, along with a replica numbered 11104.. Tramcar no.7 also still exists at Nth. Norfolk Railway..

Finally after 22 years of my life I've found the backstop of my favourite Tank engine, Toby!

Appreciate the Huey Lewis & The News nod at the end.

I'm suprised a certain character who was inspired by this class was not mentioned. Par tof the reason why they have such a legecy and haven't been forgotten like other classes.

I love your work, helps me fall asleep

I like Toby!

TRAMS, STEAM TRAMS!!!

Hey my town got mentioned!! Didn't know the trams came to my town towards the end

Hey!! Its Toby!!

4:58 a "Mega Train" you could say ;)

i think they look fantastic

4:48 i wonder if a certain son of a revrent got inspired by that story to make his own

I love them so much, toby was always a favorite of mine

If I'm being 100% honest the flaws that make the tram dangerous on the upwell line kind of pisses me off because nothing of that was to do with the tram and more the stupidity of people

These GER G15 & C53 tram engines resembles to Toby the tram Engine, the tramway coach resembles to Henrietta and the Class 04 tramway diesel shunter resembles to Mavis on Thomas & Friends.

Cute honestly i love the way it looks

Huey Lewis and The News - Hip To Be Square ; what a tune!

Toby!

good 'ol Tobias the Tram engine

"Toby Oh Toby, show them what you can do" 🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥

The world was much nicer whenever we see them

There's something special about these trams engines, can't quite put my finger on it, though.. 🤔

Quite impressive machines I may say. Well designed for their scope. That is what matters.

Honestly it's a shame that non of these old trams were preserved, as i am a lover of trams, i would've loved to see them and ride them, but unfortunatly it Will never happen, thankfully we have modern Electric trams today, but it would have been very educational and fun to see Toby the tram engine in function

I wish some of them were preserved. But at least the legacy of these locos will live on in Toby the tram engine.

If anyone wants to read more about this lost tramway, I recommend finding a copy of The Oakwood Press's "The Wisbech & Upwell Tramway". It does contain some facts that are kind of surprising, such as there were ideas for a Doubledecker coach using a double bogie tramway coach as a basis.

Seems Stratford were hopelessly careless with anything due to be preserved?! At least if it related to the W&U - they destroyed the newly restored W&U carriage (the one of the pair that had featured in the Titfield Thunderbolt) they had in store destined for preservation too, the new paint had scarcely finished drying properly. Great video!

Marvelous 😀

The punch line. Priceless. Well done.

Nice work ToT! Yay it's Toby the tram engine!

My favorite steam trams.

The story about Toby the Tram Engine was the first story I got that featured Thomas and all his friends.

They were very popular in Sydney lasting into the 50’s.

This is the precursor of the guards brake van which was used at the rear of trains in days gone by As the similarity in appearance is so obvious Were these sheds used to build the familiar Guards brake van when these trams were scrapped?

Playing Hip to be Square at the end was a nice touch 😎

Thanks

Love my Toby Tram Engine.

I think there were plans to make a new build of one of these. It was partially built then got dropped

I believe the tram system of Basel, Switzerland regularly runs on of those engines as a tourist attraction through the city.

I have so many of these in so many gauges, my favourite is my 5" gauge version 😁

I don’t know why but the thought of a shed on wheels lead me to the title of “The Weinermobile of engines”

Toby oh Toby!fat hat blessed you!!

In addition to being early adopters ot Walschaerts gear, I think the C53's were also one of the few British locos with 6 coupled wheels to be "driven" at the back. The only other loco I can think of with this distinction, which technically isn't British, is the USATC S100. Speaking of that makes the G15 probably the 2nd British engine with the USATC in any fashion

9:49 🎶 "Toby! Well let's say, he's squaaaareee!" 🎶

Hello. I’ve been watching your channel for awhile now and I love your content and listening to your voice. Just a suggestion if you’re looking for ideas, mabye you could do a video on the Pennsylvania railroad duplex engines? The PRR had some bizarre locos if you want to look into that. Hope your doing well and have a good day God bless

I think another way to describe them is "Oldies, but Goldies."

The tramway would have been a great preserved line, sadly such weren't a "thing" when the passenger service was withdrawn, and it was therefore unable to lure enough love to be saved. It was the main reason to go to Wisbech.

this info will be useful for a toby story I'm writing.

One of these managed to survive on sodor

Someone should really make a rebuild of a G15 (Y6) or a C53 (J70). They are such nice engines.

It’s hip to be square

Now, we know more about steam tram engines like that.

Toby is a tram engine. He has cowcatchers and side plates and doesn’t look like a steam engine at all.