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Toby the Tram Engine

A Great Eastern Railway 0-6-0 tank engine; one of several built at Stratford by Mr Holden* for use on roadside tramways, and harbour branch lines. They were built at intervals until 1921. At the Grouping in 1923 the L&NER classified them as J70's, and gave them four figure numbers instead of the three figures they had had under the GER; while in 1948 BR gave them five figures instead of their LNER four. It will be noticed that on arrival at Ffarquhar in 1951 (TOBY/35), Toby's number plate had been removed. According to BR records, however, No. 68221 was withdrawn from service that year. Assuming that Toby was the engine concerned, the number tells us that he is one of a batch of three built at Stratford during 1914. Toby has proved a very useful acquisition. He is employed on the quarry line at Ffarquhar, and takes workmen's trains down to the harbour at Knapford. His water tank capacity is limited, but with a stop at Elsbridge each way, the 14 mile journey is accomplished easily enough.