GER Class C53

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"J70" redirects here. For the J/70 racing one-design sailboat, see J/70.

GER Class C53
LNER Class J70
Stratford Locomotive Depot tram engine geograph-2380139-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
8226 at Stratford locomotive depot, 28 September 1946
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerJames Holden
BuilderStratford Works
Build date1903–1921
Total produced12
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte0-6-0T
 • UICC n2t
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.3 ft 1 in (0.940 m)
Wheelbase6 ft 8 in (2.032 m)
Length20 ft 8+3⁄8 in (6.309 m)
Loco weight27 long tons 1 cwt (60,600 lb or 27.5 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity15 long cwt (1,700 lb or 800 kg)
Water cap.625 imp gal (2,840 l; 751 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		9.2 sq ft (0.85 m2)
Boiler pressure180 lbf/in2 (1.24 MPa)
Heating surface348.08 sq ft (32.338 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size12 in × 15 in (305 mm × 381 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Performance figures
Tractive effort8,931 lbf (39.73 kN)
Career
OperatorsGER » LNER » BR
ClassGER: C53
LNER: J70
Power classBR: 0F
Axle load classLNER/BR: RA 2
Withdrawn1942 (1), 1949–1955
DispositionAll original C53s scrapped, one Toby the Tram Engine replica built at East Anglian Railway Museum.

The GER Class C53 was a class of twelve 0-6-0T steam tram locomotives designed by James Holden for the Great Eastern Railway. They passed to the London and North Eastern Railway at the grouping, and received the LNER classification J70.

History[]

These locomotives had 12-by-15-inch (305 mm × 381 mm) outside cylinders driving 3-foot-1-inch (0.940 m) wheels; all enclosed by skirting. They were the first locomotives on the Great Eastern to use Walschaerts valve gear.[1] They were used on the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway and the ports of Great Yarmouth and Ipswich from the 1930s to the 1950s. They replaced earlier GER Class G15 0-4-0T of similar appearance.

Table of orders and numbers[1]
Year Order Builder Quantity GER No. LNER No. LNER 1944 No. Notes
1903 C53 Stratford Works 2 135–136 7135–7136 8216–8217
1908 C64 Stratford Works 3 137–139 7137–7139 8218, —, 8219
1910 I67 Stratford Works 1 130 7130 8220
1914 P75 Stratford Works 3 127–128, 131 7127–7128, 7131 8221–8223
1921 D85 Stratford Works 3 125–126, 129 7125–7126, 7129 8224–8226

The first withdrawal was in 1942. The remaining locomotives were renumbered 8216–8226 in 1944. The remaining eleven locomotives passed to British Railways in 1948 on nationalisation, and had 60000 added to their numbers. Withdrawals restarted in 1949, slowly at first, then more quickly, and the last went in 1955.[2]

Table of withdrawals[3]
Year Quantity in
service at
start of year		 Quantity
withdrawn		 Locomotive numbers
1942 12 1 7138
1943–8 11 0 –
1949 11 1 68218
1950 10 0 –
1951 10 1 68221
1952 9 1 68224
1953 8 4 68216–7/19–20
1954 4 0 –
1955 4 4 68222–3/25–6

In fiction[]

Toby replica on Avon Valley Railway

J70 68221 was the inspiration for the character Toby the Tram Engine in The Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry, and the spin-off television series Thomas & Friends.

References[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ a b Aldrich 1969, p. 105
  2. ^ Aldrich 1969, p. 106
  3. ^ Allen et al. 1970, p. 102

Bibliography[]

  • Aldrich, C. Langley (1969). The Locomotives of the Great Eastern Railway 1862–1962 (7th ed.). Wickford, Essex: C. Langley Aldrich. OCLC 30278831.
  • Allen, D. W.; Boddy, M. G.; Brown, W. A.; Fry, E. V.; Hennigan, W.; Manners, F.; Neve, E.; Proud, P.; Roundthwaite, T. E.; Tee, D. F.; Yeadon, W. B. (November 1970). Fry, E. V. (ed.). Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., part 8A: Tank Engines - Classes J50 to J70. Kenilworth: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-05-3.

Further reading[]

  • Awdry, Chris (September 1983). "Toby The Tram Engine & Other Stories...". Rail Enthusiast. EMAP National Publications. pp. 10–11, 13–14. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.

External links[]

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