Flora

**Flora the Steam Tram** is a supporting character in the Seventyverse and is owned by the Rolling Hills Railway.

## Backstory

Flora worked at Yarmouth Harbour with her younger brothers, Toby and Holden and was a mentor to them. She was also the one who worked out that 'Marvin' was a girl and started calling her Molly. Years later, Flora and Holden were sent for scrap due to the rise of the diesels. A young boy and his mother came to the scrapyard and when the boy asked if they could save them, the mother said that they could only afford one of the tram engines. Holden boldly told them to take Flora, much to the latter's surprise but Holden explained that Flora was in better condition than him and promised to watch her from the Great Railway Above. So Flora was purchased and now lives on the Rolling Hills Railway.

## Relationships

### Toby

Being one of Toby's older sisters, Flora was a bit of a mentor to Toby in his younger days. She appreciated his kindness and the wisdom he gained, but envied the fact he was so calm and confident.

### Molly

Flora suspected something was off with 'Marvin' when she knew her at the harbour. She managed to find out the truth that 'Marvin' was a girl, and started to call her Molly. This made Molly feel a lot better.

## Personality

Flora is a docile little steam tram and very wise as she mentored Toby in his younger days. Although she is, at times, quiet or even timid, she often greets other engines with a sunny smile and is always cheerful to work.

## Technical Details

### Basis

Flora is based on a GER Class C53 0-6-0T Wisbech steam tram (reclassified as J70 by the LNER) built at Stratford Works. They were seen by the Rev. W. Awdry and Christopher Awdry on a holiday at Yarmouth, hence Toby's origins. The J70 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 Eventually, the sole survivor of this class was withdrawn from service and scrapped at Stratford Locomotive Works by 1955.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 04s, Mavis' class.

Flora's real life basis was built June 1914, withdrawn January 1955, and scrapped May of the same year.

Toby and Holden are also based on GER Class G53 steam trams.

### Livery

When at the harbour, Flora wore a brown livery with black cowcatchers and side plates. Her company's initials (LNER) were painted on her side plates in yellow. She had a gold builder's plate on their sides. Her buffer beams were painted red with silver buffers. Her paintwork was weathered.

In preservation, Flora is painted yellow with green and white lining, red cowcatchers and sideplates and green boards on her roof reading "ROLLING HILLS TRAMWAYS" in white. She has red nameplates with her name in gold on her sides, and her number (128).

## Differences between the episodes and the series

* In her sole episode, "Tram Trouble", Flora is a Moseley Road Tramways steam tram bought for Sodor Tramways in Great Waterton. In this series, she is an LNER J70 just like Toby and is owned by the Rolling Hills Railway.

## Trivia

* Flora's number is GER No. 128.
* The preferred voice actress for Flora is Cathy Weseluck, who voiced Coco Pommel from *My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic*.
* Toby's more timid traits from the likes of *Signals Crossed* are passed onto Flora.