Toby (AEG)

For other uses, see Toby.

Toby is a brown square tram engine who lives and works on the Island of Sodor and is the North Western Railway's number 7 engine.

Biography

Toby first came to Sodor to help out when his old line on the Mainland was closed down. Before this, he spent many years working at a stone quarry.

When Toby lost his confidence due to not being able to keep up with the younger engines, Carly and Sandy spray painted an old set of wheels silver, pretending it was a "Super Axle" that would make him faster and stronger. This worked until Toby overheard them tell the other engines there is no Super Axle after they all asked for one of their own. This initially caused Toby to feel down again, until Thomas reminded him that he was able to do all the things he did without the help of a Super Axle. Not long after, when Diesel lost his brakes, Toby - with the help of Thomas, Percy and Kana - helped to stop him from falling off the pier at Brendam Docks.^[1]

Toby later accidentally shunted Thomas' boxcar of baked goods away when he brought it to Knapford.^[2]

Personality

Toby is one of the older and wiser engines on Sodor, but still has plenty of life in him. Toby does not let his age get the better of him; he enjoys trying new things and will do any job he is capable of. He also has a strong sense of humour.

Technical Details

Basis

Toby is based on a GER Class C53 0-6-0T 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 J70s started their career on the Great Eastern Railway, and spent most of their careers 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 Eventually, the sole survivor of this class was withdrawn from service and scrapped at Stratford Locomotive Works by 1955.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' class.

Livery

Toby is painted brown with grey sideplates and cowcatchers. His number (7) is painted on his middle side panels in yellow with a red outline. He has red buffer beams and black wheels.

Appearances

Audio Files

Bell

Trivia

• Toby is one of only six engines from the original series to still have cab doors, the others being Duck, Whiff, Ashima, Diesel and Kenji.
• In some scenes, Toby appears to use both steam and diesel engine noises. It is unknown whether this is an error or if he is meant to be a steam-diesel hybrid of some form.

Merchandise

• Motorized
• Push Along

References