Toby

Toby is a steam tram who works on Thomas' Branch Line with his coach Henrietta. Toby is wise and always willing to share his experience and knowledge with the other engines. He is careful with every job he undertakes, causing him to rarely have any accidents.

Biography
Toby arrived on the North Western Railway in the summer of 1929, shortly after Percy. His line was being closed soon and he feared he and his coach would be sold for scrap. However, along came Sir Bertram Topham Hatt and his family. After meeting Toby and his coach, the family was given a wonderful ride and Bertram agreed to purchase Toby. Toby was brought to Sodor where he was sent to work at the quarry on Thomas' branchline and pull small passenger services with Henrietta. Thomas, Percy, Edward, and Henry gave him a warm welcome while Gordon and James eyed him suspiciously. Toby did manage to prove himself and became a valuable asset to the railway.

In 1957, Toby overheard Diesel reveal his true intentions to Duck, and exposed Diesel after he made James a runaway. Diesel was sent away shortly thereafter.

In 1959, Toby and Edward tried to talk the engines out of going through with a plan Henry proposed to keep Donald and Douglas on the railway. This failed, and he saw James, Henry, and Douglas being arrested following Dmitri's death. Toby then met the three new diesels on trial, where he questioned if Diesel 10's claw was legal. A few days later, he fell victim to Boomer's attack. After Donald had been captured, Thomas, Edward, and Gordon left the sheds to find him. However, bombs had been planted at the sheds leaving Toby, Percy, and Duck completely exposed. After hearing Knapford Station blow up, Toby recognized the ticking sound as a bomb, and told Percy and Duck to leave the shed. Toby followed suit, but got caught in the explosion and was derailed. He managed to remain conscious, but was severely damaged and unable to move. He was rescued by Duck, but dragged away by Diesel 10 alongside Percy. After being brought to Crovan's Gate and reunited with the other engines, he stated that Henrietta was still at the station and that she needed to be rescued. The engines promised to rescue her and Donald took Toby to hide on the old Kirk Ronan Branchline. After Diesel 10 was caught and Boomer was killed, Toby was brought to the works where he would be repaired. He was one of the four engines injured during the attack, alongside Edward, Gordon, and Duck.

Personality
Toby is wise and experienced, and is often regarded as the most intelligent engine of the first 11. With an IQ far above average, Toby has the wits and determination to make up for his size and speed. He is caring but stern, and often sees fit to put his 'foot' down where need be. He cares deeply for his coach and recognizes when a younger, less experienced engine needs his help and wisdom. When compared to Edward, Toby is clearly the more assertive type to prevent someone from making any mistakes whereas Edward allows someone to make a mistake so he can help them learn and grow from it. Toby is particularly close with Henrietta, Edward, Thomas, Percy, and Sir Charles Topham Hatt.

Basis
Toby 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.

Livery
Toby is painted in LNER/GER brown with grey side plates and cowcatchers. His number (7) is painted on his sides in yellow with red lining

Season 1

 * Sodor Then and Now 6: Little Engines (S1, E6)
 * Sodor Then and Now 7: Old Faithful (S1, E7)
 * Sodor Then and Now 8: The Work Begins (S1, E8)
 * Sodor Then and Now 9: The Caledonian Engines (S1, E9)
 * Sodor Then and Now 10: Boomer's Reign (S1, E10)

Season 2
Toby is slated to appear again in Sodor Then and Now Season 2.

Trivia

 * Toby appears the least out of the 8 famous engines in Season 1.
 * Toby was initially going to have an episode to himself in Season 1, but his introduction was combined with Percy's and Episode 6 was written to be about Thomas.
 * Toby was supposed to initially appear without Henrietta, but GTSH acquired him a few months before production on Episode 6 began.