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TobyandtheStoutGentlemanRS1

Toby the Tram Engine carries the North Western Railway running number 7 and works on the same Ffarquhar branch line as Thomas.

Toby first appeared in the seventh book in The Railway Series, Toby the Tram Engine in 1952, and appeared in several subsequent books. The second book focused on Toby was the sixth of Christopher Awdry's books, Toby, Trucks and Trouble.

Prototype and back-story[]

Toby is based on a J70 tram engine from the Great Eastern Railway (GER Class C53). His cowcatchers and sideplates allow him to run on roadside tramways, which other engines are not allowed to do for safety reasons. The J70s were used for dock shunting duties, but their main assignment was the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway in East Anglia, which like with many light railways in the region, was primarily used for the transportation of fruit and other farm produce. The line closed to passengers in 1927, but freight services continued until lorries and road transport boomed in the 1950s. In 1952, the steam tram engines were replaced by diesel Drewry Shunters (the BR Class 04), similar to future-partner Mavis.

Inspiration for Toby came from the Awdrys watching a J70 working the docks at Great Yarmouth in 1951. Further inspiration was drawn soon after when the Rev. 'Teddy' Boston, then curate at Wisbech, arranged for Awdry to ride on the footplate of one of the last surviving steam tram engines on the Tramway. Fascinated by the unusual engines, Awdry sought a way to incorporate them in the stories. Research by Awdry's brother, George, revealed that tramway regulations required the fitting of cowcatchers and sideplates for railway locomotives running on tracks alongside roads, and the story "Thomas in Trouble" (published in 1952, the year steam trams were replaced) evolved to provide a reason for Toby – theorized as being 68221, one of three J70s built in 1914 (as GER 127) – being summoned to Sodor.

The Rev. Awdry's description of Toby's final journeys on his tramway in his introductory story was a common occurrence in the closing of real railway lines; demand decreased to an unprofitable amount, but services were often full for the last workings of steam. On Awdry's model railway, Toby was represented by a Y6, an 0-4-0 locomotive similar to but smaller than the J70 and better suited to the 4-wheel motor bogie available to power the model. In 1961, Awdry wrote an article for Railway Modeller magazine on the construction of this locomotive.

Christopher Awdry has said that Toby is his favorite character, partly because he was there when his father received the inspiration to create him as a child, and had accompanied Wilbert Awdry on his footplate ride.

Toby in The Railway Series[]

Toby is introduced in the seventh book in The Railway Series. The first story, Toby and the Stout Gentleman describes the closure of Toby's branch line due to the lack of passengers and freight. Shortly before the line was to close, a "stout gentleman" arrived on a holiday with his family; the children rode on Toby everyday for a fortnight and the stout gentleman gave Toby's crew a present. The day after the Tramway closed, ironically after an overcrowded final journey by Toby and Henrietta, a letter arrived from the stout gentleman which was to give Toby a reprieve.

In Thomas in Trouble, Thomas encounters an officious policeman, who says that, when running from the quarry, along public roads, engines who have the right to go on public roads must be fitted with cow-catchers and sideplates for safety to prevent people and animals from getting killed if they should have the right to stray onto the line. The Fat Controller, urgently needing to rectify this, is discussing the fitting of these, when Thomas remarks that "everyone will laugh...they'll say I look like a tram". The Fat Controller (the "stout gentleman") remembered Toby immediately and arranged for him to come to Sodor. Toby arrives with his coach, Henrietta, and became friends with Thomas when Toby rings his loud bell, making the policeman jump.

In "Dirty Objects", James makes fun of Toby's "shabby" appearance. James later has an accident and gets covered in tar; Toby and Percy help to clear up the mess and Toby is rewarded with a new coat of paint. His chosen livery of chocolate brown with blue sideplates replicates that which he would have worn on the GER.

Toby has a limiting water capacity, meaning he is unsuitable for long distance work. In Double Header (in The Eight Famous Engines), Toby uses the Main Line to travel to the Works for repairs. He stops often at water-cranes to refill his tanks, but is urged on to the next station by a new Signalman who doesn't realise Toby's shortcomings. Toby tries to hurry, but uses up the water and runs out of steam, ending up marooned. Toby is pushed by a disgruntled James to the station, where some boys misunderstand the situation. One suggests that James was unable to pull the Express, and Toby was there to double-head the train.

Toby is also associated with the coach Victoria who forms the "vintage train" with Henrietta that takes workers to and from the quarry.

The North Western Railway's accounts cite Toby was built as GER No. 136, in 1903 as the second of his Class. His old line connected Wisbech with the adjoining village of St. Mary, crossing the latter's main road on the approach to the station. When he met Sir Topham Hatt, he was latterly No. 68217 of British Railways. When he arrived in 1951, he had an almost-new boiler fitted from his last repair at Stratford. Upon being officially sold in January 1955, a salvaged spare boiler was obtained. The events of Double Header (and by extension Gordon Goes Foreign) took place in the subsequent summer.

Personality[]

When he was first introduced, Toby was loyal but hardworking, with a respect for those around him. His gained experience in running a branch line contrasts to Thomas's, and makes him an excellent mentor figure, especially to Percy, who greatly appreciates him. However, his design means that he is weaker than other engines, as James found out the hard way, but his spirit and knowledge more than makes up for it.

Livery[]

Toby was painted brown with black cowcatchers and sideplates (which sported "LNER" in bright yellow letters) before working on his tramway, where he was repainted greyish-brown with grey sideplates and cowcatchers. After helping James he was repainted chocolate-brown with olive frames and blue sideplates. In addition, he carries two plaques on the sides of his cab stating that he works on the NWR, his number, and the last time and place that he was rebuilt.

Trivia[]

  • In Thomas Comes Home, the illustrations of "Toby's Megatrain" show Toby with a face at the rear cab as well as the front cab. This is the only time in the Railway Series that Toby has been illustrated with two faces.

Photo Gallery[]

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