Toby

**Toby the Tram Engine** is one of the main protagonists of the SeventyVerse and the seventh engine on the North Western Railway.

## Backstory

Toby used to work at a harbour at Yarmouth on the mainland. He interacted with all his siblings, but his closest companions were Holden and Flora. He also met many main line engines there, such as Strandford, Sarah and Marvin/Molly.

Eventually, Toby was transferred to East Anglia where he worked with a coach, Henrietta. The two got along so well that Toby and Henrietta became a couple.

One day, Sir Bertram Topham Hatt, his wife Jane Hatt, his grandchildren, Stephen Hatt and Bridget Hatt and his mother Dowager Sharon Hilary Hatt all came to see Toby and Henrietta on holiday. Though Bridget unintentionally insulted Toby, Sir Topham Hatt proved to be a welcome visitor. After the family left, Toby and Henrietta hit more tough times. Henrietta was to become a henhouse, much to hers and Toby's shock. After their final day, Toby hid Henrietta in his shed. Much to their sheer luck, Sir Topham Hatt needed Toby and Henrietta on Sodor so they could help deal with a rude policeman. Toby and Henrietta have been happily working on the branch line with Thomas ever since.

## Ffarquhar team

### Thomas

Though they aren't as close as Thomas is with Percy, the blue tank engine considers him his best friend along with Percy. Toby can be a bit snarky and cheekily watch infighting with Thomas and Percy sometimes, but when things get serious, Toby is the one to straighten the duo out. Thomas also warmly welcomed Toby to the island, and was impressed when he scared off the rude policeman. Thomas later saved Toby when he was about to crash off the River Els bridge, thanks to an alert from Bertie.

### Percy

Percy saw Toby as more of a mentor figure than Thomas did, and has immense respect for the tram engine. Toby can be a bit snarky and cheekily watch infighting with Thomas and Percy sometimes, but when things get serious, Toby is the one to straighten the duo out. Once, Percy had saved Toby from a washout under the River Els.

### Annie and Clarabel

Much like Percy, Toby has been tasked to look after Annie and Clarabel occasionally. One such instance had him take, Henrietta, Annie and Clarabel all at the same time when Thomas was being cleaned from a coal incident. Another time was when Toby used the coaches to help carry the mail when the mail vans were under maintenance.

### Mavis

Mavis' feisty and impatience attitude has left a bad first impression on Toby, and he felt like he was teaching a kid on a sugar rush. However, when Mavis saved Toby from his 'tightrope' - even when it was her fault this happened - the two became incredibly close. Toby even said he was very proud of what Mavis had eventually become.

### Daisy

Much like Percy, Toby was very annoyed with Daisy's diva antics, and didn't take well to her insulting Annie, Clarabel and Henrietta. He was also amused when she failed to 'toot' away a bull. However, when Daisy was helping to clear up Percy's accident, he saw a better side in her and gave her another chance. Even now, Toby still makes snarky remarks to Daisy when she's being sassy. He remains in touch with Daisy after she is transferred to Harwick.

### Rosie

Not much is known about the relationship, but Toby appreciated Rosie's help during the London trip. The two still remain in touch after Rosie's transfer to Vicarstown.

### Nia

When Toby found out about Nia's dyscalculic situation, he was more than happy to help her learn to read numbers. He also appreciates her warm approach on the branch line, and is amused by her cheeky remarks.

### Bertie

Though a bit shocked that a bus ran on the roads near the branch line, Bertie did ultimately win over Toby's trust. This is currently unknown how it happened, but Thomas' good word about Bertie might have had something to do with it.

### Harold

Toby isn't as close to Harold as Percy is, but Harold did help save Toby when a washout flooded the River Els and he was caught on the bridge.

### Hannah

Hannah was very reckless with Toby when they first met, and Toby refused to collect her when they overran red signals. However, Henrietta forced Toby to go back for her, and they finished their journey together. Toby didn't trust Hannah for a while after that, and left her at the quarry after the morning run to collect her in the evening. After an eventful time with Percy, Hannah officially became Toby's second coach.

## Other relationships

### Edward

Being a fellow old engine, Toby and Edward had managed to hit it off. The two often have conversations that fly over the others' smokeboxes/radiators. Toby also found out that Edward had a tough time with 98462 and 87546 on Sodor, and he doesn't like to 'rock the boat', so to speak. Toby knows Edward is incredibly selfless, and sometimes has to tell him to look out for himself too.

### Henry

Though they don't interact too much, Henry and Toby's relationship is pretty good. When Henry was using Welsh Coal, Toby understood what it was like to struggle to the nearest station, as his water tank was very small.

### James

James is very annoyed with Toby using his wits to get back at him. Incidents such as Thomas telling Toby about James' bootlaces and Toby laughing at James' expense when taking him to the works station haven't improved relations. That being said, the duo don't hate each other.

### Molly

Toby had known Molly when she used to go by 'Marvin'. They met up at Yarmouth harbour where Toby would often arrange trains for her. One day, Toby decided to take Molly up to the seaside when a festival was on. Sadly, the festival sent them back home, but Molly was very grateful to have tagged along with Toby that day. Unfortunately, Toby didn't realise Molly was actually a girl until he saw her again on Sodor.

### Flora

Flora, one of Toby's older sisters, 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.

### Holden

Holden was one of Toby's younger brothers. The two got up to all kinds of mischief together, often driving Flora and Molly bonkers.

## Romance

### Henrietta

Toby and Henrietta are the 'old married' couple of the Ffarquhar branch in every sense of the word... except actually being married. They both have a witty sense of humour, but Henrietta does sometimes annoy Toby with her constant nagging.

## Personality

Toby is a very sturdy, hardworking and witty tram with a heart of gold. He is a bit of a mentor figure to the likes of the other Ffarquhar engines, and sits back to let the chaos unfold. He is by no means cruel however. If someone is in danger, he will step in and rescue them. Since the Tightrope incident, Toby's had a bit of trauma. Two other occurrences where he nearly fell off a bridge didn't help the situation.

## Technical Details

### 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.

According to The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways and Sodor: Reading Between the Lines, Toby's original number plates had been removed prior to his arrival in 1951. However, it is noted that BR no. 68221 was withdrawn around this time, implying this was his original number (which is actually true in this series). This tram was built as GER no. 127 on 30 June 1914 as part of a batch of three at Stratford. In 1924, after the grouping, it became LNER no. 7127, this changing to no. 8221 in May 1946 under Edward Thompson's 1946 re-numbering scheme. Upon nationalisation on 1 January 1948, it became no. 68221 in July 1948. It was withdrawn on 31 May 1951 from Ipswich Shed and scrapped at Stratford shortly after.

Flora and Holden are also based on this class in this series.

### Livery

Toby is painted brown with grey sideplates and cowcatchers. His number (7) is painted on his middle side panel in yellow with a red outline. He has red bufferbeams.

Before Nationalisation when he worked at the harbour, Toby had black cowcatchers and sideplates with his company's initials (LNER) painted on his side plates in yellow.

## Differences from the episodes, the books and the SeventyVerse

* In the TV series, Toby worked 'north of the island', according to Toby's song. In the books and the SeventyVerse, he worked in East Anglia on the mainland before coming to Sodor.
* Toby came to Sodor after Henry's rebuild in the books and the show. In the SeventyVerse, he came before it.
* Toby is in a romantic relationship with Henrietta. While it's somewhat implied in *Hasty Hannah*, there's no real confirmation.
* Toby later gets Hannah as his second coach rather than Victoria. He will get Elsie later on though.
* Toby's old numbers were GER 127/LNER 7127/8221/BR 68221.

## Trivia

* The preferred voice actor for Toby is Rob Rackstraw, who took over the UK role from Ben Small in 2015.