Toad

**Toad** is Oliver's loyal brake van who escaped from scrap with the help of Douglas.

## Biography

Toad is a polite, gentlemanly brake van. He is also somewhat imaginative and a bit of an optimist. Toad minds his manners well and is always quick to refer to the engines as "Mr.", "Miss" or "Sir". He escaped from scrap with Oliver, with some help from Douglas. Toad is very loyal, keeps Oliver's trucks in order and has his best interests at heart. He has a cunning streak within him should the trucks cause any particular bother and does like fun when it comes his way, but he is typically calm, obedient and content in his work.

Toad worked with Oliver on the Great Western Railway before being threatened with the prospect of scrapping. Oliver and Toad ran away for the greener pastures of the North Western Railway, but Oliver ran out of coal en route. Luckily, they were rescued by Douglas and brought back to Sodor. Afterwards, Toad asked to be Douglas' brake van as a show of thanks.

When S.C. Ruffey began to start a trend of disrespecting the engines, Toad had the idea for Oliver to show him and his lieutenants the error of their ways. This turned out better than expected, for Oliver pulled S.C. Ruffey apart and won back the respect of the trucks.

Toad was tired of always going backwards and wanted to be a leader for a change. The trucks decided to teach Toad to be careful what he wishes for by breaking away from Oliver on Gordon's Hill and as a result, he crashed into some level crossing gates, narrowly avoided Gordon and James and stopped by taking a plunge into a muddy pond. Afterwards, Toad decided that always going backwards was not so bad after all.

While Gator was on Sodor, he once took some of Oliver's trucks with Toad, who kept insisting that Gator should stop and relight his lamp. After being briefly taken off the train after forcing them to stop with his brakes, Toad had the "bright" idea of giving Gator one of his lamps to replace his broken one. This idea worked and Gator thanked Toad once they had finished their journey.

Toad soon became bored of repeatedly hearing the story of Oliver's escape and longed for an adventure story of his own to tell. His wish was granted when he went to work with James, who ran much too fast and hit a fallen branch on Gordon's Hill, uncoupling his trucks. Toad managed to stop the trucks and prevented a crash with Thomas and Percy. When he returned to the yard, he told a disbelieving Oliver all about it.

He, along with Oliver, helped to build the new Harwick Branch Line and attended the line's opening.

He had also witnessed Skiff's bravery to warn both his engine and Duck to stop for a tree fallen on the line due to a storm on the branch line.

## Livery

Toad is painted grey with the letters "GW" and his number (56831) written on his side in white.

## Appearances

### Season 3

* Escape *(does not speak)*
* Oliver Owns Up *(cameo)*
* Toad Stands By

### Season 7

* Emily’s New Coaches *(cameo)*
* James and the Queen of Sodor *(cameo)*
* Snow Engine

### Season 12

* Toad’s Bright Idea
* Duck in the Water *(cameo)*
* Toad’s Adventure
* Spencer’s VIP *(cameo)*

### Season 14

* Sodor’s Legend of the Lost Treasure
* The Way She Does It *(cameo)*
* Blown Away
* The Missing Breakdown Train *(cameo)*
* Skiff and the Mermaid

## Trivia

* Toad's name originates from a nickname ("toad") given to brake vans on the Great Western Railway. It can also be considered a subtle pun: a brake van is 'towed' everywhere it goes.
* Toad has sandboxes near the handbrake and also has a white interior with a desk, seat, etc.