Toby (T&F)/Behind the Scenes

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This is a behind the scenes subpage for Toby (T&F). This subpage contains all behind the scenes material relating to said article.

Background Information

Toby is a fictional steam tram locomotive created by the Rev. W. Awdry. Toby lives and works on the North Western Railway as their No. 7 engine.

Toby made his debut in the first series episode, Toby and the Stout Gentleman, which first aired in 1984. His last appearance was in the twenty-fourth series episode, Gordon and Rebecca, Coming Through!, which aired in 2021.

Initially, he retained his original Railway Series personality, though since HiT Entertainment took over, he has developed a more worrisome nature.

Steam Team

In the eighth series, Toby was among the members of the Steam Team, the main cast of eight central characters. However, following the twenty-second series, Toby's role in the Steam Team seemed to become demoted to be less prominent in order to fix the gender imbalance of the main cast and diversify the Thomas & Friends franchise. Unlike Edward and Henry, who were removed from the Steam Team in favour of Nia and Rebecca to join, Toby's spot was not filled by a new member and he is still mentioned in the updated Engine Roll Call song. He continues to appear as a major supporting character.

Voice

Colm Feore gave Toby an old English accent in Thomas and the Magic Railroad, though a Cockney accent was implemented in the UK dub once Ben Small took over. William Hope, however, gave Toby a Southern American accent in the US narration, which gives the same effect as Hope's voice for Edward, itself very similar to Toby's. Small left the show when his contract expired in 2015, leaving Rob Rackstraw to take over as Toby in the UK. Unlike Small, Rackstraw portrayed Toby with a West Country accent.

Behind the Scenes

Gauge 1 models

Toby's original model was custom built with a plastic body shell and used a Märklin locomotive as a donor for the chassis and various parts. It was painted using automotive paint and significantly weathered to resemble wood. The numbers were custom cut vinyl stickers.

Toby's chassis was sourced from a gauge 1 locomotive made by Märklin, the BR 80. The wheels and side rods were red (not repainted from the original colour of the BR 80) in the first five series. The bell also came from the BR 80, while both sets of bufferbeams were sourced from the tender of a BR 55, making Toby the only character to have both the front and rear bufferbeams match.

Toby's original model was originally AC powered as this is how the Märklin locomotives were powered. During a refurbishment his AC motor was replaced by a DC motor to allow for easier running and maintenance.

A behind the scenes photo of Toby from the first series reveals that he was originally going to have a spark arrestor on top of his funnel just like in The Railway Series.

The BR 55 was used as a source of parts for Toby

The BR 80 was used as a source of parts for Toby

Toby's model on display at the Dean Forest Railway in 1986 with Britt Allcroft and Wilbert Awdry

The other side of Toby with his frightened face

Toby's plastic model in the first series

Toby's plastic model in the second series

Toby's plastic model in the third series

Toby's plastic model in the fourth series

Toby's plastic model in the fifth series

The plastic model in Thomas and the Magic Railroad

The plastic model in the sixth series

The plastic model in the seventh series

The plastic model in the eighth series

The plastic model in Calling All Engines!

The plastic model in the ninth series

The plastic model in the tenth series

The plastic model in the eleventh series

The plastic model's last appearance in The Great Discovery

During the production of the twelfth series, two new models of Toby were built. This was due to the original model being twenty-four years old at this point and tight filming schedules meant there was very little room for emergency repairs.

The new models were made of an unknown material and equipped with CNC machined aluminium chassis powered by DC motors. Following this, the plastic model was permanently retired from use after The Great Discovery.

Toby's Series 12 model

The eye mechanism had two servos, one for up and down movement and one for left and right movement. The up/down servo was attached to the body. The left/right servo had a rod attached to the arm, which connected to a bracket. The eye balls were coupled to the bracket and locked in by the face-plate, so whenever the servos were powered, the eye balls would move however the crew member desired.

Reference Sheets

Series 1

Series 2

Series 3

Series 8

Faces

Fifteen different facial expressions were sculpted for Toby and used on-screen. The faces were first sculpted in clay and from that resin casts were made of a silicone mould. During and after production of Thomas and the Magic Railroad, most of Toby's faces were recasted to become wider to hide the gaps

Reference Sheets

Series 2 - 1985/1986 (Alongside an assortment of other characters' faces)

Series 4 - 1994

Series 6 - 2001/2002 (Page one) (Notice a repainted version of the original frightened face instead of the recasted version)

Series 6 - 2001/2002 (Page two)

Series 12 - 2008 (Page one)

Series 12 - 2008 (Page two)

Usage and Evolution

Toby's happy face as it appeared in the Clearwater Features... (1984-1986)

...and the Britt Allcroft Company eras... (1991-1998)

...until it was recasted to become wider in Thomas and the Magic Railroad all the way until the end of the model era, excluding the eighth series, Jack and the Sodor Construction Company and Calling All Engines!... (2000-2003, 2005-2008)

...but did appear in a deleted scene from the eighth series episode, James Gets a New Coat (2004)

Toby’s smiling face that appeared in the Clearwater Features… (1984-1986)

...and the Britt Allcroft Company eras... (1991-1998)

...until it was recasted to become wider in Thomas and the Magic Railroad, all the way until The Great Discovery, excluding Jack and the Sodor Construction Company (2000-2008)

Toby's cross face that appeared in the Clearwater Features... (1984-1986)

...and The Britt Allcroft Company eras... (1991-1998)

...until it was recasted to become wider in the eighth series all the way until Calling All Engines! (2004-2005)

Toby's worried face as it appeared in the Clearwater Features... (1984-1986)

...and The Britt Allcroft Company eras... (1991-1998)

...until it was recasted to become wider in the seventh series all the way until The Great Discovery, excluding Jack and the Sodor Construction Company and Calling All Engines! (2003-2008)

Toby's sad face that appeared in the Clearwater Features... (1984-1986)

...and the Britt Allcroft Company eras... (1991-1998)

...until it was recasted to become wider in Thomas and the Magic Railroad all the way until the end of the model era, excluding Jack and the Sodor Construction Company (2000-2008)

Toby's laughing face as it first appeared in the second series... (1986)

...and later gained some teeth to resemble a grinning face between the third and seventh series, excluding Thomas and the Magic Railroad... (1991-1998, 2002-2003)

...until it was recasted to become wider in the eighth series all the way until the end of the model era, excluding the tenth and eleventh series, Calling All Engines! and The Great Discovery (2004-2005, 2008)

...but did appear in a promotional image from Calling All Engines!... (2005)

...as well as a deleted scene image from the eleventh series episode, Toby's Triumph (2007)

Toby's sleeping face that appeared in the second and fourth series... (1986, 1994)

...until it was recasted to become wider and last appeared in Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000)

Toby's drowsy face that only appeared in the second series episode, Daisy... (1986)

...and was later recasted to become wider either production of Thomas and the Magic Railroad or the sixth series (2000, 2002)

Toby’s spooked face that first appeared between the second and fifth series, excluding the fourth series… (1986-1991, 1998)

...until it was recasted to become wider in Thomas and the Magic Railroad all the way until the end of the model era, excluding Jack and the Sodor Construction Company (2000-2008)

Toby's content face as it first appeared in the Britt Allcroft Company era... (1991-1998)

...until it was recasted to become wider during production of the sixth series and reappeared in Calling All Engines! all the way until the eleventh series, excluding the tenth series (2002, 2005, 2007)

Toby's joyful face as it first appeared in the third series episodes, Donald's Duck and Mavis... (1991)

...until it was recasted to become wider and reappeared in the tenth series episode, Toby's Afternoon Off... (2006)

...before it last appeared in the tenth series Learning Segment, Toby's Favourite Place (2006)

Toby's original angry face that only appeared in third series episode, Mavis (1991)

Toby's unused third series current angry face that first appeared in a recreated image from Time for Trouble... (1992)

…and appeared on-screen between the fourth series and Thomas and the Magic Railroad… (1994-2000)

...until it was recasted to become wider in the ninth series all the way until the end of the model era, excluding the tenth and eleventh series, and The Great Discovery (2005, 2008)

Toby's frightened face as it appeared in both the fourth and fifth series... (1994-1998)

...until it was recasted to become wider in the sixth series all the way until the end of the model era, excluding the eighth and tenth series, Jack and the Sodor Construction Company, Calling All Engines! and The Great Discovery (2002-2003, 2005, 2007-2008)

Toby's unused fourth series depressed face as it first appeared in the sixth series episode, Toby Had a Little Lamb... (1994, 2002)

...until it was recasted to become wider in the eighth series all the way until The Great Discovery, excluding the tenth and eleventh series, and Calling All Engines! (2004-2005, 2008)

Toby's surprised face during production of the second series (1986)

Toby's sleeping face during production of the second series (1986)

Present Day

Toby's wider recasted sleeping face along with most of his original faces (which were in a primered state after being modified for the wider recasted faces) are now owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch. Toby's wider recasted current angry face would also be displayed at the first Clearwater Event in 2021 and his wider recasted drowsy face at the second Clearwater Event in 2022.

Most of Toby's original faces in a primered state after being modified to be moulded for the wider recasted faces now owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch

Note: The off-white resin/filler is used to widen the original faces to be recasted

Toby's recasted wider sleeping face owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch

Toby's recasted wider current angry face on display in 2021

Toby's recasted wider drowsy face on display in 2022

Toby's original joyful face in primer owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch

Toby's original current angry face in primer owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch

Toby's original depressed face in primer owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch

Face comparison of the original and recasted face

CGI Face

The twelfth series also marked the beginning of the show's transition into CGI and the characters' faces were animated through CGI with the aid of motion capture animation. The physical models' moulded faces were replaced by white targets with triangles to fix a computer-animated face in post-production. Toby's resin faces were only used in background shots.

Toby with a CGI face

Model Changes

Toby went through several aesthetic changes in the model series:

• Series 1:
  • In the first series, he had his original bell sound. To create this sound, composer Mike O'Donnell borrowed a last orders bell from Nag's Head, a local pub the crew visited regularly.
• Series 2:
  • His bell sound changes, now using a stock sound effect. It was later heard in Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure after Ryan stops the pirate ship during the wide shot of Arlesburgh Harbour.
  • In Daisy, the front lamp was lowered down and the handle on it disappeared.
• Series 3:
  • His laughing face was changed to a grinning face.
• Series 4:
  • He regained his original bell sound.
  • He had an unseen whistle which sounds the same as Percy's whistle from the second half of the third series.
  • His pupils became smaller.
• Thomas and the Magic Railroad:
  • His wheels became black.
  • His bell became smaller.
  • His paint was given a matte finish.
  • His bell sound changed again to another different one.
  • His face becomes wider.
• Series 6:
  • He regained his original bell sound again.
• Series 8
  • His rear bufferbeam is flipped 180 Degrees as the brake pipe outlets are now facing upwards.
• Series 12:
  • His livery became darker.

Present Day

After production of the model series wrapped in 2008, most of the models and sets would be put into storage, with some being put on display at Drayton Manor Resort. All other models would be logged and referenced from 2010 till early 2011 by HiT Entertainment, from this HiT would decide on which models were to enter storage once again, which would be given to crew members and which to be disposed off. Due to it's old age, Toby's plastic model would be given away with a custom built display to go along with it, this was done as it was no longer needed by the company. Since they had the newer brass models which would stay under HiT and later Mattel's ownership. Briefly, one of Toby's twelfth series models would also be exhibited on the Tidmouth Sheds set alongside the rest of the Steam Team at Drayton Manor for a special event during the same year.

Toby at the Tidmouth Sheds Exhibit at Drayton Manor

One of Toby's twelfth series models used to be on display at the Discover Thomas & Friends Exhibition at Drayton Manor until it was allegedly stolen in 2011. His grinning face was on his twelfth series model when he first arrived at the Discover Thomas & Friends Exhibition and was put on display in 2009, but it was replaced with a replica face.

Toby when first arriving at Drayton Manor with his original grinning face

Toby's model formerly at Drayton Manor

The other twelfth series model is on display at the Hara Model Railway Museum and is wearing his startled face. It had previously been on display at Nitrogen Studios.

Toby's model formerly at Nitrogen Studios

Toby's model at the Hara Railway Museum

In October 2022, Toby's original plastic model with his content face was listed for auction on the Prop Store. On the 3rd of November 2022, Toby sold for £34,375 to a private buyer who was present in person rather than being sold to a phone or internet bidder. The day before the auction, Prop Store gave a special tour to a friend of Instagram user Sam the Movie Prop Collector. Many items from the auction were on display including Toby's model. After the tour, the friend would send a photo of Toby to Sam who would post it on his Instagram soon after. So far, this has been the only time the model has been on display following the end of the model series.

Toby's plastic model listed on the Prop Store

Toby's plastic model being displayed the day before the auction began (courtesy of Instagram user Sam The Movie Prop Collector)

Additionally a spare unused number decal for Toby was sold by The Prop Gallery in 2023, this was sourced from a spare unused larger decal sheet from the production of Series 11, which was then cut up and sold individually. Duplicate copies of this sheet are also currently owned by Twitter user TomsProps.

A spare unused number "7" decal as prior to being sold by The Prop Gallery

A decal sheet containing Toby's number owned by Twitter user TomsProps

A scan of the decal sheet

Present Day Ruler Reference Photos

Prop Store's side ruler reference of Toby's plastic model

Close-up model

A close-up model of Toby was built to be used for scenes where he had to interact with the close-up scale figures. In the first series, due to budget constraints, a close-up model of Toby was not built and it only had a bell in the first series, as well as a water tank placed against wooden vinyl in the third series.

A close-up model of Toby was eventually built in the fifth series. The model was made in pieces so it was able to be dismantled and reassembled when needed. Unlike most close-up models, the one for Toby was built as a complete engine, minus his lamp irons and a visible face.

It later appeared in the sixth, seventh, eleventh and twelfth series, as well as Thomas and the Magic Railroad.

Toby's bell

Toby's water tank

Toby's driver

Reference Sheets

Eighth series ruler reference of Toby's close-up model

Eighth series ruler reference of Toby's boiler

Present Day

Toby's close-up model is currently in Mattel's storage unit in Southampton England.

(Note he is missing his funnel, and a buffer)

CGI model

In 2009, the series introduced Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) as a replacement for the show's long-standing live-action models. Toby was recreated from scratch in CGI by Nitrogen Studios. His model was "hand-sculpted" in Maya, a 3D animation and modelling software.

Photographs of Toby's gauge 1 model were used for referencing. According Greg Tiernan, every detail of the original television series models for each character is carefully reproduced in the CGI model. The models are subjected to many rounds of review before they are submitted to HiT Entertainment for final input and approval.

Toby went through several aesthetic changes in the CGI series:

• Hero of the Rails:
  • His side-rods and pistons disappeared.
  • His bell sound changed again.
  • His cabs appear to be blackened out.
  • He has decreased in size and is the same height as Henrietta.
  • His face became thicker and gained a blockier appearance.
• Toby's New Whistle (only):
  • He received a three-chime whistle, which was Hiro's whistle at eighteen steps higher-pitched and was a stock sound effect recorded from Southern Railway Mikado No. 4501, which is preserved at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.

Toby's model specifications

Head on promo

Final Render

Firebox

Sideplate

Bell

Three-chime whistle (Toby's New Whistle only)

Tail-lamp

Bufferbeam and cowcatcher

Number

Rear coupling

Gauges

Texture variants

In addition to his standard livery, a few other texture variants exist of Toby's CGI model. These texture variants include:

Toby covered in mud (Splish Splash Splosh)

Toby with snow (Love Me Tender)

Golf course Toby (Heart of Gold)

Voice Actors

• Colm Feore (Thomas and the Magic Railroad)
• Ben Small (UK; Hero of the Rails - eighteenth series)
• Rob Rackstraw (UK; Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure - twenty-fourth series)
• William Hope (US; Hero of the Rails - twenty-fourth series - UK; Hero of the Rails, original cut only)
• Stephen Donald (UK; Railway Adventures only)
• John Schwab (US; Nursery Rhymes)
• Yasuhiko Kawazu (Japan; first - eighth series)
• Tomohiro Tsuboi (Japan; ninth - twenty-fourth series)
• Espen Sandvik (Norway; Hero of the Rails - seventeenth series)
• Herman López (Latin America; Hero of the Rails - nineteenth series, excluding Thomas the Babysitter)
• Joaquín López (Latin America; Thomas the Babysitter - twenty-third series)
• Osvaldo Trejo (Latin America; A New Arrival only)
• Emmanuel Bernal (Latin America; The Inventor's Spectacular Bridge only)
• Harold Salazar (Latin America; Thomas' Magical Birthday Wishes)
• Rolando de Castro (Latin America; Thomas and the Magic Railroad)
• César Árias (Latin America; Thomas and the Magic Railroad; TV Version)
• Jürgen Theuns (The Netherlands)
• Tom Deininger (Germany; Thomas and the Magic Railroad)
• Christian Stark (Germany; twelfth series only)
• Volker Hanisch (Germany; Hero of the Rails onwards)
• Franz Josef Steffens (Germany; Audio Book 4 only)
• Andreas von der Meden (Germany; Audio Book 7-16 only)
• Mieczysław Morański (Poland; Hero of the Rails - twenty-third series, excluding Marion and the Dinosaurs, Big World! Big Adventures! and The Inventor's Spectacular Bridge)
• Jarosław Domin (Poland; Marion and the Dinosaurs only)
• Paweł Ciołkosz (Poland; The Inventor's Spectacular Bridge only)
• Miłogost Reczek (Poland; Big World! Big Adventures! only)
• Albert Cohen (Israel; Thomas and the Magic Railroad)
• Gadi Levy (Israel)
• Fadulli Costa (Brazil; Hero of the Rails onwards)
• Miguel Ángel Poison (Spain)
• Sacha Pilara (Italy)
• Ole Møller (Denmark; twelfth - sixteenth series)
• Michel Lasorne (France and French speaking Canada; eighth - twelfth series)
• Bernard Demory (France and French speaking Canada; Hero of the Rails onwards)
• Petri Hanttu (Finland; Hero of the Rails onwards)
• Hristo Dimitrov (Bulgaria; Hero of the Rails onwards)
• Vladimir Antonik (Russia; thirteenth - sixteenth series and Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure)
• Denis Bespaliy (Russia; King of the Railway onwards, except Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure)
• Haris Grigoropoulos (Greece)
• Um Sang-hyun (South Korea; twelfth (redub) to fifteenth and twenty-second to twenty-fourth series)
• Shin Yong-u (South Korea; sixteenth to twenty-first series and Hero of the Rails to King of the Railway redubs)
• Shin Jeong-hoon (South Korea; Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure to twenty-first series)
• Rosta Sándor (Hungary)