Toad (T&F)

“A pond is the only place for a toad, I suppose.”

― Oliver, Busy Going Backwards, fifth season

Toad

Number: GW 56831 Class: GWR 16-ton brakevan

Toad is a Great Western brakevan who escaped from scrap with Oliver and Isabel.

Bio

Toad worked with Oliver on the Great Western Railway before being threatened with the prospect of scrapping. Oliver, Toad, and an autocoach named Isabel 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. In the Railway Series, Toad asked to be Douglas' brakevan as a show of thanks. In the television series, Toad is Oliver's brakevan rather than Douglas'.

When S. C. Ruffey began to start a trend of disrespecting the engines, Toad had the idea for Oliver to show S. C. Ruffey 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.

In the television series, 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 narrowly avoids James, crashes into some level crossing gates, and stops by taking a plunge into a pond. Afterwards, Toad decides that always going backwards is not bad after all.

Later in the television series, Toad was with Oliver up in the hills when they asked Gordon if he needed some help.

By the eighteenth season, Toad had become 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.

Persona

Toad is a polite, gentlemanly brakevan. He is also somewhat imaginative and a bit of an optimist. Toad minds his manners well and always quick to refer to engines as "Mr" or "Miss". 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.

Basis

Toad is based on a GWR Standard 16-ton brakevan. Early vans were just 10 or 16 tons weight, but this gradually increased to 20 tons.

Livery

Toad is painted grey with "GW 56831" written on his side in white.

Appearances

Railway Series

Enterprising Engines (does not speak)
Oliver the Western Engine

Television series

Season 3 - Escape (does not speak) and Oliver Owns Up (cameo)
Season 4 - Toad Stands By and Mind that Bike (cameo)
Season 5 - Gordon and the Gremlin (cameo), Oliver's Find, and Busy Going Backwards
Season 7 - Emily's New Coaches (cameo), James and the Queen of Sodor (cameo), and Snow Engine
Season 12 - Gordon Takes a Shortcut
Season 18 - Toad's Adventure

Specials:

Thomas and the U.K. Trip (cameo)

He was to appear in the sixth season, but was cut out for unknown reasons.

He also cameoed in two eighth season songs.

Toad's model was used as a brakevan for the circus train in the eighth season episode, Thomas and the Circus. His model also appeared in a deleted scene from the sixth season episode, James and the Red Balloon. His face was also used on some trucks in the eighth and ninth seasons.

Magazine stories

2004 - Snow Engine

Toad also appeared in the magazine stories, A Long Way Up!, The Great Race, and The Snow Engine!.

Voice Actors

Joe Mills (UK/US; eighteenth season onwards)
Yūsuke Numata (Japan)

Trivia

Toad's model, without a face, is on display at Drayton Manor.
Toad's ERTL model incorrectly states that his number is "5683".
Toad's name originates from a nickname ("toad") given to brakevans on the Great Western Railway. Toad is also based upon a brake van that carries the same number.
In the television series, Toad has only once appeared without Oliver appearing in the same episode.
In the television series, Toad remains Oliver's brakevan. However, on some occasions he is used by Douglas.
In the eighteenth season onwards, Toad appears to be a lot longer compared to his original model, he has grey buffers, and is missing the white paintwork on his hand rails.