Toad (RWS)

Toad is a Great Western brake van who lives and works on the North Western Railway.

Toad escaped from scrap along with Oliver and Isabel, and is now Douglas' brake van.

Biography
Toad worked 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 in 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.

Personality
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.

Basis
Toad is based on a Great Western Railway (GWR) AA21 diagram 20-ton brake van. These were built between 1939 and 1940 with 100 being made, these being numbered 17390 – 489. They were all fitted with vacuum brakes and a brake setter (emergency brake valve) which allowed the Guard to apply the brakes on the whole train. These vans were used on ‘fully fitted’ goods trains which could run at higher speeds.

Livery
Toad is painted in GWR grey with "G W" written on his side in white. Before being repaired in Enterprising Engines and in an illustration portraying him before Escape from the subsequent book, Toad was painted bauxite. His face is the same colour as his bodywork.

Appearances
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The Railway Series

 * Enterprising Engines - Escape and Little Western
 * Oliver the Western Engine - Resource and Sagacity and Toad Stands By

Companion volumes
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 * 1976 - Famous Engines
 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection
 * 2005 - Sodor: Reading Between the Lines

Trivia

 * Toad's name originates from a nickname ("toad") given to brake vans on the Great Western Railway, which was also their telegraphic code for a brake van. It can also be considered a subtle pun: a brake van is 'towed' everywhere it goes.