ThomasNATION Reviews - The Super Axle
May 30, 2026
Anyone who has ever traveled along Thomas' branch line and met Toby knows that he is one of the most unique and special engines on Sodor. He is a steam engine, but his wooden boxy outline and covered wheels make him look more like a garden shed than an engine. Toby is indeed old-fashioned and looks outdated, but looks are deceiving. Anyone who's ever met Toby knows he's as wise, brave and energetic as he ever was with a contagious sense of humor. An engine that doesn't feel his age, Sodor's Dick Van Dyke if you will. But with that said, I think it goes without saying that his character journey has been turbulent because Toby's definitely had more bad seasons in the original series than good unfortunately. But in those seasons where they get Toby right, boy do they get him right. Toby is a character that over the years has sort of faded away from the spotlight. He's kinda schlubby, old-fashioned, a little weird looking, kind of a square and may be somewhat forgettable. But that's the point, Toby's true character never craves the spotlight. He is absolutely content in his little corner of the world and completely fine with who he is and I think all of us should strive to be more like him.
So yeah, you might be thinking "what in the name of the Flying Scotsman does Toby have to do with All Engines Go" right about now especially when Mattel has been acting like they don't care for him as a character ever since they took ownership of the franchise over a decade ago? Well, it would seem as though our lucky steam tram has found his way back into the television series again in celebration of All Engines Go's 100th episode - wow, hard to believe that the reboot has been around for that long. But was Toby's big return to Thomas & Friends in the franchise's latest chapter a celebration to remember? Well, apart from retconning Toby's origins from The Railway Series and having the veteran engines of the original series acting like they're meeting Toby for the first time when they've actually known him for many years. It's honestly hard to get mad at an episode like this especially considering that All Engines Go is its own separate canon from the original series, but I really wish that Mattel would stop continuing to label the reboot as a continuation of the original series.
But you're not here to see me complaining about headcanons in the Thomas & Friends franchise, you're here to see me talk about the garden shed on wheels. So with that said, how was Toby handled in this new chapter of Thomas & Friends history? Well, Toby's characterization in All Engines Go is a bit similar to how he was written in Season 8's "You Can Do It, Toby" and Season 23's "Heart of Gold" where he doubts himself a bit when he struggles to keep up with the younger engines but is still more than capable and loves to try new things. While it's not the best take on him, at least he isn't a scaredy cat and I'd rather have a Toby that's doubtful rather than cowardly. Oh, and with that silver "super axle" Toby was given from Sandy and Carly along with the exclamation that he made, something tells me that we might see an appearance of the Flying Scotsman or maybe even Spencer at some point in the future of All Engines Go...right?
So while Toby's super axle of a return may not be as super as he thought, it's what's on the inside that counts and that's why I'm gonna be nice and give "The Super Axle" a 3.5/5, or a more fitting rating of a 7/10. Welcome home, Toby!
Final Rating: 3.5/5 (or 7/10)
0 comments