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One day, Toby pulled into Ffarquhar Quarry to drop off some workmen. As they all unboarded, ‘Arry and Bert, who had recently been sent to work there as punishment for nearly scrapping Nia, called over to Toby
“You know, Toby, all of your other siblings have been scrapped long ago.” snickered ‘Arry.
“I know, I know.” Toby said, rolling his eyes.
“If that’s the case, then how come Sir Topham Hatt keeps you on?” asked Bert.
“If you ask me, you should’ve at the very least retired long ago.” mocked ‘Arry. However, the ironworks diesel didn’t watch what he was doing and found himself under the stone chute. Stone poured down onto him. Toby couldn’t help but laugh. Henrietta laughed as well.
“Laugh all you want, but you can’t deny that diesels are the future!”
Just then, Mavis finished shunting a line of trucks, “I’ve got your train sorted for you.”
“Thank you, Mavis.” smiled Toby.
“I’ll even take Henrietta back to her shed in the meantime.” stated the quarry diesel.
Toby coupled up to his train and set off down the tramway. This time, they felt heavier than usual. Trucks usually took pure delight in bumping other engines, but they knew not to mess with Toby.
As the tram engine trundled along the line, he felt a rattle in his wheels, “That’s odd.” he commented. He didn’t think much of it at first, until he began a descent and all of a sudden, he heard a snap. His brakes had failed.
“Bust my buffers!” he exclaimed. The trucks saw their chance. They quickly bumped Toby and sent him rocketing down the line. Bertie was making his usual run when Toby rushed past, cutting him off.
“Toby!” he growled.
“Sorry, Bertie, I can’t stop!”
Toby went faster and faster until his wheels left the rails. Toby had taken the road. The trucks laughed with delight. Toby, however, wasn’t sad about them. He was sad that he’d come off the rails.
~~~
Harvey soon came along to sort out the mess.
“I’m sorry, Harvey, I don’t know what happened.” apologised Toby.
“Don’t worry, Toby, it happens to the best of us. Let’s get you back on the rails." Toby smiled. Once he was lifted back on, he tried to continue on as usual, but he couldn’t.
“It seems like one of my siderods has broken off.”
“Has it?” asked Harvey.
“I know it doesn’t seem like it, with my sideplates hiding my wheels, but it definitely happened. Not to mention, my sideplates are also pretty badly damaged.”
“How about I send you to the Steamworks and Sir Topham Hatt arranges for another engine to finish your job.”
~~~
After Toby was taken to the Steamworks, Rosie was called down from Vicarstown, because of how well she’d done the last time she was on Thomas’s branchline. The trucks giggled, as Rosie was unfamiliar with them. However, Rosie took no nonsense.
“I know what you’re thinking and I won’t be having any of it!” she bluntly stated.
“Yes, Rosie,” sighed the trucks. With that, Rosie pulled away as easy as pie. She passed Daisy, who called out to her friend.
“You go, girl!” she cheered. Rosie smiled, “I do go. Thank you for noticing, Daisy.”
Not long after, she passed Percy, who was also standing his ground to some trucks of his own.
“Go for it, Rosie!” he cheered.
Rosie whistled back. Finally, she passed by Thomas, who supported her just like Percy and Daisy.
“Great job, Rosie! You’re number one!... figuratively speaking.”
Rosie giggled and whistled back at her friend. She continued on and before long, arrived at the Docks.
~~~
Meanwhile, Toby had been taken to the Steamworks. His siderods were easily replaced, but there was still a problem.
“Boss, I can’t find any replacement sideplates!” whirred Kevin.
“What?” asked Toby.
“I’m sorry, Toby,” sighed Victor, “But you’re an old engine. I can only assume that your sideplates aren’t easy to find anymore.”
Rather than feeling down about it, Toby was still upbeat, “That’s okay. I can do my work just as well without sideplates. Besides, the law that enforced that is no longer being upheld, since that grouchy constable quit a long time ago.”
“Okay, if you say so,” said Victor.
Toby was back down onto the tracks by the hoist. He was about to whir his wheels again, when Sir Topham Hatt arrived.
“Hello, Toby.” greeted the railway controller, “It’s good to see you back in good working order. Anyway, the Earl is preparing a space exhibit for Ulfstead Castle. I want you to take some supplies there.”
“I’m on it, Sir!” smiled Toby. He rang his bell and rolled off. In no time at all, he arrived at the Docks. Salty cheerfully greeted his friend.
“Ahoy, Shipmate! Rosie told us about your accident. How are you holding up?”
“Pretty well, aside from a minor thing.”
Salty looked down and saw Toby’s missing sideplates, “I see.” he said.
“You look pretty funny, Toby.” commented Porter.
“What?” asked the tram engine.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” the viridian saddle tank said in defence, “I mean it’s funny like my three domes.”
“He looks like a camel, doesn’t he?” chuckled Salty, “I thought so when he and I first met.”
Just then, Cranky called from above, “All right, Toby, that’s your load.”
“Thanks!” rang Toby. He coupled to his trucks and set out of the Docks. It fortunately wasn’t a heavy load, so he went off without a hitch.
As he puffed out of the Docks, he saw James coming down the other line, Toby rang his bell. When James got closer, he burst out laughing. Toby didn’t mind it. He thought if Porter could find it funny, then so could James.
Not long after, Duck came into view. He whistled to his friend, but then once he came close, he laughed just like James did. This time, Toby felt different. He didn’t brush it off like he had with James. Now he was starting to feel like the butt of a joke.
Finally, Henry came rolling along. As he got closer, Toby could see his friend trying to hold in his laughter. Right after Henry had come out of Toby’s line of sight, he burst out laughing. Toby now began to feel more vulnerable. All the same, he made a decision.
“Really useful engines get the job done!” so he pressed on. Not long after, Toby heard Philip’s horn from behind. Toby grimaced, “Oh no. Philip will laugh for sure!”
“Toby, what’s the matter?” asked Philip. Toby opened his eyes, “You don’t find my missing sideplates funny?”
“Not at all. Although now that you mention it, it is very unusual seeing you without them. Just like seeing Oliver without Toad.”
Toby sighed with relief, “At least you’re not laughing at me.”
“Why would I? I’m your friend. Friends laugh with each other.”
“So does that mean those who laughed at me aren’t my friends?” growled Toby.
“Edward once told me that sometimes, we just can’t control our feelings, but that doesn’t have any affect on how we truly feel about one another.”
Toby smiled. Then, after he and Philip went their separate ways, he was back to feeling vulnerable, “I’ve just got to get this to Ulfstead Castle and then I’ll go back to my shed.”
Time flew by as Toby made his way up to Ulfstead Castle, “Hello, Toby!” greeted the Earl.
“Hello, Sir Robert.”
“Follow Stephen and he’ll show you where to take your load.”
Toby rang his bell and did just so.
“Nice to see you’re continuing on after your accident.” commented Stephen, “It’s nice to see engines who don’t lose their confidence after these things.”
Toby’s smile quickly faded.
“What’s the matter?” asked the older engine.
“I haven’t been quite the same since my accident.” explained the tram engine.
“I’m sure you’ll get new sideplates eventually.”
“It’s not that. On my way up here, some of my friends laughed at me. Now I just feel like a funny box on wheels.”
“And Glynn’s a coffee pot engine. We all look different and that’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Toby normally stood by that idea, but now, he wasn’t so sure. After dropping off his supplies, he turned around and trundled sadly home.
~~~
Before long, Toby returned to his shed. Henrietta was also in her shed, so Toby wasn’t alone.
“What’s wrong, Toby?” asked Henrietta.
“So many of my friends laughed at me for how I currently look.” explained Toby, “I didn’t mind it at first, but with so many of them laughing at me, I just lost my confidence.”
Suddenly, Thomas, Percy, and Daisy all arrived.
“Did you say you lost your confidence?” asked Thomas.
“You’re usually the one picking us up when we feel down.” commented Percy.
“I know,” sighed Toby, “But even I can have my own struggles.”
“Don’t worry, we understand,” comfortingly smiled Daisy.
Just then, Thomas had an idea, “What if we helped you with your jobs in one way or another?”
“How so?” asked Toby.
~~~
The next day, it all played out. Daisy took over Thomas’s passenger run while Thomas took the workmen to the quarry. All the while, Percy helped Mavis with some of her work, allowing Toby to just as easily take an allotted train of his. Just like before, the trucks were still heavy. Regardless, Toby had truly regained his confidence. Once he arrived at the Docks, he met Duck.
“Hello, Toby,” he greeted, “I’m sorry for laughing at you yesterday. I just couldn’t help myself.”
“I forgive you,” grinned Toby, “Sometimes we can’t control our feelings.”
Just then, Porter buffered a flatbed up to Duck, “These are due for the Steamworks.”
On the flatbed, Toby saw some sideplates, “Those are just what I’m looking for!” he exclaimed, “Could I come with you to the Steamworks so I could get those fitted onto me?”
Duck hesitated, “That’s not really the great western way, but I can let it slide.”
With that, the two engines puffed on and arrived at the Steamworks. Victor chuckled when he saw Toby and the sideplates at the same time.
“Someone’s an eager beaver.”
“He certainly is.” chuckled Duck. Toby laughed with them. In no time at all, Toby’s sideplates were refitted. These, however, were blue. Toby didn’t mind, though.
Just then, Sir Topham Hatt arrived, “Toby, there you are. I need you to collect some more supplies for the Earl.”
Suddenly, Toby thought of something, “Actually, Sir, I was thinking I should retire from quarry duties and instead work at Ulfstead Castle. I’m not as strong as I used to be and it seems like the Earl needs me much more.”
“I don’t have anything against this idea,” said Sir Topham Hatt, “But we will miss you.”
“In that case, why not set up a farewell party at Knapford Station?” suggested Toby.
“Great idea, Toby!”
~~~
Time went by and soon, Knapford Station was properly suited for a farewell. Thomas, Percy, and Daisy all looked at their friend.
“We’ll miss you, you know,” said Thomas, “I’ll especially miss you because of how you saved me from being forced to wear cowcatchers and sideplates all those years ago.”
“I’ll miss you, too,” added Percy, “Until Thomas and I truly warmed up to each other, you and I were really best friends. Even to this day, I still consider you one.”
“I know,” replied Toby, “But seeing how well Rosie’s done on the Branchline, I’m sure she’ll do just as well as I did.”
An arrangement had recently been made for Rosie to work on the Branchline, now that Toby was bound for retirement.
Suddenly, Sir Topham Hatt stepped up to the microphone, “Ladies and gentlemen, engines and coaches, it gives me a heavy heart to wish Toby a happy retirement and good luck to his new life at Ulfstead Castle.”
The engines whistled in celebration. Toby felt as happy as can be.
“Now, to officially give Toby a true send off, please welcome the Ffarquhar Primary School choir!”
And with that, the choir began to sing.
“North of the Island, there lives a dear old train,
A little tram engine, Toby is his name.
He's quaint and old fashioned, but careful and wise.
His coach is Henrietta and she’s seen better days.
His mind keeps returning to the good old days
When they were busy working everyday.
But nobody rides with them nowadays.
They can't understand why things have changed.
Their line is closing down today, forever.
Toby, oh Toby,
What will become of you?
The world's much nicer whenever we see you.
Toby, dear Toby,
There's still lots that you can do.
Oldies but Goldies, we still care about you.
All of the children came to say goodbye
They clapped and cheered as Toby rang his bell, "Bye bye."
Everyone was sad to see them go
Whatever will they do, and where will they go?
Suddenly news came to brighten up their day.
How Toby and Henrietta were needed right away.
The Fat Controller had written to say.
Could they please come and help right away.
Now they're part of his family, forever.
Toby, oh Toby,
Show them what you can do.
The world's much nicer whenever we see you.
Toby, dear Toby,
There's so much to learn from you.
Oldies but Goldies, we still care about you.
Oldies but Goldies, we still care for you.”
As they sang, Toby gave his bell a hearty ring and rolled out of the station with Henrietta with his friends whistling and honking. In no time at all, they arrived at Ulfstead Castle. Stephen, Millie, and Glynn all whistled for their friend.
“Welcome, Toby!” smiled Sir Robert, “I look forward to having you on the team.”
“I look forward to being on the team, Sir.”