Author's notes: Quick heads up, while the last 2 stories took place in 1970, these next 3 will take place in 1964, that means Mitch and Dustin wouldn't have arrived yet. Also, here's the bonus episode for 'Tramway Engines'.

Tramway Predicament

Narrator: Toby, Flora, Applejack, Fluttershy, Mr. Holden and Miss Ravens along with the coaches Henrietta, Fiona and Elsie were finding life difficult on the tramway. The quarry become so busy that ever before more and more demands of stone had been ordered and more and more trucks were needed to carry the stone from the quarry to the top station for Percy, Pinkie Pie and Mr. Roberts to take to the Harbour. Because of the increased work load, the two tram engines often had to take some empty trucks up with them along with the quarry men in either Henrietta or Fiona.

Toby: (Exhausted) Flora, I don't believe that…. you and I have ever saw this much work… Back on our old line.

Flora: (Exhausted) No indeed…. My dear brother Toby… Even before… you came… trains were never that busy on the old line….

Fiona: I know what you mean Flora… we'd only usually have 10 or 9 trucks rattling behind us… no this many….

Henrietta: That's right …. I thought a coupling was going to snap. It's a good thing Toby and Flora all know how to deal with trucks. Right Elsie?

Elsie: You've got that right my dear sisters.

Narrator: The two ponies Applejack and Fluttershy and the two drivers Mr Thomson and Mr. Holden could see how exhausted they were.

Mr. Holden: I understand Toby, especially with your small water tank.

Miss Ravens: Yeah same here Flora, and you're much older than Toby.

Applejack: But we've got keep it up. We don't want this branch line to end up like you're old tram line.

Fluttershy: Oh… my. perish the thought Applejack.

Miss Ravens: They are absolutely right. We need to keep up and not give up, but don't worry. We'll talk to the Fat Controller and Princess Celestia about the situation.

Mr. Holden: Same here, but for right now we need to keep up the work load.

Narrator: Just then, the guards whistles blew and Toby and Flora went sadly back to work. Thomas, Twilight Sparkle, Mr. Hawkins, Percy, Pinkie, Mr. Roberts, Daisy, Fleur Di Les and Fancy Pants were concerned too.

Thomas: Oh you poor engines, I'm very sorry for you guys.

Twilight Sparkle: This workload has really been hampering you guys hasn't it?

Toby: Indeed it has.

Flora: We get the hay traffic in summer taking quarrymen to and from the quarry in the morning and evening, then we shunt the trucks at the quarry and have to take a train of trucks down to Ffarquhar.

Applejack: Yeah, and I thought that workin at Sweet Apple Acres on Applebuck Season and Cider Season was hard.

Fluttershy: But poor Toby and poor Flora are completely worn out.

Toby: Still, we shouldn't complain.

Flora: Indeed, we cannot let our railway down.

Percy: but you guys need help and no mistake.

Pinkie Pie: Yeah, otherwise. You may Celestia forbid breakdown.

Fleur Di Les: And that would never do you poor darlings.

Fancy Pants: Indeed. I admire you two all doing your best but we must address this to Princess Celestia and the Fat controller.

Mr. Hawkins: Your right there Fancy Pants, the last thing we need is our only 2 tram engines breaking down.

Mr. Roberts: Then we wouldn't be able to get the stone down to the quarry.

Mr. Holden: You've got that right and I do not want to get in trouble with another constable again.

Twilight Sparkle: And neither do I.

Thomas: (Shudders) Don't remind me.

Daisy: What do you mean?

Thomas: Uh… well, it's probably best to tell you another time Daisy.

Narrator: But little did they know that the situation was being monitored already. The Fat Controller and Princess Celestia could see that the two tram engines were becoming increasingly tired out more and more. And so they went to speak to quarry manger.

Fat Controller: Sir, we are well aware of the increased stone traffic and our railway is doing its best.

Celestia: However, it has come to both me and Sir Charles Topham Hatt's attention that the increase traffic is starting to grow too heavy for our two tram engines Flora and Toby.

Narrator: The quarry manager nodded he completely understood.

Quarry manager: I understand completely. Toby and Flora have been very good loyal and hard workers but it does seem like they do need help. I shall see to this situation straight away. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

Fat Controller: Quiet alright sir, and thank you too.

Celestia: Yes, thank you very much.

Narrator: One day, Toby and Flora felt extremely exhausted after their first journey up the tramway and their first journey back with trucks. To make matters worse, they had to take a long string of trucks up to the quarry.

Applejack: Oh my goodness. This train is much too long for one tram engine to do alone.

Fluttershy: Oh… my. Then what are we to do ?

Mr. Holden: I know. We're going to double head it .

Applejack: What?! Are you crazy.

Miss Ravens: No we aren't. We've really got no choice but this.

Applejack: You're right there. We're just gonna have to try.

Fluttershy: Oh dear… I hope we can do it.

Toby: Well theres only one way to find out.

Flora: And will give it everything we have.

Miss Ravens: There's some good engines.

Mr. Holden: We'll give you both a good topping off of water before our journey.

Applejack: So that you have a better water supply.

Fluttershy: Just do your best you two will all be with you every wheel turn of the way.

Narrator: Soon, the two engines were coupled on to the train and were given a good drink of water. When the the guards whistle blew and the green flag waved, Toby and Flora started off.

Toby: Come on! Come on! Come on!

Flora: We're doing it! We're doing it! We're doing it!

Narrator: Smoke and steam poured from Flora's and Toby's stacks as the train jerked and slowly moved out of the station and onto the tramline. Once the train was moving things started to become a bit easier but only just. Toby and Flora tried hard but they found it harder and harder to keep the train moving.

Applejack: That's it. Keep at it Toby!

Mr. Holden: You're doing great Toby old boy.

Fluttershy: That's it Flora keep it up !

Miss Ravens: Don't let these trucks beat you old girl.

Narrator: Soon they began to climb and the two tram engines had to work extra hard as they struggled up to the quarry at crawl.

Toby/Flora: We're nearly there! We're nearly there!

Narrator: The two engines made one last brave effort and at last tired exhausted but undefeated, they made it to the quarry. The quarry manager met them.

Quarry Manager: An excellent job Flora and Toby. You did very well to get the train up here. You two deserve a good rest before you're journey down. Well done.

Toby: Thank you sir.

Flora: We'd never let you down at all.

Narrator: Then the quarry manager had more news for them.

Quarry manager: I understand that you two have been worked off your wheels from this traffic increase. I have however seized up the situation. I have talked to Princess Celestia and the Fat Controller and I have purchased a Diesel tramway shunter named Mavis to help out here at the quarry to help ease off the work load. She shall be working arriving tomorrow morning.

Applejack: Well that's mighty good hearing there sir!

Toby: Thank you sir. That's very kind of you.

Flora: Thank you sir.

Fluttershy: Oh that's good .

Mr. Holden: That's great. Oh thank you sir. That'll be wonderful.

Miss Ravens: Great. I hope she'll work good.

Narrator: However, the two engines, the two drivers and the two ponies secretly were a little worried. But I'm afraid for you and me that that's another story.

And that other stories is 'Mavis', which will be up next. See you there.