Author's notes: I nearly forgot to mention. From 'Emily The Victorian Engine' onwards, the stories won't be produced in chronological order. 'Flora The Old Tram Engine' (This book) takes place between 'Double Header' and 'The 8 Famous Engines', while 'Emily The Victorian Engine' (The present day parts) takes place about a year after the events of 'Duke The Lost Engine' (Again, present day parts). Anyway, this story is a bit dark in some places, but it has enough lighthearted stuff to balance it. Let's go.

Vincent's Down Fall

Narrator: There was an awkward silence. Then it was Fluttershy who spoke up.

Fluttershy: Um, excuse me, but was it you that said hullo?

Narrator: The hen house, tool shed and stationary boiler all spoke at once.

?/?/?: We all did.

Narrator: The 3 drivers took a close look at them and they could make out that on the shed and the henhouse had what looked like buffers.

Mr. Holden: Excuse me, but did you three used to work on this tramway?

Flora: As a matter of fact, we did. My name is Flora.

Fiona: I'm Fiona

Elsie: And I'm Elsie. How on earth did you know?

Miss Ravens: Well we just guessed about you Flora, but we could tell by the balcony of Fiona and of course the buffer beams on both her and Elsie. I take it you used to be tram engine?

Flora: That's exactly right. I used to be a GER G15/LNER Y6 0-4-0T steam tram.

Fiona: I used to be a GER bogie wheel balcony coach.

Elsie: And I used to be a 4 wheel luggage van.

Applejack: What in tarnation? You mean you used to work on this railway with both Toby and Henrietta?

Narrator: Flora, Fiona and Elsie's eye wided.

Flora/Elsie/Fiona: Did you say Toby and Henrietta? But how did?

Mr. Holden: Me, Miss Ravens, Mr Hawkins and Applejack here work with him. He's safe and sound on the North western railway on Sodor run by Sir Charles Topham Hatt.

Narrator: Flora, Elsie and Fiona were delighted.

Flora: Oh how wonderful. My brother is safe!

Fiona: And my sister is safe too.

Elsie: And my friends Toby and Henrietta are safe. Oh how wonderful.

Flora: We Used to work with them during the old days when Toby first came here and unfortunately, I did work with another tram too that came with Toby. His name was Vincent.

All: Oh please tell us about it.

(East Anglia tramway day's)

Flora narrating: Back in the day, me, Elsie, Henrietta and Fiona were the only ones operating this line. I handle all the goods work and the passengers workings all by myself. However, since I was the only steam tram engine working here I had to tackle both duties at the same time, more often then not, I had to pull Elsie, Henrietta and Fiona all together with 9 trucks at the same time and sometimes even 48 trucks or goods vans.

Miss Ravens: (Through flashback) My goodness. You must have been a busy bee.

Flora narrating: I sure was. I have never been so busy in all my life. Me, Elsie, Henrietta, Fiona and my crew all worked very hard but the manager still knew that we need another tram engine.

Manager: I know you work very hard everyday and I am pleased with your work, but obviously we cannot have you working the line on your own. You might knock yourself to pieces and we couldn't allow that.

Flora: I understand sir. What do you have in mind?

Manager: Well, I have decided to purchase two more steam tram engines from Yarmouth Harbour.

Flora: Oh goodie, that sounds wonderful. So what are their names?

Manager: Well there's an LNER J70 0-6-0 tram engine called Toby. There's another one called Vincent, a Y10 super sentinel 0-4-0T steam tram. They shall be arriving in about a month.

Flora narrator: A few days later, Toby and Vincent arrived. Toby was a bit shabby and dirty when he first came, but he was a very polite and kind. Vincent on the other buffer was just horrid and very conceited and very rude to Toby and me.

Flora: Good morning. You two must be Vincent and Toby.

Toby: Indeed we are Miss Flora. I'm Toby. It's an honour to meet an LNER Y6/GER G15.

Flora: Well nice to meet you too Toby. And you are an LNER J70/GER C53, yes?

Toby: Sure am Flora.

Flora: It is a real honour to meet you as well. And you must be Vin…

Vincent: (Rudely) Vincent, yes, you know my name thank you very much! Ugh! At last I can finally move aside from that scruffy, filthy, wretched J70!

Flora: Good heavens. That was not nice and very uncalled for! You apologise right this instant!

Vincent: It's the truth! You know that these ugly J70's worked in harbours most of the time at Yarmouth. It's no wonder he's such a filthy thing! Now if you'll excuse me, I believe I have to make a journey with some passenger coaches.

Flora Narrator: Vincent puffed away in a huff to collect Elsie, Fiona and Henrietta while Toby and I went to get some trucks. Vincent did not like the look of the coaches at all. Not one bit!

Vincent: WHAT IN THE BLAZES ARE THESE!? DOES THAT MANAGER EXPECT ME TO HAUL THESE 19TH CENTURY RELICS!?

Flora narrating: Me, Toby, Elsie, Fiona and Henrietta were horrified.

Fiona/Henrietta/Elsie: (Cross) OOOHHH! WHAT A VERY MEAN ENGINE!

Vincent: Humph! It's not your fault but you antiques are far out of date for the likes of me. Your manager should scrap you lot!

Flora Narrator: And he started away with a menacing jolt which made the poor coaches shriek.

Fiona: OH! That hurt!

Henrietta: OUCH! If you keep that up, you'll hurt not only us and your crew, but the passengers as well.

Elsie: OI! Stop that at once!

Flora: Oh dear. It's engine's like him that won't last long. I can feel it in my cow catchers.

Toby: I agree. I feel it in my side plates.

Flora narrator: Toby on the other hand was very good learner. He had good manners and made friends with all the farmers and when he was trailed on the tramway line and was very gentle with Fiona, Henrietta and Elsie. I was very impressed.

(Toby backs onto the coaches and gently pulls out of the yard and into the station)

Henrietta: Oh, thank you Toby. That was very kind.

Fiona: It is a pleasure to go out with you.

Elsie: I second that motion Fiona and Henrietta.

Toby: Well, that makes 4 of us.

Henrietta/Fiona/Elsie: (Giggles)

(Toby arrives back later with Henrietta, Fiona, Elsie and 9 trucks)

Flora: Well done Toby. You handled your trucks and coaches very well and the manager is pleased with you.

Toby: (Blushing modestly) Oh well um I .. uh thank you Flora. Thanks to good teacher I have.

Flora: (Giggle) Heheheh. You know, you're like a younger brother to me Toby.

Toby: (Chuckles) Well then, in that case I'm proud to have you as my older sister.

Flora: Alright then. From this day forth, we'll be brother and sister then.

Toby: Right then. I'd love that.

Flora narrator: I'm sorry to say that the same couldn't be said for Vincent. He was absolutely rough with the coaches and poor Elsie. When ever they were to go with him they were scared out of there wits. Toby and I along with our drivers and firemen and the manager all tried to reason with him, but he didn't listen so the manager had him set to goods work and goods work only. Vincent hated the manager with a passion after that.

Vincent: (Angrily) WHAT CHEEK THAT MANAGER IS! I CAN'T BELIEVE HE WANTS ME TO HAUL GOODS FROM NOW ON!

Flora narrator: Before I could reply, Toby finally stood up to him.

Toby: It doesn't surprise me at all. With you working passengers, it's no wonder the passengers won't ride on your trains. You scare poor Fiona, Henrietta and Elsie something fierce whenever you take them out.

Vincent: Pah! And who's a scruffy old J70 like you to give me orders!

Flora: He didn't he was stating a true fact. It wasn't his call, it was the managers call!

Vincent: Oh yeah, that wretched manager!? It's no wondering this tramway is falling apart. He can't run this line worth a shilling!

Flora narrating: And he puffed off with his trucks before we can could get another word.

Flora: He's not going to last long Toby.

Toby: I agree. He's asking for trouble.

Flora narrating: Like with Henrietta Fiona and Elsie, Vincent was absolutely rough with the trucks and vans bumping them fiercely at all the stations and stops. To make matters worse, he often sped along the tramway breaking speed limits, nearly causing pile ups with road vehicles and even upsetting horse and carts. He even got into a bitter rivalry with a 1904 Overtype Foden 5 ton steam wagon lorry named Ursala. She hated the tramway and would make rude remarks about us.

Ursala: Oh! This tramway is far to old to be of any use it clutters our roadways and is no use at all and should be scrapped.

Flora narrating: Me and Toby ignored her, but Vincent didn't and she and him got into several arguements.

Vincent: Oh really? Out of date are we? You look at yourself in mirror you claptrap! I'm more up-to-date than you and I can go much faster than you any day.

Ursala: That I'd like to see, tram boy!

Flora Narrating: Further down the line, there was tight curve leaning towards a ditch that could be a bit difficult if you were traveling at top speed. That is why the manager does not allow us to go at top speed. Toby and me were always careful here, but Vincent always rushed it trying to beat Ursala. We warned him several times over but he took no notice.

Flora: You need to be careful Vincent! The tramway has a set speed limit. You need to abide to it!

Vincent: I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE OUR TRAFFIC TAKEN AWAY BY THAT STEAMING PILE OF JUNK URSALA!

Toby: Forget about Ursala! You need to worry more about safety! That is how a tramway is run. You keep up these stupid moves and you'll get yourself into trouble

Flora Narrator: But Vincent just laughed.

Vincent: Pah! I can handle trains in my own way. I don't need to take advice from you out of date tram engines.

Flora/Toby: (Darkly) Famous last words.

Flora narrating: Vincent just laughed. He collected his goods wagons for one of the factories and steamed sharply away. We all had sinking feeling in our fireboxes that this was to be the last time we'd see Vincent in one piece. Vincent sped along the line break the speed limit as usual. He rode even more rougher than ever when he saw Ursala. When the two of them saw each other, the raced fiercely to the factory.

Vincent's driver: Steady boy! Steady! We cannot rush. We're breaking the law.

Vincent: I'M NOT GOING TO LOSE MY SHIPMENT TO THAT HORRID, STEAM KIDDIE WAGON!

Vincent's driver: There's plenty of time just slow down!

Flora narrating: But Vincent just kept laughing and went even faster.

Vincent: Stupid old Flora, stupid old Toby, stupid old Ursala!

Ursala: Stupid Vincent! Stupid old tramway!

Flora narrator: They rattled along the line at ever increasing speed. But Vincent's luck was about to run out and he was heading of dyer trouble. The road finally left the tramway so Vincent and Ursala didn't see each other again. Vincent was now heading towards the sharp bend.

Vincent : Stupid old bend!

Flora narrator: And he charged straight towards it. This was a big mistake. As he started to round the bend, Vincent's front wheels lurched and jumped the rails and with a shriek of terror and a loud crash. Vincent flung right of the curve and landed hard into the ditch with 7 of his 48 trucks piled up in smashed heap all over him. The driver and fireman jumped clear. The fireman dealt with Vincent's fire, whilst the guard went back for help. When I arrived on the scene, the wreck scene was an awful sight. Vincent's cow catchers and side plates were twisted, dented and bent, his was boiler dented and his cabs were crushed. The barrings were shattered and the side rods were snapped.

Flora: Toby and I warned you but you never listened. The manager is surely not gonna be pleased with this.

Flora narrating: Soon, Toby arrived with the breakdown train to help clear the mess whilst I took the remnants of the train away. But Vincent had to stay where he was until much later we could manage to lift him to the rails and take him back to the sheds.

Vincent: It was those trucks sir! They pushed me and made things worse….

Manager: NO TALES! It was your fault and you know it! You broke the law for selfish petty rivalry between a road vehicle and damaged yourself due to your carelessness. I thought you would be an improvement to this tramway, but you only made things worse! You will be sent on the LNER and taken to be scrapped! GO NIGHT TO YOU!

Flora narrating: And he stormed furiously away. He was as good as his word. Vincent was placed onto a flat truck and of LNER goods train and was scrapped, never to be seen ever again.

(Present day, abandoned farm)

Narrator: The ponies and the three drivers stood in shock.

Fluttershy: Oh my…

Applejack: Holy apple fritters.

Rarity: My goodness….

Rainbow Dash: Whoa….

Pinkie Pie: Holy cakes and pies.

Twilight Sparkle: Holy sweet Princess Celestia.

Mr. Holden: Crepes

Mr. Hawkins: My word.

Miss Ravens: Crikey! That was a gruesome story.

Narrator: Flora, Fiona and Elsie could only agree.

Yeah, Vincent gets what he deserved. As for Toby interacting with the coaches, I really like how the coaches are tittering happily for a bit and then Toby says 'Well, that makes 4 of us' and then the coaches giggle. It's cute. Also, interesting fact: If Flora's class that I made her into wasn't related to Toby, they would be a backup pairing. Right. Onto part 3.