Author's Notes: You really feel for Toby in this story. But, I would like to see the downward spiral that the line took to get to where it was at the point at the end of this story, as well as how Toby got here in the 1st place. Anyway, enjoy.

Dear Rachel.

It is now 1950, and it looks like British Rails are nationalized now. And things have now settled down here, now that we have Toby to operate the tramway now. But still, can you believe that ruddy new constable? I'm mean seriously, you, Twilight, Thomas and I have been going down that tramway for years now and we've never had problems, even with Pinkie Pie before she left to work with Percy, and heck even those vertical boiler coffeepot 0-4-0t's that Sir Topham Hatt made long before Thomas got his branchline were no problem with the law. Ah well, I'm just glad me and Twilight didn't get arrested for going down the tramway without the sideplates or cowcatchers. Especially Twilight, I think she really was more scared than me and Thomas. But all's well that ends well. Oh by the way, I talked to our new steam tram friend and he told me how he came here. These stories tell you how he came to be here. I hope like them.

Your friend, William James Holden.

P.S

I'll Write to Mr. and Mrs. Kindley and tell them that we all send them their best regards.

Toby And The Stout Gentleman

Narrator: Toby is a London & North Eastern railway J70 0-6-0t Steam tram engine. He is short and sturdy, he has cowcatchers and side plates and does not look like a steam engine at all. He takes trucks from farms and factories to the mainline and the big engines take them to London and elsewhere. His tramline runs along roads and through fields and villages. He rings his bell cheerfully to everyone he meets. He has a 4 wheel balcony coach called Henrietta whom have seen better days. She complains because she has few passengers. But Toby is… 'attached' to Henrietta, (Pinkie Pie comes in with her comedy drums, then she goes back to Percy on Sodor) and always takes her with him, much to the bewilderment of the crew.

Driver: I don't know why do you always want to take that coach when we rarely get passengers.

Toby: Well you never know. She might be useful one day.

Narrator: But Henrietta was never happy, as buses and cars roar passed them.

Henrietta: Oh it's not fair at all. Just look at all those new fangled buses and cars, all full of passengers and I've got none.

Narrator: She remembered the days when she used to be full and nine trucks would rattle behind her. But now there are only three or four, for the farms and factories send their goods mostly by lorry. Toby is always careful on the road. The cars, buses and lorries often have accidents. But Toby hasn't had an accident in years. Despite his spotless record, the buses are crowded and poor Henrietta is empty.

Toby: (Sighing) I can't understand it.

Narrator: People come to see Toby, but they come by bus. They stare at him and laugh rudely at him.

Person: Hahahaha! Oh isn't he a quaint and old fashioned! Hahmhmhm. These wooden barn on wheels just make me laugh ahmhmhm….

Toby: (Seething in rage) Ooooh those people really are testing my patients

Person 2: Oh and isn't that quaint. The barn on wheels has little hen house with a balcony too dear. Ahmhmhm.

Henrietta: OOOH! THE NERVE OF HER!

Narrator: They make Toby and Henrietta very cross. One morning, a blue car stopped close by and young boy and girl scrambled out.

Stephen: Come along Bridget!

Narrator: And they both ran over to Toby with two ladies and a stout gentleman. The gentleman looked important, but nice. The children ran up and nearly dragged the gentleman over to see the tram engine.

Stephen: Come on Grandfather! Do look at this engine.

Stout gentleman: That is a GER J70 0-6-0t Wishbech and Upwell tram engine, Stephen.

Toby: (Looks down at his buffers modestly) Uh, well. He does know his engines I must say.

Bridget: Oh a tram engine… Is it electric grandfather?

Toby: FIDDLE STICKS!

Narrator: And Toby wheeshed angrily!

Stephen: Sh! Sh! Bridget! I think you've offended him.

Bridget: What? What did I say? All I asked was if it was an electrmmmmm..

Narrator: Stephen hastily covered Bridget's mouth with his hand.

Stephen: (Whispering) Shoosh! Bridget you and your big mouth! Your making him angry.

Narrator: Bridget pulled Stephen's hand off her mouth and spoke out.

Bridget: But I thought trams are electric… Or are they?

Narrator: The stout gentleman laughed.

Stout gentlemen: Ho ho! Well they are mostly in urban areas of England Bridget. But this here is a steam tram.

Stephen/Bridget: Oh may we go in him grandfather? Oh please!

Narrator: The guard was about ready to blow his whistle.

Guard: (Sigh sadly) Once again not a single passenger as usual. I just hope that ruddy station master doesn't go through with his idea of making poor Henrietta into hen house.

Stout gentlemen: STOP! (Raising his hand)

Guard: Huh! What the devil?! OH my whistle!

Narrator: The guard taken by surprise opened his mouth and the whistle fell out and the family all scrambled into Henrietta. The guard picked up the whistle and dusted it off. Then they started off.

Henrietta: Oh hip hip horray! Oh happy day! I'm finally full Toby! Isn't it wonderful? It's like the good old days again! Oh happy day!

Narrator: But Toby was didn't sing. He snorted crossly.

Toby: Oooh! The nerve of some children! Electric indeed! Ooh electric indeed!

Narrator: Toby felt very hurt and insulted. The stout gentlemen and the family all got out at the junction. They waited for Toby to take them back to his car.

Stout Gentlemen: Oh by the way, what is your name? And does your coach have a name too?

Toby: Oh um… Toby sir. And my coach's name is Henrietta.

Stout Gentlemen: Thank you very much Toby and Henrietta for a very nice ride.

Narrator: Toby felt much better now.

Toby: Oh thank you very Sir. (To self) Hmm. Now this gentleman is gentleman that knows how to speak to engines.

Narrator: The children came every day for a fortnight. Some days, they would ride with the guard in Henrietta, and sometimes they road in an empty truck. On their last day of their holiday, the driver and fireman invited them into Toby's cab. They were all sorry when they had to go away. Steven and Bridget thanked Toby and the crew. The Stout Gentlemen gave them each a present.

Toby: (Clanging his bell and blowing his whistle) Thank you very much for visiting us. (Starts off) Come again soon!

Bridget and Stephen: Oh We will! We will!

Narrator: And the all waved until Toby was out of sight. The months passed and things went from bad to worse for Toby's tramway. Toby had fewer trucks to pull and even fewer passengers travelled along the tramway. At last, the Driver and Fireman walked glumly over to Toby as tear trickled down their faces. Toby immediately knew what that meant.

Driver: (Sigh sadly) It's all over. This is our last day Toby old boy. The manager say's we must close the line tomorrow.

Narrator: That very day, everyone came for the chance of one last ride on Toby's tramway. Toby was decorated with a reef on his front end under his head lantern, Henrietta had more passengers than she could manage. Some passengers rode in the trucks whilst others crowded in the brake van and the Guard hadn't enough tickets to go around. As they traveled along the tramway the passengers joked, laughed and sang. But Toby, Henrietta, the driver and fireman wished they wouldn't. Soon, too soon for Toby, his coach and his crew, the last run was finally over.

Passengers: Goodbye Toby. We are all sorry your line is closing down.

Narrator: A small tear trickled down Toby's face.

Toby: (Sad sigh) So am I.

Narrator: The last passenger left the station. Toby puffed very slowly and very sadly to his shed.

Toby: (Sad sigh) Oh dear. Nobody wants me now.

Narrator: The driver and fireman said their goodbyes, the shed doors closed and Toby went unhappily to sleep. But the next morning, the shed doors were flung open and Toby woke with a start to find his driver and fireman dancing a jig outside. The driver was so excited and waving a piece of paper at him.

Driver: WAKE UP TOBY ME BOY! WAKE UP AND LISTEN TO THIS! IT'S A LETTER FROM THE STOUT GENTLEMEN!

Fireman: MAYBE IT'S GOOD NEWS!

Narrator: The driver read on. Toby listened and…. But I mustn't tell you anymore or I'll spoil the next story.

And if you know the series like the back of your hand, you will know what's next. Look out for 'Thomas In Trouble'. See you there.