Dear Disney,
Scamp and Thomas had some troubles with a policeman and now Thomas and Scamp are very sad. Sir Topham Hatt has decided to bring in a special engine and an old dog to help run the branch line.
The engine's name is Toby and he's a very kind and wise engine, I'm sure you'll love him and his dog when the story is finished.
The Author
Toby and the Stout Gentleman
Toby is a tram engine, he has cowcatchers and side plates and he doesn't look like a steam engine at all.
He takes trucks from farms and villages into the mainline and the big engines take them to London and anywhere else.
He has a coach call Henrietta who has seen better days. Toby is attached to Henrietta and brings her along wherever he goes.
Toby (Thinking): She made be useful one day.
As Toby was trotting though his tram-line, he saw some buses full of passengers.
Henrietta: It's not fair at all!
Henrietta remembered that she used to be full and nine trucks would rattle behind her. Now there were only three or four, for the farms and factories send their goods mostly by lorry. Toby is always careful. The cars, buses, and lorries often have accidents, Toby hasn't had an accidents for years, but the buses are crowed and Henrietta is empty.
Toby: I just don't understand.
People often came to see the Toby, but they travel by bus.
People: Isn't he queer?
They make Toby and his driver very cross.
One day, stopping at a station, they saw a car close by and two children came out.
Boy: Come on Bridget!
Bridget: Coming Stephen!
Two women and a stout gentleman followed them as well. The gentleman looked important, but nice. The children saw Toby and ran back to the stout gentleman.
Stephen and Bridget: Come on grandfather, do look at this engine.
Stout Gentleman: That's a tram engine Stephen.
Bridget: Is it electric?
Toby: WHOOOSE!
Stephen: Shh, shh; you've offended it.
Bridget: But trams are electric, aren't they?
Stout Gentleman: They are mostly, but this is a steam tram.
Stephen and Bridget: May we go in it grandfather, please?
The guard was about to blow his whistle.
Stout Gentleman: Stop!
The guard, surprised, opened his mouth and dropped his whistle. While he was picking it up, the family all scrambled into Henrietta.
Henrietta: Hip, hip, hooray!
But Toby did not sing.
Toby: Electric indeed, electric indeed!
He was very hurt. He stopped at the next station, but the family decided to wait and let Toby take them home.
Stout Gentleman: What is your name?
Toby: Toby sir.
Stout Gentleman: Thank you Toby for a very nice ride.
Toby: Thank you sir.
Toby felt much better now.
Toby (Thinking): This gentleman is a gentleman who knows how to speak to engines.
The children came everyday for a fortnight, sometimes they rode with the guard, sometimes in empty trucks, and on the last day of all, the diver invited them into the cab.
All were sorry when they had to leave for home. Stephen and Bridget said thank you the driver, fireman, and the guard and the Stout Gentleman gave them all a present.
Toby: Come again soon.
Stephen and Bridget: We will, we will.
And they waved till Toby was out of sight.
The months passed, Toby had few trucks and fewer passengers.
Next morning the driver came into the shed, looking sad.
Toby's Driver: Our last day Toby, the manager says we must close tomorrow.
That day everyone wanted a chanced for a last ride. The passengers crowed into Henrietta and some empty trucks, and the guard hadn't enough tickets to go around.
Toby's driver notice an old man with an old brown bloodhound and a young cocker spaniel.
Toby's Driver: Excuse me sir, there's too many people on the train, would you and your dogs like to sit inside Toby's back cab?
Old man: Oh that would be nice, thank you so much.
The passengers joked and sang, but Toby and his driver wished they wouldn't.
Passenger: Good-bye Toby, we're sorry your line is closing down.
Toby: So am I.
With that Toby waited until the last passenger had gone, then he puffed sadly to his shed.
Toby (Thinking): Nobody wants me.
The driver shut the shed door and Toby went unhappily to sleep.
Next morning the shed was flung opened and Toby woke with a start to see his driver and fireman dancing a jig outside the shed. The driver waved a piece of paper.
Toby's Driver: Wake up Toby and listen to this; it's a letter from the Stout Gentleman!
Toby listen and… But I mustn't tell you anymore, or I shall spoil the a another story.