*chapter 1*
it was a golden autumn on the island of sodor. leaves had fallen onto the tracks. the trees were all covered in gold, red and orange and the engines of the north western railway were hard at work. the engines were also very excited. the harvest festival was coming and everyone was preparing. percy was taking trucks of big prized pumpkins. edward was taking trucks of fresh fruit and vegetables. emily was busy delivering trucks of brightly colored flowers. molly and neville were going back and forth down the line taking the tents and tables to the grounds. hank the american engine was busy taking cows too market and hiro was taking the stalls and workmen. everyone was very busy. toby the tram engine was feeling very cheerful as he puffed along the line. henrietta noticed this.
'your very happy today toby' said Henrietta.
'yes i am Henrietta today the fat controller has asked me to take an inspector around the railway today' said toby.
'oh my that does sound nice' said Henrietta.
'yes it is Henrietta so we must make ourselves like good for the inspector' said toby.
'of course dear toby' said Henrietta.
just then thomas went past with Annie and clarabel.
'good morning toby you look happy today' said thomas.
'yes i am thomas it's my lucky day today' said toby.
'don't lose your side plates then' teased thomas.
toby chuckled. he knew thomas was only joking. and he continued his way. soon toby arrived at knapford station to collect the inspector. but the inspector wasn't on the platform.
'bless my bell where is the inspector is he running late' said toby.
'i don't know toby he must be here somewhere' said Henrietta.
just then james puffed in with his coaches.
'i'm sorry to tell you this toby but the railway inspector left with Gordon' said james.
'he left with Gordon but why?' said toby.
'apparently he stated that you were taking too long so when Gordon arrived with the express he went on him instead i'm very sorry i had to tell you this i really am' said james.
and he puffed away. toby was very upset.
'oh toby i'm so sorry' said Henrietta.
'nevermind Henrietta let's just go back to arlesdale end okay' said toby.
'toby are you alright' said Henrietta.
'i'm fine okay' said toby.
and he set off. just then thomas arrived.
'hello toby cinders and ashes what's up' said thomas.
toby didn't answer he just puffed right past.
'what was that about' said Annie.
'toby looked very upset about something' said clarabel.
'you know what you two i think Gordon has had something to do with this' said thomas.
toby sadly puffed along the mainline.
'toby your not upset are you' said Henrietta.
'i'm alright Henrietta' said toby.
just then toby got to a junction. suddenly Gordon shot past with the express.
'out of the way you silly little tram!' said Gordon.
toby was shocked. so was Henrietta. toby set off again. soon toby got to another junction. suddenly spencer dashed past with the duke and duchess of Boxford.
'move aside you duke's engine coming through!' said spencer.
toby almost bounced off the tracks. so did Henrietta. but toby set off again. soon toby got to a third junction. then there was trouble. as toby puffed out he suddenly heard a loud whistle. it was Connor.
'toby look out!' cried Connor slamming on his brakes.
toby gasped in horror. his driver and fireman jumped out. Connor bashed into toby with mighty bang. toby bashed right off the tracks and his side was dented. Connor felt terrible.
'oh toby i'm so sorry!' said Connor.
'that's okay Connor it wasn't your fault' said Henrietta.
toby felt so bad that he wanted to cry. he felt as so the world was against him.
'this just isn't my day' said toby.
soon Percy arrived with the breakdown crane to lift toby onto a flatbed. Stanley came too to take Henrietta away with him.
'don't worry toby i'll take you to the steamworks' said Percy.
toby didn't say anything he just sat there looking down.
'don't worry toby you'll be fine at the steamworks' said Henrietta.
and with that Stanley took her away. soon toby was lifted onto the flatbed and Percy set off.
'victor and Kevin will have you fixed in no time toby don't worry' said Percy.
but toby was worrying. soon toby arrived at the steamworks and victor and Kevin got to work.
'don't be sad toby my friend we will have you back on track in no time' said victor.
'victor do you think i'm really useful' said toby.
victor was puzzled.
'of course toby my friend after all you are part of sir topham hatts railway' said victor.
'i know that but sometimes i just feel like i'm in the way of the other engines' said toby.
'well i don't mind fixing you here my friend and your not in my way' said victor.
just then there was a loud crash in the back.
'Kevin what on earth are you doing!' said victor.
'sorry boss it was the slip of my hook again!' said Kevin.
'just come over here and stay out of trouble will you' said victor.
'sure thing boss' said Kevin zooming up to them.
'what are talking about' said Kevin.
'toby is saying that he doesn't think he is useful anymore' said victor.
'don't say that toby i make mistakes sometimes but i don't mind' said Kevin.
'Kevin your always making mistakes' said victor.
'really?' said Kevin.
just then thomas puffed in.
'hello victor i need a new whistle mines broken again' said thomas.
'right away thomas my friend' said victor.
'i'll go and get you one' said Kevin.
'thanks Kevin' said thomas.
thomas then saw toby.
'fizzling fireboxes toby what are you doing here' said thomas.
'i had a bit of an accident' said toby.
thomas saw the dent on his side.
'oh man that's some dent you have there' said thomas.
'you can say that again thomas' said toby.
'what happened then' said thomas.
'Connor accidently hit me at the junction' said toby.
'oh my' said thomas.
'but it's just a dent' said toby.
'anyway toby what was matter with you at the station you didn't talk to me' said thomas.
'i was upset thomas' said toby.
'how come didn't you collect the inspector' said thomas.
'no thomas i didn't Gordon took him' said toby.
thomas was cross.
'why that Gordon i should of known Gordon was behind this' said thomas.
'did you know about this thomas' said toby.
'no it was just a guess but seriously Gordon is crossing the line now' said thomas.
'i have to agree with that one' said Kevin.
'that's enough chatter you two thomas your new whistle is fitted you can go back to work now' said victor.
thomas tested it.
'as good as new thanks victor well see you later toby' said thomas.
'goodbye thomas' said toby.
and thomas set off. toby watched thomas puff cheerfully away and sighed.
'i wish i was happy right now' said toby.
'don't worry toby my friend you will now about that dent' said victor.
that night at tidmouth sheds all the engines were glaring at Gordon, thomas and percy especially. they were cross with Gordon.
'what did i do to deserve this' said Gordon.
'i think you know Gordon' said thomas.
'toby was very upset today' said Edward.
'because you were being too big for your buffers' said henry.
'yeah nicking passengers that aren't yours' said james.
'making toby feel bad about himself' said Percy.
'toby is your friend Gordon and that's how you act' said Emily.
Gordon was cross.
'what ever are you talking about' said Gordon.
'you took the railway inspector with you don't deny it Gordon' said thomas.
'oh dear so that what this is about' said Gordon.
'how could you Gordon' said Percy.
'your disgusting Gordon' said james.
'and despicable if you ask me' said henry.
'you should be ashamed Gordon' said Edward.
'you betrayed your royalty to toby Gordon' said thomas.
'i didn't even know the inspector was getting on' said Gordon.
just then the fat controller arrived. he was very cross. and the engines knew who it was he was cross with.
'Gordon i am very disappointed in you today i heard that you took the inspector instead of toby and now you have upset my arrangements!' he said.
'but sir i was only...' said Gordon.
the fat controller cut him off.
'that's enough Gordon as punishment you will be taking goods train for a whole week and james can take the express' said the fat controller.
james spoke up.
'if i may sir i don't want to take the express' said james.
everyone was stunned.
'you don't want to pull the express james?!' said the fat controller.
'that's right sir i don't want toby to feel bad so i want Hank to take the express instead' said james.
'oh the indignity you can't let an American engine pull a British train' said Gordon.
'for your information Gordon Hank is a part of the railway' said henry.
'henry is quite right Gordon Hank is a member of my railway and if james wants the express given to him then that's his decision end of story' and with that the fat controller left.
Gordon was in disgrace. thomas puffed out of the shed.
'thomas where are you going' said Percy.
'i'm going to arlesdale end to sleep with toby tonight he's had a rough day' said thomas.
'well in that case i'm coming too thomas' said Percy.
'sure Percy you can come too' said thomas.
Gordon looked at the other engines.
'well looks like it's just us big engines then' said Gordon.
'don't even think about it Gordon i'm off to knapford sheds' said Emily.
and Emily puffed off.
'Emily?' said Gordon.
'i'm going too' said james.
and he puffed away.
'henry please!?' said Gordon.
'sorry Gordon but i'm with james on this one' said henry.
and he set off too.
'Edward you understand don't you' said Gordon.
'i'm sorry Gordon but the other engines are right what you did today was bad' said Edward.
'very well then i'm going away too' said Gordon.
and he snorted off. Edward sighed.
'looks like it's just me tonight then' said Edward.
meanwhile back at arlesdale end toby looked up at the stars. just then he heard a whistle then thomas puffed up alongside him.
'thomas what are you doing here' said toby.
'i'm going to stay with you tonight toby' said thomas.
just Percy puffed in.
'and don't forget me' said Percy.
'thanks you two that's very nice of you' said toby.
'that's what friends are for' said thomas.
'don't worry toby you still have us as friends' said Percy.
'thanks you two' said toby.
and the three engines looked up at the stars together.
