Yet another season 5 rewrite is here, as I promised before! This is one of my season 5 favorites, and I'm actually glad Toad got the lead role. He never gets lead roles. I mean, he did play an important role in "Toad Stands By", but Oliver (at least I think so) was main character.

ThomasAngryBirds' Remakes and Stories

Remake 9: Busy Going Backwards

Based on the same story

When Oliver ran away to Sodor to avoid being scrapped, be brought along with him his faithful autocoach Isabel, along with a GWR Standard 20-ton brakevan named Toad. Unlike most of the goods stock on the North Western Railway, Toad was more humble and down to earth, even addressing the engines as "Mister" or "Miss". Toad can also be imaginative and a little too optimistic at times.

But very recently, Toad had been feeling very sad. Whenever he was at the back of Douglas' goods trains, he could see other engines and coaches moving steadily forwards, and they were all looking confident and cheerful.

Oliver had just come back from the works after his encounter with the Southern Railway Bulleid pacific a few days back. He had suffered minimal damage to his buffers, and was now looking good as new once more.

When he arrived at Arlesburgh, the others were pleased to see him again, even Toad, although he still felt upset. One morning, several days after Oliver's return, Toad wanted to speak with him and Douglas.

"Ye look as though sumthin's eatin' yon wheels," said Douglas.

"There is, Mr. Douglas," said Toad, "you see, I'm always traveling backwards away from you, and it gets really boring to me. I do have forward thinking views, and I could lead a train, if you see where I'm coming from."

James had overheard them, and he snorted.

"You can't be leader without a train to follow you," he said to Toad, "besides, you would need a boiler or an engine to move! You're only a brakevan!"

Toad felt worse after hearing James' remark. The red engine didn't mean what he said, but James did have a point.

"Oh, don't bother with James, Toad," said Oliver, "he's just not used to running on branchlines and all, between you and me."

"Oliver's right, Toad," agreed Douglas, "and besides, yon's a useful brakevan. Ye are important to me trains, and ye help me brake so ye keep those ballast trooks in order."

"I know, Mr. Douglas, but it would be so exciting to go forwards for a change instead of always seeing things sliding away from me."

Not far from them, Rex was shunting Arlesdale ballast trucks onto the chute to load Douglas' trucks. The North Western ballast trucks overheard the conversation, and were cross with Toad.

"Who is he to start complaining?" asked one.

"He's lucky to be able to look after us!" agreed another.

"Why don't we teach him a lesson?" said a third, and they agreed upon it. They giggled to each other, but the engines took no notice.

Soon, Douglas set off to bring ballast intended for the Kirk Ronan branchline. James, Bear or Belle would usually take over at Tidmouth, but with James doing Duck's work and Bear and Belle busy with their work meant Douglas had to bring them himself.

"Ah weel," he said, "at least I get a chance to stretch me wheels."

As he puffed down the mainline, the trucks remained well behaved. However, they decided to carry out their plan when they reached Gordon's hill. As Douglas neared Wellsworth, just after crossing a bridge, he felt a bump in the tracks.

"That can't be good," said his driver, "we'll have to inform the stationmaster about this."

Douglas agreed with his driver; tracks not maintained properly could lead to disaster.

Douglas' crew brought the train to a stop at Wellsworth station, and the driver told the stationmaster at the bumpy track near the bridge.

"It's a good thing you told me about this," said the stationmaster, "since the breakdown train is having repairs, I'll phone the yards at Tidmouth to see if they can spare Rocky for a short while."

"It's good to see you, Douglas," said BoCo, who was resting on a siding.

"Same here," agreed Douglas, "although I canna say the same for Toad." He explained the situation.

"I think he should be careful on what he wishes for," sighed BoCo, "who knows? It could spell disaster."

"Agreed," said Douglas, and soon, he set off once more.

Of course, Rocky could be spared, and James was sent to take Rocky to help repair the tracks near Wellsworth Bridge. Belle's stopping train had to be directed onto the westbound track for Tidmouth at Crosby, and then she could be sent back onto the eastbound track for Barrow.

Soon, Douglas began to climb Gordon's hill.

"Trucks won't play tricks on me," he said to himself, "not after I dealt with that spiteful brakevan!"

But the trucks didn't hear Douglas; they were preparing to strike at the moment.

"Ready... steady... GO!" said the trucks, and they jerked at Douglas' tender coupling which snapped!

Douglas felt a jerk and came to a sudden stop.

"Darned those trucks!" he cried in shock.

"We're making your wish come true, Toad!" teased the trucks, "Follow the leader!"

Toad was shocked, and didn't know what to think. He couldn't ask his guard because he had just jumped clear!

Douglas' driver put the reverser at -75%, to chase after the trucks. This meant Douglas had to go tender first, much to his annoyance.

"Where's a bloody turntable when ye need one?" he grumbled.

"Faster! Faster! As fast as you want!" screamed the trucks.

For a few seconds, Toad found it all rather fun, but it didn't last. Up ahead, Trevor was nearing the level crossing with a cart of apples to take to Wellsworth. When he heard the clattering of the trucks laughing, he came to a stop just before the gates.

The signalman didn't have enough time to close the gates so Toad could pass through safely, as Toad smashed them to pieces.

"That was close," Trevor cried, "I'm glad I wasn't on the rails when he passed by!"

Toad could see danger up ahead; BoCo was on his track talking to the stationmaster, and Belle was coming to a stop at the westbound platform!

"Help! Help! SAVE ME!" Toad shrieked.

The signalman changed the points so Toad didn't smash into BoCo, and two yard workers switched the points so Toad wouldn't crash into Belle either.

BoCo was shocked when he saw Toad and the runaway trucks pass him, as was Belle when she thought she was going to crash, and applied her brakes.

"Yikes!" she shrieked.

But the crash never happened, and Toad made it out of Wellsworth station still in one piece.

"What was that?!" squeaked Belle.

"I have no idea!" said BoCo, then he remembered the bumpy track. "Oh no, this could be bad."

BoCo was right. Toad felt his wheels leave the bumpy rails, and he rolled straight into the river with a splash, as several ballast trucks piled up behind him, next to the bridge.

Stopped at last, thought Toad. He was up to his nose in water.

At last, Douglas steamed safely into Wellsworth station, and stopped next to Belle. The stationmaster quickly explained the situation at the bridge.

"Douglas and BoCo will help in clearing away the mess," he said, "Belle, carry on."

"Yes sir," said the three engines. James had just arrived with Rocky the crane and the Fat Controller, who spoke to Douglas.

"You're not to blame for the runaway," he said, "but you have to take Toad to the works for any damage he might have incurred. I'll deal with those trucks later..."

"Yes, sir," said Douglas. He felt embarrassed about the runaway.

James tried to see the light of the situation. "A river is a place for a toad, eh, Douglas?" He and BoCo chuckled, even Douglas found the incident somewhat amusing. Toad felt very silly.

The trucks were soon back on the tracks, along with what ballast the workmen could save, and so was Toad. While Rocky placed new rails down to replace the bumpy ones, the Fat Controller spoke crossly to the trucks.

"You have caused a terrible delay in my schedule," he said angrily, "not only have you delayed trains on the mainline, you also got yourselves into a mess! When BoCo delivers the ballast to the Kirk Ronan branchline, you will be in the goods shed for the next three weeks!"

The trucks gulped. The Fat Controller really was angry with them.

The rails were soon replaced, and James took Rocky back to Tidmouth. BoCo and Douglas then carried on to Kellsthrope Road, where Arthur brought the trucks to the sidings at Kirk Ronan. BoCo returned to Wellsworth while Douglas brought Toad to the Steamworks. Toad was unusually quiet throughout the run.

Douglas shunted Toad next to where Duck was having his repairs. Douglas and Toad then told Duck about the incident.

"I'm terribly sorry that I caused you embarrassment, Mr. Douglas," said Toad sadly.

"It's okay, Toad," said Douglas.

"No one's blaming you," added Duck, "it was those trucks that caused the whole ordeal."

"I see what you mean, Mr. Duck," sighed Toad.

"Hoo did going forward wurk for ye, Toad?" asked Douglas.

"Well, at first... it was fun," decided Toad, "but it did become rather scary without a guard or an engine to make me stop. I think I will be happy looking forward to the future; busy going backwards, so to speak."

Toad was back in service a couple of days later, now content with being at the rear of Douglas' trains. As for the trucks involved, I bet they won't cause an accident like in the near future, unless they want to get yelled at.

I don't think those trucks will be causing trouble at Gordon's hill for a while, right? That was the third part to my Little Western Engines saga, and next time we'll see the finale, "Bulgy Rides Again".