A BUSY DAY FOR TOBY

Based upon "Jitters and Japes" by Sharon Miller

There was a lot of work going on when it came to the construction of the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre, and sometimes, engines had to be pulled away from their regular duties. Thomas would often find himself helping out with bringing materials to the building site instead of working on his branch line, meaning Percy, Toby and sometimes Mavis would have to pick up the slack. It wasn't long before Mavis found herself working more often away from the quarry due to Daisy and Rosie needing repairs.

"I can't even tell you how many passengers we had to take today," Percy was saying to Toby one evening. "No sooner do we arrive at one end of the branch line, we depart with fresh passengers wanting to go to the other end! Poor Annie and Clarabel were rushed off of her wheels!"

"That will be a problem," Toby sighed. "Is Bertie available to help with extra passengers?"

"He does what he can," said Percy. "But then he's also got other duties to attend to as well. Things have been hectic since Daisy broke down."

Toby was deep in thought for a moment. He had handled Annie and Clarabel before. Sometimes, he took them with Henrietta, and the three coaches got along very well.

"I could take Henrietta with Annie and Clarabel," Toby suggested. "She can handle some of their passengers if need be."

"Well, I guess that could work," Percy considered. "It's not the first time you've taken the three coaches together. Just as long as the workmen get to the quarry on time too."

The two engines made the arrangements with their drivers and firemen, who agreed to this change.

Toby gently backed down onto the three coaches.

"Oh, hello, Toby," Annie greeted, a bit surprised. "Taking us all out at once?"

"Indeed I am," the tram engine smiled.

"Well, this is a pleasant surprise," said Clarabel. "Not often we're all part of the same train at the same time. Then again, I'm sure Thomas won't mind."

"Well, he can't exactly take you two out right now," Henrietta chuckled. "This will be a fun outing."

Henrietta was right. The quartet were having a wonderful day. The passengers were behaving very well, and the coaches were humming little songs as they went along the line. When the four of them got down to Dryaw, Toby looked a bit sad at the empty helicopter landing spot.

"It's not the same without Harold here…" he trailed. He remembered all those years ago when Percy first met the helicopter and had a race with him down to the harbor.

"I'm sure he's happy down where the rescue centre is," said Clarabel. "Maybe he'll come down here sometimes to get refueled or something."

"Or maybe when there's a patrol he has to do near the branch line," Annie added.

"Good points, girls," Henrietta put in. "It's not like Harold's decided to move off Sodor."

"There is that," said Toby, cheering up. "We'll still see him; he's just been relocated to another place."

The guard's whistle blew and Toby was off once more. He was making good time and had to meet Mavis at the quarry soon.

Down at Ffarquhar quarry, however, Mavis was very tired and nearly over her limits with the shunting.

"Hoo dear…" she panted. "So many trucks, so little time… At least I got Toby's delivery ready for when he gets here."

The black quarry diesel then heard the sound of a familiar bell.

"Oh, he's here." She tooted her horn in greeting, but when Toby came into the quarry, there were so many trucks, he couldn't see Mavis at all.

"Hello?" he called. "Mavis? Either my eyesight's failing because I'm getting old, or there's too many trucks for me to see you." He rang his bell again, hoping Mavis would hear him.

"I'm here!" she called, tooting again. This time, Toby saw some trucks moving into a siding.

"Oh, there you are," Toby sighed. "Rattle my cowcatchers! It's like a maze in here."

"You're not wrong there," remarked Annie.

"That is a lot of trucks," added Clarabel.

"If only Rosie didn't need repairs," Henrietta put in. "Bad timing to go to the Steamworks now."

"You can say that again, Henrietta," agreed Mavis. "Er, is it just me, or did I hear Annie and Clarabel talking as well?"

"No, we're here too," Annie called. "Toby brought us all together."

"Oh, goodness," gasped Mavis. "I guess it's not the first time this has happened. With Rosie and Daisy being out of action and Thomas away from the branch line, I mean." The quarry diesel then realized something - Toby would have to take three coaches and the trucks all at once. "Toby, are you sure you can handle the coaches and trucks by yourself?"

"I once took forty-eight vans of strawberries on my old tramway," said Toby. "This is nothing compared to that!"

Mavis looked over in admiration at Toby. "Wow… I didn't know you were that strong, Toby. But still, do be careful out there, alright? You three as well, Annie, Clarabel and Henrietta. And don't forget to fill up on water when you head the other way."

"I know my capabilities, Mavis," Toby replied, "but we'll be careful."

Unfortunately, as Toby had set off with his trucks, he had completely forgotten about his small water tank and Mavis' warning.

"Oh no!" gasped Toby while he was puffing along. "Curse my small water tank! Why didn't I fill up at the last station like Mavis said?"

"What do we do now?" asked Clarabel. "This is not good."

"Don't you worry, Toby," assured his driver. "I think I may have a plan when we get to the next station."

"Uh, Clarabel?" whispered Annie. "This isn't going where I think it's going, is it?"

"Oh, I hope not too," said Clarabel worryingly.

"What are you two talking about?" asked Henrietta curiously.

Toby and the coaches soon found out what the driver was planning when they came to a stop at the station. In his hands were a bucket and some rope. Toby was aghast when he realized what his driver was implying, and so were Annie, Clarabel and Henrietta.

"Driver, don't you remember what happened last time with Thomas?!" he gasped. Then he and the coaches noticed the driver and fireman were laughing amongst themselves.

"I'm only pulling your wheels, Toby," the driver said, wiping his eye. Toby just glared at his driver with an unimpressed expression.

"Crew members," muttered Henrietta. "They tell us not to do things, and then they play jokes themselves."

"Well, how are we supposed to get water now?" asked Toby. Henrietta, Annie and Clarabel looked blank for ideas themselves.

"Do you suppose we could make it to the next water tower?" asked Annie.

"Let's hope so," said Toby. "That was not a funny joke, you know," he added sternly to his crew. Sheepish at not just Toby himself but the coaches as well, the driver and fireman hopped back into the tram engine's cab.

Toby needn't have worried too much; just in time, they had made it to Elsbridge station where he was able to refill on water.

"That's better," sighed Toby with relief. "If Mavis ever finds out I forgot to take her advice, I'll never hear the end of it."

"Very ironic, wouldn't you say, Toby?" joked Henrietta, and Annie and Clarabel couldn't help but giggle as well. Toby however, was unamused.

Toby was relieved when he and the coaches finally pulled into Knapford station. But before he could go off to have a rest, the stationmaster came up to him and his crew with some news.

"Rosie will soon be back at work," he said. "I've spoken with the manager at the Steamworks, and she said that Rosie will be ready for tomorrow."

"Well, that's good to hear," said Toby. "I'm sure Percy and Mavis will be pleased to hear that."

"Ah, about that," said the stationmaster. "Percy's been called up to the Little Western to help with the ballast runs, but he's ran into a bit of trouble with some trucks."

"That's not much of a surprise, is it?" the fireman smirked.

"This is serious, Clive," said the driver sharply. "That could mean more work for us."

"Afraid so," said the stationmaster. "You'll have to take the mail train in Percy's place tonight."

"Are you sure you'll be alright with that, Toby?" asked Clarabel with worry.

The tram engine pondered this for a moment. He was already worn out from his long day, and his eyes were having trouble staying open.

"Running a tramway solo on my old line was one thing," Toby said quietly. "This is something else…"

Later that evening, Toby sleepily made his way to find the mail vans, and he gently backed down.

"Just got to try to keep awake," Toby muttered to himself, suppressing a yawn. "Must keep the trains running on time…"

"Ooh, this isn't good," said the driver, shaking his head at the fireman. "Being underworked on our old line was a bad thing, but being overworked here is taking a toll on poor Toby."

But then, there was another problem…

"Wait!" a workman called, running up to them. "These vans are meant to go to the Steamworks to be serviced!"

"This is just not our day, is it?" groaned the fireman. "What are we going to use to carry the mail instead?"

"I have an… idea…" Toby suppressed another yawn. "Why not have Annie, Clarabel and Henrietta… carry the mail?"

"Hmm…" the driver thought. "Not a bad idea, old boy."

The three coaches were surprised when they heard about Toby's idea.

"Well, I wouldn't say it's the first time I've done it," Henrietta considered. "Back in the busy days of our old line, some mail was put in me when we didn't have enough mail vans to go around."

"I guess we could give it a shot," said Clarabel. "The mail must get through, rain or shine."

The first passenger train for tomorrow wasn't due out for several hours, so Annie and Clarabel didn't need to worry at the moment. Toby took the coaches all across Sodor, delivering mail to where it was needed. But as the night went on and gradually gave away to daylight, Toby began to feel more exhausted.

"Must… keep… going…" Toby couldn't suppress a yawn that time. "Mail must… get through…"

"I hope someone comes to help us soon," Annie said worriedly to Clarabel and Henrietta. "Poor Toby can't keep this up by himself."

"I'm afraid you're right, Annie," Clarabel sighed.

"Oh, poor Toby," sighed Henrietta. The tram engine gave off another yawn as they arrived at their last station.

"We're here," Clarabel realized. "Thank goodness. Maybe now Toby can get a break."

Toby and the coaches wearily made their way back to Ffarquhar. When they arrived, there stood Mavis, Percy and Rosie, and with them was Sir Topham Hatt.

"Oh, Toby!" Mavis gasped with shock. "You don't look well at all."

"Too much… work to do…" Toby muttered sleepily.

"I think you deserve a break," Rosie said sympathetically. "The three of us will handle the work for a while."

"Indeed, Rosie," Sir Topham Hatt agreed. "Toby, I know how hard you work and I am proud of any engine willing to put in as much effort as possible. But everyone has their limits, and I'm sure Thomas can attest to that. So Toby, you deserve a rest."

"And don't worry about Henrietta," Percy put in. "I'll look after her, as well as Annie and Clarabel until Thomas returns."

"Tha… thank you, sir," Toby managed to speak through a yawn. "And thank you, Percy."

As the other three engines set off to work, Toby backed down into the sheds and quickly fell asleep. It felt really good to rest after working so hard.

Outside the sheds, Percy and Rosie were tackling their own trains, Rosie had a goods train and Percy had Henrietta, Annie and Clarabel.

"If Daisy doesn't come back soon, we may need extra coaches down here," Percy commented. "Maybe Dexter and his friends would be available."

"If we knew what happened to that poor coach," said Annie. "He hasn't been in service for a long time."

"Heaven forbid if he's been scrapped," shuddered Clarabel.

"Ooh, let's not go into that chilling topic," Henrietta whispered.

Percy and Rosie too shuddered at this notion, hoping Clarabel's theory was incorrect.

"Well, I saw Daisy at the Steamworks," said Rosie, hoping to deflect their fears. "She had to have repairs there because from what she said, the Dieselworks' equipment at Vicarstown was inadequate, saying that using broken tools to fix her would be 'bad for her swerves'," she added, imitating Daisy at the last part.

"When does Daisy not say that some things are bad for her swerves?" chuckled Percy. "Whatever she means by them, anyway."

"Never mind, Percy," Clarabel shrugged. "Well, it's good that Daisy will be back, regardless."

Indeed, it would be good that the workload would lighten up a bit soon...

THE END

Author's Comments

The mini-story arc continues with the rewrite of Jitters and Japes, and with 100% less Misty Island too! What it does have 100% more of, however, is Railway Series influence by in including bits of the story "Toby's Megatrain" as well as a reference to the annual story "The Strawberry Special", which was later adapted for the former story. Apart from references to the construction of the Search and Rescue Centre, there's not much else to comment on here, other than there's a set up to the next story in this set.

Upcoming rewrites:

- Being Percy - Daisy, Rosie

- Victor Says Yes - Victor

- Surprise, Surprise - Oliver, Toad and Captain

- Thomas' Crazy Day - Donald, Douglas and Paxton

- Stuck on You - Butch and Dennis