Toad, There and Back Again

Once again (although it was on a different day), Oliver the Great Western Engine was shunting in Knapford Station Yard, for he had to take a train of goods trucks to Arlesburgh Harbour. Also, Toad the brake van was, of course, waiting patiently as always for Oliver to finish his shunting. Today, however, something was wrong.

'Are we ready to go, Mr Oliver?' Toad asked as his engine stopped by him.

'No!' grunted Oliver. 'Not at all ready!'

Whatever it was was certainly frustrating him.

'There's a truck missing,' he explained, 'and we can't leave with an incomplete train.'

'You're quite right, sir,' sympathised Toad. 'Well, I can't see it from where I am, I'm afraid.'

'I suppose I'd better go and look for it…'

'You do that, Mr Oliver. And don't worry, I'm sure Sir Topham Hatt will understand — not that he needs to know,' he added quickly, not wanting to worry Oliver more, 'just if he is made aware of the current situation at some point.'

'Thank you, Toad,' smiled Oliver. Toad did have a way of cheering him up. 'Well, I won't be long! Hopefully…'

Without further ado, he steamed off in search of the missing truck.

And that was when it happened.

Oliver had barely left Toad's sight when the brake van felt a bump from behind!

'AH!' he yelped in surprise. 'Who's that? Please stop! Where are you taking me?!'

'On a nice trip to the fair… I'm shunting you on to the back of a goods train!' said an angry voice. 'Is that not where brake vans usually go?'

'Mr Diesel? Is that you?'

'Yes, obviously. Now enough chatter,' Diesel snapped, 'I'm not in the mood for a conversation. And the goods train on platform five has been waiting long enough for a brake van.'

Toad was coupled up to Diesel, who then started pulling him away.

'But — but — no!' said Toad. 'You can't take me!'

'Why not?' grumbled Diesel. 'Actually, don't answer that… I told you I don't want to talk!'

'But Mr Diesel, you must listen! What I'm trying to tell you, er, sir, is that I'm supposed to — well, this isn't to say I'm blaming you — but — well —'

'Oh, shut up, you sycophantic shoebox on wheels! Could you possibly be any more annoying? Just look at you, blabbering away… Pathetic!'

And Diesel made Toad bash hard into the last truck on the goods train in front of them, then reversed, switched tracks, came up alongside Toad, who now felt even more hurt, and blasted his horn loudly.

'Eek!' shrieked the Troublesome Trucks, who had been nodding off as they waited for a brake van. 'Not so loud, Diesel!'

Naturally, Diesel ignored this.

'What was that? Has Diesel finally bothered to get us a brake van?' came a voice from the front of the train. It was James'; he was the engine taking the train. 'Well, it's about time! Now we can finally get going.'

'Not yet, James,' said his driver. 'The guard still hasn't come… He should have been here by now, now that I think about it. I wonder what's keeping him?'

Toad took advantage of the extra time he had to speak to Diesel.

'Mr —' he began.

'Please just call me "Diesel"...' sighed Diesel.

'Diesel… I can't be on this train because I'm supposed to be going to Arlesburgh Harbour with Mr Oliver!'

Diesel was silent for a moment, then said, 'I saw "Mr Oliver" leaving the yard just now… Don't you think he might have ditched you to find a less annoying brake van?' with a smirk.

Now Toad sighed.

'As a matter of fact, Mr Diesel, he went to look for a goods truck that was missing. So, he'll probably be back soon, in which case I would need to be there for him, so could you please take me back to —?'

'Look, Kermit the Frog, or whatever your name is,' said Diesel with yet another sigh, 'the red one needs a brake van for his goods train and you're the only one available. I'm just doing my job, so just… get over it and do yours… or something.'

Just then, they all heard a whistle from an engine approaching from ahead: Rebecca. She was coming with goods of her own. As she was on Diesel's line, Diesel proceeded to reverse so as to let her pass.

'I'm sure Mr Oliver'll cope without you,' he said to Toad. 'After all, he's been through worse, hasn't he?'

And he left in a cloud of black smoke, which made Toad cough and splutter as Rebecca drew nearer.

'Hello, James! Hello, trucks!' she greeted with another, friendly whistle.

'Miss — Rebecca —' said Toad between coughs.

'Good morning, Toad!'

'Help — I —'

'Oh! And hello to you too, Diesel!' Toad heard her say. She had evidently not heard him. Rebecca and her train thundered past and away from Knapford. Toad's heart sank, but perhaps not all hope was lost…

'Hello? Excuse me! Mr James!' he called, but neither James nor his crew could hear him.

'Excuse me, Mr James!' mocked the trucks.

At the front of the train, meanwhile, everyone was still waiting for the guard to arrive.

'If we could leave without him, I would,' the driver sniffed, to the fireman's surprise.

'Don't let the Fat Controller hear you saying that!'

'At this point,' put in James, 'we should just pull a Thomas and leave the guard behind.'

While they all chuckled at this, they heard a horn in the distance. It was Bertie the Bus.

Bertie had been delayed. When he stopped outside the station, he could only show his passengers an apologetic look as they got off, grumbling about how late they were and how travelling by train was so much better. But one of the railway's trains wasn't doing much better — James', as you and I know — due, as a matter of fact, to Bertie's delay, for James' guard had been travelling to work on him. The guard leapt off the bus as soon as the sweet little old lady in front of him had disembarked ('Thank you, young man!' she said, before heading for MC Bunn) and hurried off to his van (Toad!). But he already had his whistle in his mouth and started blowing it loudly. He did this as a way of letting James and his crew know he had finally arrived, but it turned out to be a big mistake — the driver was as tired of waiting as any of them, and did not wait to see the guard get on. He assumed that the whistle was indicating that they could start.

'Away we go,' the driver said, and soon, James and his trucks were slowly starting to move forwards.

The red engine blew his own whistle and the trucks said, 'Hurry up, hurry up! We're already late, we're already late!' just to annoy him.

'Stop your chattering, we'll make up for lost time!' snapped James.

The guard was shocked by what he was seeing.

'No!' he cried and whistled more still, but James was making too much noise and his crew too intent on getting a move on for anyone to notice, except the Troublesome Trucks, who could plainly see both sides of the story but didn't feel the need to trouble the engine crew with the information.

Toad, of course, realised what was going on, but the truck's giggles drowned his cries for help.

Hasty Hannah the coach, Henrietta's sister, was sitting alone in Wellsworth Yard, which she found a boring way to pass the time. Suddenly, James rocketed past with his goods train. Hannah noticed the brake van at the back howling.

'He looks like he's having fun!' she said to herself.

Toad was not, in fact, having fun. Coupled to a train he wasn't supposed to be on, no guard riding with him, he could hardly believe what he was experiencing! He was now racing along the main line; he had scarcely ever gone so fast. And what was more, he had no idea where James was heading.

'Oh, what if he's going to the Mainland?!' Toad asked himself. 'I'll be lost forever if he is… Why did James' crew not wait to see the guard get on? If only he'd been able to reach me! Then I might've been able to explain everything and he might've helped me get back to the yard… The yard! Oh, what will Mr Oliver think when he returns to find that I've gone? What if he thinks I've… er… "ditched" him? Oh, that Diesel must have done this on purpose, I can't have been the only brake van available…'

Toad continued worrying aloud. The truck right in front of him just so happened to be able to hear every word.

'Psst! Guys!' he whispered to the trucks in front of him, and he explained Toad's predicament to them, and they passed the word along the train all the way to the very first truck, the one right behind James.

'Wouldn't it be awful if poor Toad had any more reason to be scared?' said the first (or rather, last) truck.

'Yes, it would!' chortled the others. So it was decided.

It wasn't much longer before they were approaching Gordon's Hill. As James started making the steep climb, the trucks started putting their plan into action.

'Hold back! Hold back!' they chanted, and as they did just that, they giggled and jiggled wildly, shaking the couplings.

'What are you all doing?' Toad said to the trucks. 'Please don't try and stir up trouble for Mr James! It's bad enough without us breaking away and becoming a runaway train!'

'We're not doing this for James!' said the truck in front of him, rattling around more than ever.

'Wh-what do you mean?'

Toad was about to get his answer. When they got to the top of the hill, the trucks stopped holding back and instead surged forwards.

'Steady on!' called James, annoyed by now. He whistled to the guard for help as they whooshed down the other side of the hill, and he and his driver took the silence to mean he had understood.

But things were going far from well for Toad — with one final biff, the coupling between him and the last Troublesome Truck snapped.

'No!'

'Hahahaaaa!'

Toad had been separated from the rest of the train, but he was still following it, rolling along on his own thanks to the momentum gained from the downward slope of Gordon's Hill.

'Help! Help!' he cried, but no one heard him (no one who could (or would) help him, anyway). The trucks were delighted!

'What are you lot so happy about?' asked James, believing himself to be in complete control of his train. He sniffed in disapproval when he was answered merely by more raucous giggling.

Then, to Toad's surprise, they were diverted off the main line and onto a branch. Toad had never been on this line before. However, the hint of curiosity that arose in him was short-lived, for he had a more important thing to worry about: now that they were on level ground, James and the trucks were starting to drift further and further away from him, Toad himself was slowing down… slower and slower, as James raced through a station… and then, Toad stopped.

'Bye-bye!' the trucks cried.

'Silly things,' said James, thinking they were talking to people standing on the station platforms. But Toad had stopped right by one of these, and there were no people there. He was all alone.

'What am I to do?' he moaned.

He looked around, even if he was sure doing so was pointless, that no one was there to talk to him and help him… Then he noticed something.

There were rails on the other side of the platform, but these rails were of a narrower gauge and, most strangely, there was what appeared to Toad to be a third rail in between the two "regular" ones.

'The narrow gauge engines, like Skarloey and Rheneas, don't have rails like these,' he said to himself, 'and this certainly isn't part of the miniature railway…'

His eyes followed this line as it went off into the distance, and just as he spotted it approaching the station, a little purple engine blew its whistle. It was travelling backwards and pulling a coach. Potential help was coming!

'Hello,' said the engine, 'what's this? A standard gauge brake van! Taking a rest before hurrying along to catch up with the rest of the train, are you?' He chuckled at his own joke.

'Oh, nothing like that, sir! My name is Toad,' said Toad, 'I'm a brake van.'

'Yes, I figured as much. But how did you get here, Toad?'

'Well — it's rather a long story... It's mostly because of the trucks, actually, you must know what they're like…'

'We don't take trucks much here, actually.'

'You don't? Oh… Please do excuse me, it's just that I've never actually heard about this — well — it's another railway, isn't it?'

'Never heard of the Culdee Fell Railway, eh? Well, we mountain engines — my name's Patrick, by the way — take passengers up to the summit of Culdee Fell and back.'

'How fascinating,' said Toad, and he meant it.

'It is, isn't it?' smiled Patrick, amused by his audience. 'This is Kirk Machan Station, where our two railways meet. So —'

Suddenly, another whistle sounded. It was another one of the mountain engines.

'Is that you, Patrick? Back up, if you please, I need to get to the platform!'

'Sorry, Culdee!' Patrick blew his own whistle again and began to reverse. 'You can explain to old Culdee,' he told Toad. 'He'll be nice to you — if your story's good enough,' he finished with a wink.

'Explain? Story? What's —? Ah…' said the engine called Culdee. 'So… rogue brake van, are you?'

'That's what I thought at first,' called Patrick, 'but apparently he's been on the receiving end of one of those Troublesome Trucks' tricks.'

'Ah,' said Culdee again. 'Well, we don't often get goods from your railway, but standard gauge engines have told me quite a bit about your trucks!'

'They can be quite a handful, Mr Culdee, yes,' said Toad.

'Anyway… how can we help you, Mr Brake Van?'

'Please, call me Toad, sir. And… help? You mean… well, would you?'

'But of course! Now, what is your story?'

Toad recounted it all to Culdee (Patrick caught most of it after returning from leaving his coach in the shed): being taken from the yard by Diesel, coupled to the back of James' train and the coupling snapping thanks to the Troublesome Trucks.

'Well…' said Patrick when he had finished.

'Well!' said Culdee. 'It seems like you've had quite an adventure, Toad, and it's still so early in the day!'

'I suppose you could say that, Mr Culdee. But please… Mr Oliver must be wondering where I've got to, Mr Diesel isn't likely to tell him and I don't expect Mr James will be passing by again anytime soon… Have you any idea how I could get back to Knapford?'

'How indeed… What do you think, Patrick?'

'Me?' said Patrick, taken aback at being asked for his opinion by Culdee. 'Well, I don't know, Culdee… Oh, we'd best get him out of the way soon, there's probably other standard gauge engines coming… They'll all be busy with passengers, so they can't help. But… erm… what about the Waste Dump?'

'The Waste Dump?' repeated Toad.

'Yes, it's not far from here,' said Patrick, 'the engines there go about the railway collecting trucks of rubbish. Perhaps one's going to Knapford soon and will need a brake van. They could take Toad.'

'That's an excellent idea, Patrick!' said Culdee. Patrick beamed and Toad agreed with Culdee. It seemed as if he knew Patrick would come up with something clever. 'I'll explain everything to the stationmaster,' he continued, 'and ask him if he could telephone the Waste Dump manager.'

Everything went according to plan. The Waste Dump manager promised to send an engine by to pick up the stray brake van and soon enough Whiff arrived with some empty trucks he had to take to Knapford Station Yard, the very place Toad had to go. Toad was coupled up and with a toot of his whistle, Whiff started on.

'Thank you all for your kindness!' said Toad politely to the mountain engines as he pulled away from Kirk Machan Station.

'There's no need to thank us!' called Culdee kindly. 'I do hope we can see each other again one day.'

'So do I! Preferably when I'm not in any sort of pickle…'

Culdee and Patrick blew happy whistles of farewell, as did several other mountain engines who had just come. They didn't really know what was going on, but when Toad was out of sight, Culdee and Patrick settled down to tell them of the interesting visitor.

Back at Knapford Station Yard, Oliver and his crew had decided to take a break from looking for the missing truck. Thomas was also taking a short rest before going to pick up his passengers, and he and Oliver were chatting together.

'…so at that point,' Thomas was saying as he told Oliver a story, 'I almost lost all hope of ever seeing them again.'

'Wait, so Caitlin went over the Vicarstown Bridge, did she?' asked Oliver.

'Yes, she did. But guess what happened next? The bridge came back down, and I saw Hiro coming over to the Sodor side, and it took me a bit to notice, but he had Annie and Clarabel with him!'

'No way!'

'Well, it did happen! Although I could barely believe it myself.'

'I'm not sure I do…' Oliver smirked. 'That sounds like some story you'd hear on a programme on the telly, like ones my driver tells me he watches.'

'I guess I can see why you'd think that… Your life's just not as interesting as mine, Oliver, so my story probably doesn't sound very believable.'

'Well, you're right about one thing…'

'So!' said Annie from behind Thomas. 'You call almost losing us interesting, do you, Thomas?'

'Weren't you two ignoring my little story?'

'I, for one, did not have much choice,' Clarabel commented. 'You can't hear much from the back of the shed. Aren't you supposed to be taking us out soon, Thomas?'

'Yeah, you're right, Clarabel… We'd better get going,' Thomas said to Oliver.

'I'll see you later, then, Thomas. I'd best get a move on looking for that truck myself.'

'Are you sure you don't want any help?'

'No, you've got your own work… I just — I suppose it is getting a bit boring, this, but… You know,' he continued with a grin, 'if I didn't know for sure they were at the Clay Pits where they belong, I'd wager Bill and Ben were behind this!'

'Oh yes!' laughed Thomas. 'Those two can be a right pain in the bunker. Maybe I'll ask Edward what they're up to if I see him… You know — out of pure curiosity.' And he winked.

'Oi!' said an angry voice suddenly — Diesel had just rolled up to them. 'What do you two think you're doing? Stop gossiping and get on with your work!'

Oliver gave him a dirty look but it was Thomas who spoke up.

'Gossiping? Oliver and I are engaged in civilised conversation, Diesel. We aren't gossiping. What do you think we are — coaches?'

'Thomas!' Annie and Clarabel said in shock. Nevertheless, they started giggling furiously immediately after, and Oliver laughed with Thomas too. Diesel, on the other hand…

'I — ugh!' he spluttered. 'G-get out of my way, Oliver!'

'What's grinding his gears?' Thomas wondered aloud, frowning.

'I'm not even in his way,' added Oliver, almost amused.

Just then, they heard a train approaching and saw Whiff.

'He's probably come to collect rubbish,' said Thomas.

'I'm glad that's not me!' said Oliver.

Whiff pulled into the yard and just as he stopped, Stafford the electric shunting engine trundled over to him.

''Ello, Whiff!'

'Good morning, Stafford. I've just come with these empty trucks.'

'Oh, that's excellent! We've been needing empties to take to Arlesburgh Junction. Daisy was actually supposed to take some earlier but… Well, I'm sure it just slipped her mind...'

'I see. Well, I could take them there, I've come this far.'

'No, that's alright, Whiff, leave it to me.'

'Very well! In that case, I'll be off back to the Waste Dump. Goodbye!'

'Ta-ra, Whiff.'

From the back of the train, Toad heard Whiff being uncoupled, then whistling as he left. At the same time, he saw Oliver.

'Mr Oliver!'

'Yes, Toad, I've almost found it,' said Oliver in a bored voice. 'Haven't looked over there yet…'

'Pardon? Er — no, sir, I didn't mean —'

Then, Toad heard Stafford being coupled to the train. And yet, he, Toad, had not been uncoupled.

The Kirk Ronan stationmaster had told the Waste Dump manager that a stray brake van needed to be taken to Knapford. Whiff hadn't known that this had meant Toad — he'd thought it was just some old van, so he hadn't bothered mentioning anything to Stafford.

Stafford began to move. Soon enough, Toad felt himself inching forwards too.

'Er — Mr Oliver?'

'Just a minute, Toad,' said Oliver, not looking away from what he was doing.

Then Diesel returned.

'Oi, Oliver!' he yelled. D'you want a formal invitation asking you to move your goods train out of the way or something?'

'No,' said Oliver, 'but a "please" would be nice.'

'I'm not the only one bothered by it, you know, it's blocking everyone's way!'

'Well, they'll have to wait too. In case you hadn't noticed, that train's not ready to go yet; there's a truck missing and — and — of course! Why didn't I think of it before?!'

'What?' snapped Diesel.

'Where is my truck, Diesel?' Oliver demanded. 'I know you're the one who's hidden it from me!'

'What? Me?! Weren't you listening to me just now? I'm trying to get on with my work in peace, why would I prevent you from doing the same?'

'Oh, please, don't make me waste my time trying to decipher the logic — or lack thereof — of a troublemaker…'

'M-Mr Oliver, please!' wailed Toad.

But Oliver and Diesel bickered on... Toad was too far away to be heard now.

Stafford had come to Duck's branch line. Toad's spirits were raised, however little — this was a line he was familiar with, his home. Still, it was not where he needed to be at the moment.

He had already tried calling out to Stafford, but this had proved fruitless. Now he could only wait for them to reach their destination, which didn't take much longer — Stafford arrived with his trucks at Arlesburgh Junction, and stopped under the ballast chute. Toad looked around for the miniature engines, for Mike, Rex or Bert, but they were not there. However, he could hear Stafford talking to someone.

'...she was supposed to bring some, yes…'

'That Daisy… I don't know, Stafford… She usually gets work done well, but it seems that only happens when it's work she likes. You don't get engines like that on the Great Western Railway! If you're picky, you get straightened out straight away.'

It's Mr Duck! thought Toad.

'Believe me,' Stafford said to Duck, 'I understand you. Now, I'm not one to get frustrated easily but… ooh, that Daisy… She does get on my rivets…'

'Mm-hm,' said Duck. 'Anyway, thanks for bringing the empty trucks, Stafford. You can get back to Knapford, or wherever you're supposed to be. And I've got to get myself turned around,' he added to himself.

Toad watched as Duck passed by him quickly… then he saw him returning, now facing the other way. Stafford had already left for Knapford.

'Mr Duck!' cried Toad.

'Hello there, Toad!' said Duck, stopping. 'I didn't expect to see you here, I thought you'd be with Oliver.'

'Yes, well, the thing is —'

'Anyway, no time to chat! We've got to get to Arlesburgh Harbour.'

'Arlesburgh Harbour?'

'Yes, that's where I'm to deliver the ballast.'

'But sir, I'm — oh, never mind…'

Duck went to the front of the train to get coupled up. Before long, Rex brought ballast to be loaded into the trucks via the chute. Toad tried talking to the workmen who came to open the hatches under Rex's ballast hoppers but…

'E-excuse me, sirs!'

'What? What d'you want? Can't you see we're busy? We don't have time for a chat! Do brake vans have no respect these days? No one appreciates the effort we put into all that we do and —'

They weren't exactly helpful.

Soon Duck was ready to go, so he set off, humming a tune cheerily. Toad, on the other hand, felt miserable and helpless and had all but given up trying to get someone's attention.

Daisy was passing by in the opposite direction carrying passengers and blew a "toot-toot" of her horn in greeting.

'Morning, Duck!'

'So there you are, Daisy! I heard you abandoned your work earlier! Anything to say about that?'

'Hello, Toad!' said Daisy, completely ignoring Duck.

'Hello, Miss Daisy...' said Toad in a bored voice.

When they arrived at Arlesburgh Harbour, Donald was there.

'Hello, Duck,' he said. 'You took yer time.'

'I did?!' Duck gasped, braking suddenly.

'Ow!' groaned Toad as he bumped into the truck in front of him (or rather behind him, as he was facing backwards).

'Woah, woah, steady!' chuckled Donald. 'I was only teasing, Duck.'

'You were? Oh — well — kindly don't, then!' said Duck huffily. 'I'm rather busy today, Donald.'

'Whatever you say, boss…'

Duck left his trucks in a siding, not forgetting to take Toad with him as he left. The brake van thought now would be a good time to speak up.

'Erm… excuse me, Mr Duck?' he said, 'I know you're very busy right now but there's something very important that I need to tell you… Please?' No reply. 'Mr Duck? Hello?'

'Hm? What was that, Toad?' said Duck as they stopped. 'Sorry, I've just got a lot on my mind right now. I'll leave you here on this siding and maybe we can talk later, alright? I've got to shunt two goods trains for the twins.'

'B-b-b-b-but…'

Duck spent some time shunting vans of flour for Donald and fuel tankers and trucks of building supplies for Douglas. He was just going to fetch a brake van when Ryan arrived.

'Hello, Duck! I've brought fruit vans for Donald,' he said.

'You have?' spluttered Duck. 'But — but I thought there wasn't any more than this!'

'I know, and I'm sorry, but I got held up by a bull on the line. It was actually quite funny… He wouldn't even move when I whistled at him!'

'But Ryan! This means I'll have to rearrange everything…'

'Hm? Oh no you won't, Duck. These are for Knapford. Why don't you just put them at the back of Donald's train?'

'Oh. Alright, then.'

'OK, well, I've got to go now. Bye!'

Ryan was uncoupled from the vans and he puffed away.

'Goodbye, Ryan… Oh dear,' Duck said to himself, 'this had better not cause me any delays!'

'I wouldn't worry too much, Mr Duck,' said Toad from his siding. 'It won't take too long to add those to Mr Donald's train.'

'Who said that? Oh, Toad! I'm sorry, I forgot you were there… Anyway, er, thank you… Well, nothing to do but get on with the job…'

'I do beg your pardon, Mr Duck, but… well… I can't help but notice that you seem rather stressed.'

'Stressed? Me? Not at all!' But Duck did not look certain. 'Well,' he continued, 'perhaps a little. But there's nothing wrong with a little stress, it's healthy, even, you know… I think…'

'You needn't say if you'd rather not, sir, but what's causing you to feel this way?'

'If you must know, Toad, it's just… my accident from a few days ago. I feel as if I've let Sir Topham Hatt down, so I've only been trying to make up for it.'

'Your accident? You mean when you got stuck in the mud? But that was quite a while ago, wasn't it? Besides, I don't believe Sir Topham Hatt was particularly cross with you, and it could have happened to any engine.'

'I suppose you might be right, Toad, but… I was never to blame for any of my accidents, until that one, I don't think…'

'Oh, Mr Duck, everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Even me!'

'But you've never had an accident, have you?'

'Of course I have! Once, I was wishing to go forwards for a change and because of that, the Troublesome Trucks broke away from Mr Oliver to teach me to be grateful or something like that, and I crashed into a pond!'

'Oh yes… I remember now.'

'And even today I'm not having the best day; I should be at Knapford with Mr Oliver but Mr Diesel took me away and the Troublesome Trucks made me break away and I was rolling all on my own and it was quite scary; anyway, then I ended up here, which might not have happened if I… tried to speak up a bit more.'

Duck sighed.

'Is that what you've been trying to tell me about?'

'It is, sir.'

'Well, I'm sorry, Toad… I was so worried about work when I didn't even need to be that I forgot to listen to you — my friend.'

'That's quite alright, Mr Duck,' said Toad, blushing.

'But don't worry! You've helped me by cheering me up, so now I'll help you. You need to be at Knapford, did you say? In that case, you can go there with Mr Donald — I mean, Donald.'

Just as Donald and Douglas arrived to collect their goods, Duck found another brake van for one train and added Toad and the fruit vans to the back of the other. The twins reversed so as to be coupled up to their respective trains and once they were, they both blew their whistles as they departed.

'See you later, Toad!' smiled Duck.

'Yes — hopefully!' Toad grinned in return. 'And thank you, Mr Duck!'

'No, Toad. Thank you.'

Toad had been past the beaches and stations of the Little Western hundreds of times but he was in such a good mood now, as he was finally heading back to Knapford, that the views seemed to him particularly beautiful. He even started singing a little tune as they went along. He was at the very back, so Douglas was presumably going in front of Donald, though Toad didn't know where he was going.

Before Toad knew it, they had arrived at Knapford. Just before they reached the station, the twins had to part ways and they whistled to each other as they did so. Toad and his train headed to the shunting yard. And then they stopped.

'Hooray!' cried Toad.

'What was that, Toad?' came a familiar voice. 'What's got you so excited? Have you seen the missing truck?'

Toad beamed when he saw Oliver, although Oliver couldn't yet see him as he was facing away from him, looking inside a shed.

'Oh — no, it's not that, Mr Oliver. But you'll never guess —'

'Excuse me, coming through!' came another voice.

'Oh, hello, Mr Donald,' said Toad as the black tender engine passed by him.

'I'm Douglas, Toad,' chuckled Douglas, not looking away from being coupled up to some other trucks.

Toad just smiled. Donald was clearly just teasing. Or was he?

There were some more trucks that needed to be added to the train that Toad was a part of… But hadn't Duck said the train was supposed to just be brought to Knapford? Then, Toad saw the nameplate of the engine who had brought him: Douglas. And his number was ten!

Don't worry, Toad thought, there's no need to worry… I think I know what's going on: Mr Duck just got the twins mixed up, and Mr Douglas really is the one who brought me and Mr Donald is going… somewhere else… Oh, well, that's a bit confusing…

Toad hadn't taken into account the extra trucks Douglas had just picked up. They were added to his train… and then he set off again.

'Oh, dear…' said Toad. 'Not again… This can't be happening again… Mr Oliver!'

'Not now, Toad!' came the reply.

Douglas was almost out of the yard. Then Toad saw Donald, who had stopped at the station.

'That was the train I was meant to be on… Oh Mr Oliver, please!'

'Toad, I'm still busy! And…' Oliver hesitated. 'I've been meaning to tell you… I mean, I didn't want to hurt your feelings or anything, of course… But don't you think it might be time to drop this "Mister Oliver" business? I mean, it's getting a bit… you know… Well, don't get me wrong either, we've known each other so long and — and that's just it, you know, I mean to say…'

But Toad was already too far away to hear any of what Oliver was saying.

Toad thought it best to remain calm. This had happened twice already today… It couldn't get any worse, could it? Perhaps Douglas was heading for the Peel Godred branch line too… Toad smiled slightly at the thought of how Patrick would react if he turned up at Kirk Machan again. But Douglas continued along the main line after ascending and descending Gordon's Hill. And when they passed through Crovan's Gate Station, Toad began to feel uneasy again. After some more time, the trees on either side of the tracks started becoming scarcer, and buildings started appearing instead. Then Toad saw that they were on the bridge before Vicarstown Station. Instead of heading to the goods yard, they raced right through the station without stopping. Toad squealed.

An engine was approaching — an orange one.

'Miss Nia!' wailed Toad.

'Mr Toad!' answered Nia cheerfully in greeting. Toad hadn't been able to communicate his problem to her.

Douglas continued on and crossed over the bridge to the Mainland. A few more miles… and he slowed to a halt at a station. The destination was an all too familiar one for Toad: Barrow-in-Furness, where Douglas had rescued him and Oliver from scrap… and where they had almost been caught.

Toad looked all around him as he sat there by a station platform for some time. There was no one there, no one who would spare some time for the distressed-looking brake van, at least. Then, Toad saw something that made him feel worse than ever: Douglas had turned around and was now heading back to Sodor.

'Mr Douglas!' Toad cried desperately. 'It's me, Toad! I… I want help! I need help… please… I don't want to stay here… I belong on Sodor…'

But at that moment, Toad was lost and alone, and he felt it. No one knew he was there.

Suddenly, he noticed a diesel shunter approaching him. They were coupled up and then the shunter started hauling the goods train away.

'Excuse me, said Toad, slightly shakily, 'where are we going?'

The shunter ignored him.

'Er — sorry but, did you hear me?' asked Toad slowly, trying to be as polite as possible.

The shunter didn't ignore him this time, although its response was just a cold stare. Toad was reminded of Diesel himself, and realised he and this diesel looked very much alike, except this one was a dark blue instead of black. 'Mr, er, Mr Shunter, I'm trying to talk to you,' Toad insisted. 'Please listen… I'm not supposed to be here; I'm supposed to be on the Island of Sodor —'

'This train came from Sodor.' The shunter spoke at last, and it was a statement, not a question.

'I know, sir, but… Well, it's quite complicated actually. You see —'

'It's complicated… I see.'

'Well, it is, so could you please just listen to me explain it all?'

'Look, I don't know if you're winding me up on purpose but in case you haven't noticed, I. Don't. Care.'

For a few seconds there was silence. The shunter seemed to think he had ended the conversation but this was not true.

'You diesels are all the same, aren't you?' Toad snapped suddenly.

'Eh?' said the shunter.

'Yes, I've only just realised! You only care about yourselves, you wouldn't help anyone in need if it meant you would be mildly inconvenienced! Your attitude makes me sick… er, sir.'

There was silence… then the shunter laughed.

'I make you sick?'

'Well — I'm — I'm sorry, I went too —'

'You're weird, you know that? You want to go back to Sodor… and for what? I've heard about that place, completely old-fashioned, nothing but steamers on their railways. My friend and I were watching when the engine that brought you here arrived, hardly ever seen anything like it in these parts!'

'Well — well, that's a shame, I suppose people in these parts have never seen a proper railway,' said Toad, bravely and foolishly.

'Well… is that right?'

'I — I didn't —'

'I'm done with you, you worthless van. You can stay here and shut your gob, or when the engine that's going to take these goods on to London arrives, he'll accidentally leave without a brake van…'

They had arrived in a goods yard and the diesel shunter was uncoupled from Toad, then left without another word, leaving Toad all on his own again, feeling worse than ever. He knew he had gone too far when speaking with the shunter and was sure he wouldn't be quick to forgive him.

'I've been bottling things up for too long… but that was still very foolish of me,' Toad said glumly.

'Do you think so? I thought that was incredible, to be honest.'

Toad gasped.

'W-what?'

'Oh, yeah. I've never seen the Shunter so annoyed like that; whenever I try messing with him he just ignores me.'

'Who said that?'

'Over here, if you would direct your vision to your left… next to the vans, that's right. Hello.'

It was a steam engine, a saddle tank. Toad's first thought was that he looked like a bigger version of Bill and Ben — well, it was more like his second or third thought, because first he was somewhat perturbed by the fact that the engine looked worn out and rusty; he certainly hadn't moved in quite a long time. He was just sitting in the yard.

'You're…' said Toad.

'Yeah,' the saddle tank said. 'I was listening as you were coming. Anyway, so, I… heard you two talking about the Island of Sodor.'

'Yes, replied Toad, 'that's where I'm from. Well, not really from but… I've lived there for years now. Have you ever been there?'

'Once… I actually had a friend from there but I haven't heard from him in a long time.'

'Oh… I see…'

'Yeah. But why are you still here if you're meant to be on Sodor?'

'Well, it's a very long story actually. Very. Let's just say that… I was accidentally put at the back of a goods train, the guard got left behind and no one on Sodor actually knows I'm here.'

'Really? That's not that long.'

'That's because that wasn't even a quarter of the story,' said Toad with a humourless smile.

'Oh. But how are you gonna get back, then?'

'That's just it, I've no idea… I suppose I'll just have to wait and see what can be done.'

They sat there for a while without speaking, the only sound that could be heard being the humming of the wind.

'So,' said the saddle tank, breaking the silence, 'what's Sodor like nowadays? Has it changed much?'

'Oh — well, I don't think it can have changed that much since you were there… There have been lots of new engines, of course, and a few years ago Mr Oliver and I helped with building a new branch line… but other than that, Sodor doesn't seem to change much, although I'd say that's a good thing, just in my opinion.'

'Yeah…'

Toad and the saddle tank smiled at each other, then looked away and said nothing more for a while.

Douglas crossed back over to Sodor and travelled along the main line "light engine". He, of course, had no idea what — or whom — he'd left behind on the Mainland.

Although he was meant to continue on to Tidmouth, he couldn't help stopping at Knapford Station upon seeing something odd: his brother was standing by a platform in front of Duck and his coaches. Duck looked rather intimidated, and not without reason, for Donald seemed to have been shouting. They stopped talking, however, when they saw that Douglas had arrived.

'What's up, Donnie?'

'Ooh, I'll tell you what's up, Douglas! Do you know what this bird-brain has done?' asked Donald.

'No, that's why I'm asking,' said Douglas simply. 'You neednae get all angry with me.'

'Well, anyway,' continued Donald, 'it turns out that Toad was with Duck at Arlesburgh Harbour earlier. And what did Duck do? Put Oliver's brake van at the back of your train bound for the Mainland!'

'What?! Are you serious?'

'It was a mistake, alright?' Duck said to Donald. 'It's a bit hard to tell you two apart, in case you hadn't noticed already. I meant Toad to go with you so he could meet up with Oliver here in Knapford.'

'We've got nameplates and different numbers, what else do you need? Big neon signs?' said Donald sarcastically.

'But… I left my train at Barrow!' Douglas told them. 'And I don't know where the trucks are going now!'

'That's what I thought would happen,' said Duck. 'I tried telling you, Donald, that we should think of a solution to the problem, but your shouting's wasted time!'

'Never mind that now, what's done is done,' said Douglas as Donald opened his mouth to retort again. 'We have to focus on what we're going to do aboot getting poor Toad back.'

'Well, what is there that we can do?' asked Donald We can't just go to the Mainland.'

'Why not?' asked Duck defiantly.

'I don't know, because that's how a railway works? I thought you were supposed to be the rational one, Duck!'

'Do you think Oliver knows already?' said Douglas all of a sudden.

'Well… obviously he does.'

'Are you sure, though? Isn't he in the yard over there? Can you see him, Duck?'

'Yes, I… Yes, he's there,' said Duck, squinting. 'He's shunting.'

'In that case, perhaps he hasnae even noticed Toad's missing, if he's carrying on with his work as usual… We should talk to him aboot it.'

But none of them knew exactly how they were going to bring the matter up.

Toad had had no luck in finding help. As he and his new friend continued doing nothing, the diesel shunter returned. He wasn't alone: a bigger diesel engine was with him.

'There's that brake van I was telling you about, 7499,' said the shunter. 'He came with the steam engine from the Island of Sodor.'

'And speaking of steam engines,' added 7499, the other diesel, 'it looks like he's made friends with old Rusty!'

The saddle tank looked at his buffers awkwardly, frowning.

'Erm… is Rusty really your name?' asked Toad.

'No.'

'Oh. I was just wondering, because I know an engine called Rusty... back on Sodor. Anyway, er, don't listen to those diese — erm, those engines,' he continued hastily. 'I'm sure you'd be Really Useful if you were given the chance.'

Before anyone could say anything more, the yard manager strolled up alongside Toad.

'Oi, you two!' he called to the diesel engines.

'Yes, sir?' they crooned politely, coming over to him.

'These last few trucks shouldn't be here,' he informed them, looking at his clipboard. 'I've just spoken with someone from Arlesburgh Harbour on the Island of Sodor where these goods came from, and apparently they were put on this train by accident. These vans contain fruit and were never meant to come over to the Mainland, they're for… Knapford Station.'

Toad couldn't believe this!

'I… suppose someone'll have to take them there,' said the saddle tank.

'Certainly not by you,' the diesel shunter sneered.

'Don't start,' said the yard manager to the engines threateningly. 'But yes, they'll have to be taken there straight away. You — 7499 — you'll have to do it.'

'Me?' the engine said in horror. 'Me, take a few measly fruit vans?'

'Yes, you,' said the manager bluntly. 'And you, shunter, go find a brake van.'

'But — but — but —' said Toad and the saddle tank together.

'But what?'

'This brake van's perfectly capable, sir,' said the saddle tank.

'I imagine so, but the rest of the train's still got to get to London.'

'You said it yourself, sir, the fruit was supposed to be at Knapford Station ages ago. Wouldn't want it all to spoil.'

'Hm… you've got a point. Very well! Shunter, give these vans to your friend and when you can, find another brake van.'

'Yes, sir…' the diesels groaned.

Toad had to be placed at the opposite end of the train. When he had been, he addressed the saddle tank.

'Thank you ever so much. It's been a pleasure to meet you.'

'Well, you too,' the engine replied, 'but what are you thanking me for?'

'Well, it's thanks to you that I'm on my way home now.'

'Not really, I didn't do much. You're not even there yet.'

'But you spoke up in my defence. That was very kind of you.'

'If you say so, mate. Glad to have been of some help…'

'Ooh — and maybe, you could come and visit Sodor again one day! I'd love for you to meet my friends there… Mr Oliver, Mr Douglas…'

'I —'

'No,' said a sudden voice — 7499 had come to be coupled up to the trucks, 'I think Rusty's quite happy where he is for now.'

The saddle tank looked bothered again but 7499 had already sounded his horn and was starting to leave, so Toad had little time to say anything more.

'Goodbye now! Oh — and my name's Toad; how could I have forgotten to mention that?'

'Toad, eh?' the saddle tank smiled. 'I'm Pug. See you around, mate.'

'Take care, Mr Pug!'

'Yeah… I'll try.'

The journey to Knapford took a while, yet Toad hardly paid attention to what was going on as 7499 took him from Barrow to one side of Sodor to the other. They came to a halt at Knapford Station, and almost immediately after they stopped, Toad heard 7499 talking to someone; he was close enough to hear only the big diesel's voice.

'I've brought some trucks. What does it look like I'm doing?' he said in a rude tone. 'Well, that's not really my problem… Perhaps you're just not important enough to have been informed I was coming… Now, where can a diesel be refuelled here in "Napfore"? I have other places to be and if being interrogated by shunters upon arrival at my destination was in the job description, I clearly missed that part.'

He was uncoupled and then slithered away.

Duck, Donald and Douglas stood just outside Knapford Station Yard. They were watching Oliver.

'How are we going to tell him Toad's gone missing?' said Douglas.

'By doing it,' said Donald simply.

'I don't know how I'll bear admitting that…' Duck began, 'that… THAT IT'S ALL MY FAULT!'

'Losh sakes, man, get a grip on yerself!'

'Aye,' agreed Douglas. 'Well, I agree, pretending Donald said that in a nicer way. Don't put so much pressure on yerself, Duck, we're all to blame.'

'Not me!' said Donald.

'All of us except Donald.'

'All two of you?'

'That's what I said.'

'That doesnae make any grammatical sense.'

'I suppose not but — wait, how do you know —?'

'I'M GOING TO GO TELL OLIVER!' shouted Duck abruptly, surging forwards. Then —

'Hello, everyone!'

It was Toad. He was being taken into the yard with the fruit vans.

'Toad!' the three steam engines gasped.

'Well…' said Duck.

'Er…' said Douglas.

'So,' said Donald, 'in that case… anyone fancy a rest? It's been quite a tiring day.'

'Donald, it's not even noon!' said Douglas.

'Emotionally exhausting, then. Race you two to Tidmouth Station!'

Toad had a good feeling, a feeling that everything would be alright this time. Sure enough, shortly after coming to a halt in the yard, he was uncoupled from the rearmost goods truck. Seconds later, Toad saw Diesel reversing with the vans into a siding — it was he who had brought Toad from the station. Toad felt mildly surprised.

'I wonder if he knew I was there… Probably not.'

He looked around the yard and beamed when he saw Oliver, almost in exactly the same place where he had stopped to tell him about the missing truck what seemed so long ago. Also, he had a milk tanker coupled up to him.

'...and sometimes, Toad, ever since that night, I stay awake for hours wondering whatever happened to that engine…'

'Erm… Mr Oliver? Hello?'

'Hm? Er — yes, what is it, Toad?'

'Been talking to yourself, eh, Oliver?' Diesel snickered as he trundled past them.

'No, Diesel, I was talking to Toad. I, for one, have friends, you know,' said Oliver coolly. He then spoke to Toad again. 'Anyway, I found the last truck that we need to take; I actually dunno how I missed it… It's this milk tanker. Shall we get moo-ving on to Arlesburgh, then, Toad?'

'Oh, that was a good one, Mr Oliver,' smiled Toad, 'I've always thought you'd make for a talented comedian.'

Oliver did not delay in finally having the train ready to leave, and soon he was coupled up to the front of it himself.

'Ah… at last!' he said.

'Hooray!' chuckled Toad. 'You know, Mr Oliver, it's been quite a good day so far. Very productive, I would say.'

'Productive? I've no idea what you're talking about, Toad, we're running about three hours late…'

Toad simply smiled in his moment of peace as he and Oliver set off out of the yard.

Author's Notes: Hello, so, I haven't posted anything on here in about two months buuuut yeah, that was that and I hope you liked it. :P I don't really know how many people read my fanfictions here but you know who you are and… yeah, thank you ^^. So, I just wanted to say to those who are still reading that I think I'm gonna take a little break from writing fanfiction; it can get a little tiring but I'm mainly doing so because I want to focus more on my own book, and by that I mean one that I've had the idea for for quite a while now, with original stories and characters and all that. And I'm not saying original stuff is inherently better/more favourable than fanfiction, I just… yeah, you know what I mean. xP Sooooo, er, yeah. Mhm. This is awkward for some reason… uwu.

Anyway, like I said this fanfiction stuff can be kind of tiring, partly because I try setting myself a deadline and then I'm not done yet when the day comes and I'm like "ahhhhh" but if I'm gonna publish an actual book it'll probably be quite a long process but, meh, I'm not a professional writer or anything but yeah. :P I'm gonna work on my book (which is actually supposed to be the first in a series but we'll see how it goes I guess) and hopefully I'll also come back here to eventually, it might not even be that long, and yeah, I by no means am out of fanfic ideas and I still haven't updated The Fountain of Few Fortunes since the day I published the first two chapters. I kind of got stressed out while writing chapter three so I just put it aside and started working on this story. I wanted to finish and publish it before taking a break. And yeah, I guess I'll do that now and also have fun cringing as I read the weird draft of my book that I wrote last year! Byeeeeeeee! :3

Also, yes, the title of this story/chapter/thing is a reference to The Hobbit, which I recently read for the first time. :3

Also also, I'll probably still read stuff here, which I don't actually do much but yeah. I quite like Sodor High School by ThomasZoey3000, it's fun. :3 (I'm using the :3 emoticon too much lol).