The Winx Club's Sodor Adventures - Season 1

Episode 21: Toby the Tram Engine

One fine day at Alfea, Headmistress Faragonda was showing Tecna and Roxy, the Fairy of Animals, her photo album.

"You see, girls," she said, "I used to work on the Island of Sodor for many years before any of you were born, and even before I became the Headmistress of Alfea."

Then, Roxy noticed a picture in the album. "Who is that engine?" she asked. "Is he a old friend of yours?"

"Oh, yes," the headmistress replied, "that's Toby the Tram Engine. He was the only engine I'd ever worked with on the island. Almost everyday on his old railway, as a matter of fact, just like Tecna does with Edward."

"That's right," said Tecna. "Toby's truly one of a kind, Miss Faragonda."

Roxy asked, "Is that picture of you and Toby, Headmistress?"

"Absolutely," said Miss Faragonda, "this was taken on the day when I started my first job on Toby's railway, after I graduated from Alfea. We were such a grand pair together."

Tecna was amazed. "How long did you work with Toby, Miss Faragonda?" she asked.

"About 40 years," Faragonda answered. "These were the best years of my life, and Toby's line was very beautiful."

"Is Toby still working on his line?" asked Roxy.

Miss Faragonda frowned at Roxy's question about Toby. "I'm sorry to say this," she said sadly, "but his line closed down a few years ago, because all the farms and factories now ship their goods and passengers in trucks and buses instead, and they told us that we were old-fashioned. It's so sad that they took away our goods and passengers and ran us out of business."

"That's terrible," said Tecna. "Is Toby really gone forever?"

"Oh, no, of course not, Tecna," Miss Faragonda said with a smile.

"Then where is he now?" asked Roxy.

"Here's where it gets interesting," the headmistress replied. "In fact, I even have another photo right here to help tell you what happened to my engine friend." And she showed them the very photo. "This was taken on the day when me and Toby ran our last train on our railway."

And this was the story that Miss Faragonda told them.

[Flashback]

Toby is a tram engine. He has cowcatchers and sideplates and doesn't look like a steam engine at all. He and his friend, Faragonda take freight cars from farms and villages to the main line, and are cheerful to everyone they meet.

Toby has a coach called Henrietta, who has seen better days. "It's not fair at all!" She grumbles, remembering that she used to be full, and nine cars would rattle behind her.

Now there are only three or four, for the farms and factories send their goods mostly by truck. Toby and Faragonda are always careful. The cars, buses, and trucks often have accidents. Toby hasn't had an accident for years, but the buses are crowded, and Henrietta is empty.

A lady and a stout gentleman stood on Toby's platform. He was, of course, Sir Topham Hatt, but Toby and Faragonda didn't know this yet.

"Come on, Grandfather!" cried the children. "Do look at this engine."

"That's a tram engine, Stephen," said Sir Topham Hatt.

"Is it electric?" asked Bridget.

"Whoosh!" hissed Toby.

But Faragonda soothed him. "It's alright, Toby, they're only little children."

"Shh! Shh!" said Stephen. "Quiet, Bridget. You've offended him."

"But trams are electric, aren't they?"

"They are mostly, but this is a steam tram."

"May we go in it, Grandfather? Please?"

"Stop!" said Sir Topham Hatt to the conductor. They all scrambled into Henrietta.

"Hip, hip, hooray!" chanted Henrietta.

But Toby didn't sing. "Electric, indeed! Electric, indeed!" he snorted. He was proud of being a steam train.

"What is your name?" asked Sir Topham Hatt. "And who is your fairy friend?"

"Toby, sir, and this is my closest friend, Miss Carol Faragonda."

"Thank you, Toby, for a very nice ride."

"Thank you, sir," said Toby. He felt better now. "This gentleman," he thought, "is a gentleman who knows how to speak to engines."

The children came every day for two weeks. Sometimes they rode with the conductor, sometimes in empty cars.

On the last day of all, Faragonda invited them into Toby's cab.

All were sorry when they had to go away, and Sir Topham Hatt and his family thanked everyone.

"Come again soon!" replied Toby.

"We will! We will!" called the children, and they waved till Toby was out of sight.

The months passed. Toby and Faragonda had few cars and fewer passengers.

Soon the railway came to a point when they can no longer afford to keep it running.

"Today is our last day, Toby," said Miss Faragonda. "Our manager said that we must close down the railway tomorrow."

That day, everyone wanted the chance of a last ride. The passengers joked and sang, but Toby and Faragonda wished they wouldn't.

"Goodbye, Toby," said the passengers afterwards. "We are sorry your line is closing down."

"So am I," said Toby.

"Nobody wants me," Toby thought.

"There, there now, Toby," Faragonda comforted him. "You know that isn't true. It's like when someone once said, 'Whenever a chapter closes, a new one always begins.'"

"I just hope you're right, Faragonda," said Toby. "I really do."

Faragonda smiled, "Good night, Toby. Sweet dreams, my old friend."

And the tram engine went unhappily to sleep.

[End of Flashback]

"And that was exactly five years ago to this day that we've let this tragic day happen," said Faragonda.

Tecna and Roxy felt sorry for their headmistress.

"Oh, Headmistress," said Roxy, "that was so sad."

"Don't worry, Roxy," Faragonda cheered her up. "It's not like he's all alone."

"He isn't?" asked Roxy.

"Of course not," the headmistress smiled, "I visit him almost every weekend, just to clean him up or keep him company, so he doesn't feel lonely."

"Well, that's good," said Roxy. "Do you think we can meet him the next time you go to Sodor?"

"Well, I'm not sure," said Faragonda, "it's hard to tell when my next visit shall be. After all, I am retired from my railway duty."

Soon, Tecna became curious. "Headmistress," she asked. "about this stout gentleman, do you happen to remember what he looked like?"

"Well," said Faragonda thoughtfully, "he did have a stern, but kind look on his face, and he did seem a sort of person who can take charge easily, and he didn't even have a single speck of hair on the top of his head. Why do you ask, Tecna?"

Tecna held up a photo. "Is this him?" she asked.

"Of course," chuckled Faragonda. "Do you know him, too?"

"Yes, we do," answered Tecna, "that's our employer, Sir Topham Hatt, the owner of the North Western Railway."

"It is?!" said Faragonda in surprise. "Well, that makes sense! I wonder why I never thought about this before."

"Anyway," added Tecna, "he sent you this letter today." She gave it to the headmistress.

Faragonda was very excited. "Oh, my goodness!" she cried. "Wait until Toby hears about this!" So she headed off to tell her old friend the good news.

The End