Next chapter coming up right now.

I do not own Thomas the Tank/Thomas & Friends or I would have kept them in their models forms.

Somewhere in the northern half of Sodor was a small branchline run by a different railway company this branchline ran from Arlesburgh Harbour, Lower Arlesburgh to Marthwaite to Arlesdale than stopping at Arlesdale End. It was a small line, but was a very successful one.

Only one driver operated on his line and his name was Toby.

Toby was a man in his late twenties and had shirt brown hair while wearing brown overalls with white trimming.

He drove an old brown Steam Tram Engine that had cowcatchers and side plates over its wheels while instead of whistle it had a bell on it. It might be small and outdated even for Steam Engines term, but he loved his little engine as it has always shown it still get the job done very well.

Along with his engine he has a orangish brown coach that he always took with his engine everywhere.

He was always known for his hardworking attitude and gentle kind persona which everyone found hard to not be drawn to as nobody could truly be bad at him.

He ran his engine up and down the line proud of his work there which all the passengers would always praise about. He would always handle goods trains very well never once having an accident with them.

He was happy working there.

However, hard times soon came.

Over the years lories and other road vehicles started taking over his work. He once proudly pulled many trucks behind his coach full of goods. Now he would be lucky to even get past four.

At first he wasn't bothered by it, but however, it came a big problem for him after his wife had passed away due to illness leaving him a single father.

He had a daughter named Henrietta who was a baby when her mother passed away and Toby had looked after her well ever since, but with business going bad for the line he worked on it was getting harder to provide for him and her.

Years went on and the line's business kept going down and down as less work happened on it. Soon people stopped either contracting or coming to the line all together putting more financial pressure on the company.

Toby worried greatly for his job seeing with Steam Engines becoming more rare these days because of diesel powered engines he feared that he wouldn't find employment anywhere else. Than what he be able to do for Henrietta?

This one fear would keep him up at nights stressing out badly and Henrietta always come to comfort her father.

However, a chance encounter set for events that would change everything.

Toby drove his engine to one the stations pulling his coach with him. He was surprised to see what looked like a family there waiting. There was a stout gentleman, an elegantly dressed lady and two children around Henrietta's current age: one boy and one girl.

Both children looked at his engine like it was a funny thing with the lady giving him an apologetic look for the two's behaviour, but Toby was surprised when the Stout Gentleman spoke to him.

"That's Tram Steam Engine isn't it? It is a rare to see one these days." He said and the way he spoke Toby could tell this good sir was a big fan of these kinds of trains.

"Yes sir it is. Was given it on my first day and it was meant to be a temporally thing as it was close to falling apart, but I got her back to good shape and ever since than she has been mine to keep." Toby answered back proudly.

"Is it electric grandpa?" The young girl asked and Toby was shocked to hear that. He loved his engine a lot and wasn't a big fan of those electric trams that are used on roads.

"No no Bridget. This is a Steam Tram Engine. This what trains used to be like." The Stout Gentleman told his granddaughter who look more confused.

"Can we ride in the coach grandfather?" The boy asked and the Stout Gentleman looked to Toby who nodded in return before he looked to his grandson again. "Of course, Stephen."

For the entire day the two kids hung out in the coach with their grandmother and Henrietta became fast friends with the. Toby found himself joined by the Stout Gentleman in his engine where they would talk about Steam Engines and Toby's work.

This would go on for the next two weeks the family would come to visit again and again as the kids were on break from school, but eventually they had to go back. This made Toby and Henrietta sad, but they understood.

Some months would go by and those kids would visit again which was a nice distraction for Toby seeing work has declined even greater.

After they left again Toby got terrible news from his employer who revealed they were going to close the line as all work for the line has ceased all together. Toby was devasted by this news as now he had no idea what he was going to do to provide for him and Henrietta now. Times were terrible now.

The day after the news he was going to take passengers on one last ride. The passengers were sad when they heard the news and did all they could to cheer the Engine driver. They did have some jokes about it and though Toby knew they meant well, he wished they didn't.

Soon the day came to end and after Toby put his engine away in its shed he wept as he knew this was probably the last time he would ever see it.

He slowly made his way to the house and had a very restless slept that night as so many fears plagued his mind about looking for a job, keeping everything alright and of course about providing for Henrietta.

The next morning, he went to check the mail and saw many junk mail…until he saw one letter.

That was from the North Western Railway.

He quickly opened it up to read it.

"Dear Toby

I believe I never had the chance to property introduce myself those months back.

My name is Sir Topham Hatt and I run the Northwestern Railway.

I had tried to hire you back then, but your employer was stubborn and didn't want to give you up. However, I had heard you have unfortunately had your line closed yesterday so now I would like to post this to you.

I would like to hire you and have you bring you engine, even your coach too, to my railway. My railway is all about preserving Steam Engines and shown they are not scrap.

I hope to hear your reply soon.

From Sir Topham Hatt."

Toby couldn't believe his luck and wasted no time in posting a letter back saying he would gladly accept that offer.

Who knew a chance encounter with someone that seemed like a simple Stout Gentleman could turn out to be a opportunity of a lifetime?

I hope you all enjoyed.