A/N This is Toby's debut. It follows the original TRS canon on Toby.
Hey, it's me, Toby. This is my story about how I came here to Sodor.
I'm a tram engine. I have cowcatchers and sideplates and don't look like a steam engine at all. I took freight cars from farms and villages to the main line and rang my bell cheerfully to everyone I met on my old line. My coach called Henrietta had seen better days at the end of my time there. I look back on that time with nostalgia, the days on my old line and sadness, because I'm the only one of my class to survive. I remember how Henrietta felt back when the old line was about to close. I love Henrietta.
"It's not fair at all", she grumbled, remembering how she used to be full and nine cars would rattle behind her. Now, there were only three or four for the farms and factories mostly sent their goods by truck. I was always careful, cautious sort I've always been. The cars, buses and trucks would often have accidents. But I hadn't had an accident for years. But the buses were crowded and Henrietta was empty, often. One day, a lady and a stout gentleman stood on my platform. He was of course Sir Topham Hatt. But I didn't know this yet. I learned after he bought me, though. He was with his family and his grandchildren were quite interested in me.
"Come on, Grandfather", cried the children. "Do look at this engine." Somehow, they knew I was an engine, even if I'm a funny little engine.
"That's a tram engine, Stephen", said Sir Topham Hatt.
"Is it electric?" asked Bridget.
"Whoosh", I hissed. I knew trams could be electric, but was thinking Can't you see my steam?
"Shh", said her brother. "You've offended him."
Bridget said, "But trams are electric, aren't they?"
The children's grandfather said, "They are mostly, but this is a steam tram.".
The children said, "May we go in it, Grandfather, please?"
"Stop!" Sir Topham Hatt said to the conductor. And they all scrambled into Henrietta.
I was still cross with the girl.
"Electric indeed, electric indeed", I snorted. I was proud of being a steam tram.
"What is your name?" asked Sir Topham Hatt.
"I'm Toby, sir", I said.
"Thanks again, Toby, for a very nice ride."
"You're welcome", I said. I felt better now.
This gentleman, I 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, Driver invited them into his cab. All were sorry they had to go away and Sir Topham Hatt and his family thanked everyone. Other than Bridget calling me "electric" because she thought just because I'm a tram, I must be, I liked the Hatts. I learned the girl's name in the time she was visiting, just as I learned her brother's name after his grandfather told him what I am.
"Come again, soon", I replied.
"We will, we will", called the children. And they waved until I was out of sight. The months passed. I had few cars and fewer passengers.
"Our last day, Toby", said Driver one morning. "The manager says we must close tomorrow.
That day, everyone wanted a chance of a last ride. The passengers joked and sang, but I, along with Driver, wished they wouldn't. I was feeling quite unhappy.
"Goodbye, Toby", said the passengers afterwards. "We're sorry your line is closing down."
"So am I", I sighed. I felt dreadful.
I cried in my shed after they left and Driver comforted me, staying with me until I stopped crying.
Nobody wants me, I thought and went unhappily to sleep. I had a nightmare about being in a museum. Next morning, the shed door was flung open and I woke with a start to Driver waving a piece of paper at me.
"Wake up, Toby!" he shouted excitedly. "The mail has just arrived and it's a letter from the stout gentleman! Maybe it's good news. I hoped he could've found someone who wanted me, as he seemed to like me. I've since found out he loved steam engines, so I guess that's why he could speak to engines like he did and why he cared about a steam tram engine like me.
A/N I pretend Toby learned both kids' names while they were visiting for the purpose of this story. I saw a picture of Toby crying, said to be from this episode and due to my buddy here who likes Hurt/Comfort, I had Toby's driver comfort him. Toby's museum nightmare comes from his seeming dislike of that.