The Winx Club's Sodor Adventures - Season 3

Episode 15: Toby's Tightrope

One day, Percy and Musa arrived at the quarry to collect some stone for their freight cars. Snow and frost lay everywhere. There was not a sound to be heard.

Percy and Musa ventured further. They found Mavis the new diesel engine resting in the shelter of some rocks.

"Cheer up, Mavis," he whistled.

Mavis was still remembering the trouble she had with cars. "Manager says I don't listen to his advice. He says I've no business chortling down Toby and Roxy's line. Toby's a fusspot, and so is Roxy!"

"Toby and Roxy have forgotten more about freight cars than you'll ever know," replied Musa.

"That's right, Mavis," agreed Percy. "You must put the cars where they want them, then you'll be a Really Useful Engine. Now, if you excuse us, we have to take these stones to the harbor."

Mavis liked Percy and Musa, but she still wouldn't listen to their advice. "Why shouldn't I go on Toby's line?"

The siding arrangements were awkward. To put the cars where Toby wanted them, Mavis had to make several journeys. She started making a plan.

"If we used the tiniest bit of Toby's line," she said to her driver, "we would save all this bother."
Her driver, suspecting nothing, allowed them to go as far as the level crossing.

A few days later, the weather changed. As the snow melted, the quarry grew busy again. Some trains were so long that before leaving the cars for Toby and Roxy, Mavis had to go beyond the level crossing with them. Now for her plan. She would go further down the line without it seeming her fault.

"Can you keep a secret?" she asked the freight cars.

"Yes, yes, yes!" they chattered.

"Will you bump me at the level crossing and tell no one I ask you?"

The cars promised.

But while Mavis was away, Toby and Roxy arrived. They decided to shunt the cars themselves. The cars decided to bump them anyway.

They reached the level crossing, and Toby's brakes came on. This was the signal for the freight cars.

"On, on, on!" they yelled.

"What's going on?" shouted Roxy.

Toby and Roxy were away, with the cars screaming and yelling behind them.

No one realized that melted snow had turned a stream ahead into a torrent, and the bridge above it was about to collapse. The rails were now like a tightrope across the thundering water.

"Stop, stop!" cried Toby.

Roxy thought for control. They came nearer and nearer to the bridge. It was all of nothing now. Roxy braked hard. Toby stopped still on the rails, but with his wheels treading the tightrope over the abyss.

"Hang on, Toby!" cried Roxy.

"I'm trying, Roxy!" replied Toby.

Mavis was horrified and quickly came to the rescue. Roxy and the workmen anchored Toby with ropes while Mavis pulled the freight cars away. Then, she helped Toby to safety.

"Thank you, Mavis, for helping us," said Roxy.

"I'm sorry about the cars," said Mavis. "I can't think how you two managed to stop them in time."

"Oh, well," said Toby. "Roxy told me about circus people who walked tightropes, but I just didn't fancy doing it myself."

Later, Sir Topham Hatt arrived. "A very smart piece of work," he said. "Mavis, you did well too I hear."

"It was my fault about those cars, sir," she faltered, "but if I could..."

"Could what?"

"Come down the line sometimes, sir? Toby and Roxy say they'll show me what to do."

"Certainly," replied Sir Topham Hatt. "If your manager agrees."

And so it was arranged. Now Mavis is as happy as can be, and Sir Topham Hatt thinks she's Really Useful, indeed.

The End