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// Toby's Vintage Train 
// Story: Thomas and Friends: More Tales from Sodor 
// by The Blue EM2 
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Sir Toppham Hatt arrived at the sheds one morning to find Victoria and Albert being prepared for duty. "Good morning, you two!" he said. "I have some good news. Thomas is coming back from the works soon, and we soon will be back at full capacity. I would like you two to help out for a little longer; Edward, you can take Victoria out with your trains, and Albert can help with shunting at the harbour."

Edward's heart fell. He had enjoyed working with Albert, Victoria, and Mistmane, and knew that he would miss them very much. But orders were orders, and he backed onto Victoria and puffed away onto the mainline, rattling down the line with his wheels clattering and the coaches rolling behind him.

Albert sighed. "I'll miss Edward when we go back to Lakeside," he admitted. "This is such a lovely island, and I get nice long runs on this branch line too!"

"I'm certain that they'll let us visit from time to time," Mistmane reassured him. "Besides, the Fairburn tank will soon be running again at Haverthwaite, so I think we may be doing a lot of visits to other railways!"

"That is most certainly true," Albert smiled. "I guess it's not all bad after all."

After a few hours, Thomas returned to Knapford Junction and rolled into a siding, seeing Edward waiting there with Annie, Clarabel, and another coach he didn't recognise. "Hello!" he said. "Who's the coach there? The one in cream and white?"

"Hello!" said the coach. "I'm Victoria. I arrived with the visiting engine whilst you were at the works being mended."

"She does look smart," Twilight said. "Annie and Clarabel could do with a new coat of paint, to be honest."

"Annie and Clarabel are fine the way they are!" said Thomas. "They're my coaches, and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. Not even Chinese coaches who look suspiciously like LBSC four wheelers!"

Thomas was attached to the train, three coaches strong, and blew his whistle.

"Good luck, Thomas!" called Sir Toppham Hatt, who stood on the platform. "Go easy today; you've just come back from the works, and we hardly want to have to do that all over again!"

"I will, thank you sir!" Thomas called, as he went on his merry way. He puffed up the line, towns and villages soon giving way to rolling fields and gentle streams. Rivers bubbled underneath bridges and people lined the lineside, looking at the rather odd train rumbling past. Many cheered and waved. A group of boys who entertained the thought of dropping stones on the track were soon dissuaded when a passer by reminded them of a similar group who had been on the receiving end of Henry's sneeze.

They were going splendidly, and rolled along the line making a beautiful sight and sound. But trouble lay ahead. As they rounded a bend, they saw Big Mac standing at the lineside. "Hello?" he called. "Could Ah have some help please?"

"Of course!" said Twilight.

"Terence has gotten into trouble up ahead. Farmer Finney's buildin' a new barn, and naturally we were helpin', but Terence got into trouble on the road near the cuttin'."

"What was he pulling?" Thomas asked.

"Stone fer the barn," Big Mac replied. "But it weren't secured properly, and it may fall into the cuttin'!"

"Hop aboard, and we'll help," said Twilight. Big Mac did so, and the train set off once more towards the end of the line. They went into a tunnel, and squeaked through the fu- no, that's not quite right. Sorry. They puffed through the tunnel, and sure enough there was the trailer. A large boulder had fallen into the road, and Terence had swerved to avoid it. Unfortunately, the boulders had fallen out of the trailer, tumbled down the side of the cutting, and were now piled up in a cluttered heap at the side of the line.

"Sorry," said Terence, who was sat on the lineside. "I tried to hold the trailer, but the hook broke!"

"It weren't yer fault, Terence," Big Mac told him. "But we need ta get this mess cleared. Ah'll secure the trailer so it won't fall."

Twilight checked the stones hadn't damaged the line, and then telephoned back to the box to let them know what had happened. The train then proceeded up the line to Ffarquhar, where Toby and Henrietta were waiting. "Hello Thomas!" called Toby. "Have a nice trip?"

"I'm just here to drop off Victoria!" Thomas replied. "You said you needed an extra coach, didn't you? Well, for today only, you have your extra coach."

"We have another spare four wheeler being shipped over from the Mainland," Sir Toppham Hatt told them. "It's currently being refurbished at Havenstreet on the Isle of Wight. Until then, you will work with Victoria, and from tomorrow a brake van. But I cannot think of many railways that can run authentic vintage trains such as Toby, Henrietta, and Victoria!"

"Even if only for one day," Flash admitted. "Right, away we go!" He rang Toby's bell 'bye bye', and off they went. They had a series of lovely runs back and forth along the quarry line that day, days that would forever stick in the memories of those who witnessed such a marvellous sight.

Unsurprisingly, everybody was said the next day when Albert, Victoria, and Mistmane had to return home. Their train was fully prepared, and they set off down the line, Albert puffing loudly as he steamed away, and all the engines whistling him goodbye. Albert continued to puff loudly and sound his whistle long after he had rounded the bend and vanished out of sight.

Moments later, Stepney rattled in, towing a four wheel coach. "Here's your coach!" he called. "Freshly sprung and overhauled!"

Toby was happy to have gotten a new coach in the end, but missed Victoria. Even so, he knew not to be sad because it was over, but to smile because it had happened.

If you enjoyed these stories, you may want to consider a visit to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway when this pandemic is over.