Toby and the Stout Gentlemen

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> Electric indeed! Electric indeed!
>
> Toby

***Toby and the Stout Gentleman***, retitled ***Toby the Tram Engine*** in American releases, is the twenty-first episode of the first series. It is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Toby the Tram Engine.

## Plot

Toby is a tram engine, who lives and works on his own little railway. He has cowcatchers and sideplates to help prevent accidents, causing him to look quite unlike a steam engine. He has his own coach called Henrietta, who always rides along with him. Sadly, Toby and Henrietta have both seen better days since the amounts of passengers and trucks they take have been reducing due to the increase of roads. The passengers would rather travel by bus, while companies send their cargo by lorry.

One day a stout gentleman (who is actually The Fat Controller), his wife and two grandchildren visit the railway while on holiday. The two children note that Toby looks unusual for an engine and the gentleman tells them that he is a steam tram engine. After accidentally offending Toby by thinking he is electric, the two children want a ride. The gentleman agrees and the whole family take a ride in Henrietta, who cannot be happier to have passengers again. Toby, on the other hand, is still fuming about being called electric.

Afterwards, the gentleman speaks to Toby and thanks him for a lovely journey. Toby notes to himself that the gentleman knows how to speak to engines. The family returns every day for two weeks of their holiday, sometimes riding with the guard, or sometimes inside empty trucks. On the last day, they ride with Toby's crew in his cab.

Everyone is sorry when the family has to leave and Toby asks them to come back someday; the family promises. As the months pass, Toby finds himself carrying even fewer passengers and goods. Soon the inevitable happens and Toby's controller decides to shut the line down, much to Toby's grief.

 File:TobyandtheStoutGentleman43.png
Later that day, a lot of people come for the chance at a last ride on Toby's line and fill up Henrietta. Although the passengers treat the occasion like a celebration, Toby and his driver know it is anything but. Afterwards, the passengers wish Toby a sad goodbye and he returns to his shed, then falls asleep feeling lonely and unwanted.

The next morning, Toby is woken by his excited crew, who has just received some very good news; an important letter from the stout gentleman.

## Characters

* Toby
* Henrietta
* Sir Topham Hatt
* Stephen Hatt
* Bridget Hatt
* Lady Hatt Template:Note
* The Storyteller Template:Not named
* The Green Bus Template:Note

## Locations

* Arlesdale End
	+ Toby's Shed
* Lower Arlesburgh
* The Windmill
* Arlesdale Lake and Mountains Line
	+ Cliff Side Track
	+ Arlesdale Castle

## Trivia

* In the restored version, the footage sometimes overlaps.
* In the Ukrainian dub, the English credits are used instead of the Ukrainian ones.
* In a deleted scene and some behind the scenes footage, there is a turntable in front of Toby's shed. However, there is no turntable in the episode itself.
* This is the only episode of two things:
	+ The only time until the nineteenth series episode, Henry Spots Trouble that Stephen and Bridget Hatt are referred to by name.
	+ The only appearance of Arlesdale End until the tenth series episode, The Green Controller, though the shed appeared later in the fifth and seventh, through ninth series.
* When George Carlin's narration aired on *Shining Time Station*, the first shot is cut out.
* The last day of Toby's line being in service and the last scene both take place during Thomas in Trouble.

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 Toby and the Stout Gentleman was the last episode used in the 1988 airings on CiTV until Thomas' Christmas Party on 30th December 1988

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## Goofs

* In the shot where Toby said "Nobody wants me," part of the studio wall can seen behind the sky painting.
* When the passengers say "We are sorry your line is closing down," Toby's cowcatcher is slanted.
* In the restored version, Toby's bell is silver rather than gold in close-ups.
* A small piece of blu-tak can be seen on the Fat Controller's shoes when Toby first meets him at Lower Arlesburgh.
* In the second to fourth close-ups of the Fat Controller, the camera shakes slightly.
* Some shots of Toby are on sets (such as the windmill) that are clearly on Sodor, even though the episode is set on the Mainland.
* In the Welsh translated version, a few bits of footage were removed, such as Toby leaving the station on his last day and when Toby goes to his shed.
* In the opening scene, studio equipment can be visible in the top left corner.
* When Sir Topham Hatt says, "Stop!" he has five holes in his face and hat
* In the first to third close-ups of Sir Topham Hatt, a camera tripod is seen on the left corner of the screen.
* In the first and last close-up of Stephen and Bridget Hatt, and the two close-ups of Bridget Hatt, a light stand is seen.
* In the US narration, After Toby complains about being called electric, it is said that he "was proud of being a steam train," but Toby is a steam tram pulling a train.
* When Bridgette says "Is it electric?" and "But trams are electric, aren't they?" there is red marking on her left (viewer's right) palm.

## Merchandise

* Buzz Books - Toby and the Stout Gentleman
* Magazine Stories - Toby and the Stout Gentleman/Toby and the Stout Gentleman!
* Ladybird Books - Toby and the Stout Gentleman and Thomas in Trouble
* My Thomas Story Library Books - Toby
* Books - Thomas and Toby
* Engine Adventures - Toby

## In Other Languages

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