Toby and the Stout Gentleman

**Toby and the Stout Gentleman** is the twenty-third episode of the first season. It is based on the story of the same name from the seventh Railway Series book, Toby the Tram Engine.

## Plot

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

One day, a stout gentleman, who is actually the Fat Director, his wife, and their two grandchildren visit the railway while on holiday. The two children note that Toby looks unusual for an engine, and the Fat Director tells them that he is a tram engine. After the granddaughter accidentally offends Toby by asking if he is electric, the children want a ride and beg their grandfather, who agrees. The whole family takes a ride in Henrietta, who is very happy to have passengers again. Toby, on the other hand, is still fuming about being called electric.

Afterwards, the Fat Director speaks to Toby, thanking him for a lovely journey, and Toby thanks him back. He notes to himself that the Fat Director is one who knows how to speak to engines. The family returns every day for two weeks, sometimes riding in Henrietta, other times inside empty trucks. On their last day, they ride with Toby's crew in his cab. Everyone is sorry when the family has to leave, and they promise to come back someday.

As time passes, 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. Later that day, a lot of people come for the chance at a last ride on Toby's line. Although they treat the occasion like a celebration, Toby and his driver know it is anything but. Afterwards, the passengers bid Toby a sad goodbye before he returns to his shed, then falls asleep feeling lonely and unwanted.

The next morning, Toby is woken by his driver and fireman, who have just received some very good news; an important letter from the stout gentleman.

## Characters

* Toby
* Henrietta
* The Fat Director
* Stephen Hatt
* Bridget Hatt
* Dowager Hatt *(not named; does not speak)*
* Toby's Controller *(mentioned)*

## Locations

* The Mainland
	+ Wisbech and Upwell Tramway
		- Upwell
		- Toby's Shed
		- Elmbridge
		- Outwell Village
		- River Nene

## Trivia

* This marks the first appearance of several things:
	+ The first appearance of Toby, Henrietta, Bridget Hatt and Dowager Hatt in the series.
	+ The first episode where a line was closing down, in this case, it was Toby's Old Line called the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway.
	+ The first episode where an engine had escaped from being scrapped, in this case, Toby was brought to the North Western Railway by the Fat Director, although the purchase was officially shown on the next episode.
* This is the only episode of two things:
	+ The only time Stephen and Bridget Hatt are referred to by name.
	+ The only appearance of Toby’s Old Tramway.
* The last day of Toby's line being in service and the last scene both take place during Thomas in Trouble.
* Unlike in the official TV Series version of this episode, Toby’s Old Tramway is located in East Anglia on The Mainland in the Sodor Stories version. So any reference of “Toby’s Old Line” in future episodes are removed, since his old line wasn’t on Sodor.
* This episode was inspired by a trip to a fish quay at Great Yarmouth on the 30th of August 1951, where Christopher Awdry and his father saw a tram engine for the first time.