The Sudrians: The Salvation Collection

Toby and the Harbour Engines

June 1978

Now, this story goes off a bit and doesn't contribute much to the main narrative I was focusing on. But since the others have told me that they have not talked about him much I have decided to go off and talk about a familiar, friendly tram engine we all know. His name is Toby.

Toby is one of the kindest and all-knowing on the railway, he is very different to the fleet with having a wooden body, cowcatchers and side plates. He had a coach called Henrietta and a luggage van called Elsie, they travel with him daily, taking passengers up and down Thomas' branch line or taking workmen to the quarry where Mavis worked.

However, Toby has had a strong past before even working with his known coach and a luggage van. Before going to work on a small little line in East Anglia, Toby was in fact an engine who solely worked at a harbour with a few of his siblings. Working hard for many years shunting trucks where need to be in and watching cargo ships get bigger and bigger every time with more loads to be unloaded and loaded at the key side. Toby enjoyed that life's work but enjoyed working with Henrietta and Elise on Thomas' branch line. 

But that was soon to change. Porter worked hard at the harbour at Tidmouth. He had worked there since the second world war and felt there was no better place to be. The reason he has never been mentioned before was the fact that he was never around during the times when a story took place there. Though he was a jolly chap all the same and worked hard enough and never had an accident. Even so, Porter needed help at the docks, the increase of supplies had gone up dramatically and the poor harbour engine couldn't cope with the work. The Tidmouth Harbour Co. who ran the lines and Porter himself at the harbour asked Stephen Hatt to lend a suitable engine for the task and with him being the only engine available and of experience. Stephen would walk up to Toby one morning at the sheds,

"Please Toby," he said, "I need an engine to help the engines at the harbour. They are overworked and I know you are very experienced in working at harbours yourself. Can you be able to do it?"

"Of course sir!" smiled Toby, "but who will look after my workmen trains to the quarry?"

"Percy and Mavis will share the trains," replied Stephen, "do not fret, Henrietta and Elise will be taken care of well here."

"Oh, thank you, sir," Toby said. But when Stephen left, Daisy noticed Toby still looking worried.

"What seems to be the problem my dear?" she called to the tram engine.

The tram engine sighed. "I don't know," he said, "I can remember well on what to do with working at harbours, but I am just concerned about whose working there. A lot has changed since I've been in those parts and I know that some won't think I'm up for the task."

"Then show them who you are as usual!" encouraged Daisy.

Toby chuckled. "Do not fret Daisy," he said, "I am not too concerned about myself, I'm just concerned if me working there will have impacts on others around there."

***

Early the next day, Toby set off to the harbour, he arrived there swiftly and surely.

Porter was there to greet him at the marshalling yards. "Hey Toby!" he called enthusiastically, "how's Trix?"

"Oh doing well thank you," smiled Toby, "looking forward to working with you."

"Hope you are!" chortled Porter, "I think you'll do swell here! C'mon, I'll show around."

Porter took Toby past the line where the North Western engines went no further and took him to the smaller sections of the ports and keys, where cranes unloaded and loaded cargo along the key side where ships lay. Toby was impressed, the ships were a lot bigger when he last worked at a port and he found it fascinating. Suddenly, Porter's tour was rudely interrupted by a shrill whistle. Then an odd-looking tank engine came into sight, half his cab wasn't there, he had a greyish brown livery with white stripes unlike Porter and wore a grumpy face.