TAF - SS - More About Toby the Tram Engine Part 2

Thomas & Friends – Sudrian Stories

More About Toby the Tram Engine

Written by Cameron Stevens

Based on the Railway Series by the Reverend W. Awdry and the Television Series by Britt Allcroft

Part 2: Cow Catchers

Winter had now passed across the railway and now that the frost is off the ground, the quarries, mines and farms across the Ffarquhar can finally now get back into business.

These industries serve as important roots of a tree which is the Ffarquhar Branch Line.
One farm in particular has a group of three fields that was close to the railway on a top of a steep slope, but the engines that would pass by can’t see the farm, but it was a very busy one.

The farm grows many fruits and vegetables and also keeps a huge herd of cows that are used to make dairy products like milk, cream, cheese and many other things.

As you may know, Daisy the Diesel Railcar often takes the milk for Toby whenever he’d busy elsewhere while the lorries take away the fruits and vegetables.

These fruits and vegetables on the farm would be taken to some shops in villages that reside along the Branch and the rest goes to towns and other places far away.

One morning, Toby awoke to find that the weather had changed beautifully. The blossom petals were fluttering down from the trees and the birds sang sweetly. It was a lovely morning.

“Ah... now this is more like it.” He sighed contentedly. “This spring weather is much better than that bitter cold weather of winter.”

His driver agreed as he breathed in all the fresh air. “Indeed, old boy.” He smiled. “Come on, now. We got to take some stone for Mavis today.

So after filling up on coal and water, Toby made his way towards a siding and waited for Mavis to arrived with her trucks filled with stone from Anopha Quarry.

At last, she arrived and pulled up alongside Toby. He was also happy to see Mavis and Mavis is delighted to see Toby too.

“Good morning, Mavis.” Whistled Toby. “You look nice and clean this morning.”

“Oh, yes.” Smiled Mavis. “I’ve just been given a special visit to Crovan’s Gate for a wash down, repaint and to have my tyres refitted, because manage said I need some major repairs that the quarry cannot afford there.”

“You do look immaculate, that’s for sure.” Grinned Toby. Mavis blushed bright red on her cheeks.

So Toby made his way along the Branch Line taking the stone trucks with him and was making excellent time until he finally arrived at Knapford Harbour.

He left his stone trucks there and went off to the station to get a drink of water before he could make his way back to Ffarquhar to begin his passenger runs with Henrietta and Victoria.

Thomas was there with Annie and Clarabel waiting for his passengers.

As they talked, they could see Percy pull into of the station pulling two cattle vans filled with cows inside. They were new to the railway and were heading to the fruit and vegetable farm.

“These cows are heading towards that farm.” Explained Thomas. “Farmer McIntosh said that he needed more cows to produce more dairy. More milk means more journeys for Daisy to make.”

“Indeed.” Said Toby. “The farm sure does need a lot of cows.”

As soon as all the passengers got on board Thomas’ coaches, he’d set off towards Knapford Junction and to take the rest of the passengers on towards Tidmouth, the big station at the end of the line.

The cows were transferred from the cattle wagons and were escorted off the platform into a special fenced area for cows and other animals such as sheep, goats and horses to be transferred from either road or rail.

The cows were placed in a huge lorry before were whisked away towards their new home.

A little later, Thomas had just arrived back at Knapford Junction just as Daisy was preparing to travel back down the line with her passengers after they got off Gordon’s guaranteed connection.

“I’m off now, my darling.” She whistled. “It sure is a lovely day! Lovely for all the animals to bask in the spring sunshine.”

Thomas agreed. “Well be careful going back down the line, Daisy.” He warned. “Percy had just dropped off some new cows for Farer McIntosh’s farm. They’re not quite used to the railway yet and they could land into trouble by straying onto the line.”

“Sometimes I could never stand cows.” Sighed Daisy. “They always put me on edge whenever they stray onto the line!”

“Just like how that bull put you on edge when you tried to shoo it off the line years ago during my absence?” Grinned Thomas cheekily.

Daisy rolled her eyes. She could never forget the time she once tried to shoo a bull off the line only to be frightened by it and that Toby would have to shoo it off himself.

The signal at last shone green and Daisy began her journey back down the Branch Line.

Later that day back on the farm, the new cows were taking in the new scenery of the farm and they were enjoying it. One cow however named Brownie didn’t share her opinion of the farm as she wasn’t used to it yet.

As she walked towards a fence that overlooks the railway line below, she could see a patch of green grass by the side of the line. What happened next? No one knows.

She crashed through the fence, slipped down the slope and found herself on the line until her eyes fell onto some fresh green grass. “Now for my lunch!” She thought to herself.

To make matters worse, her friends also noticed that Brownie was eating the grass and took great interest in it as well. So one by one, the cows slipped down the slope and joined their friend to eat the grass not realising that they are blocking the railway line!

Meanwhile further down the line, there was trouble. Daisy was trundling along the line carrying her passengers down the valley towards Ffarquhar and was making excellent time.

As she rounded the bend, she saw a whole herd of cows on the line ahead!
“Oh my goodness!” She cried and she slammed the brakes hard on.

She skidded along the rails until at last, she came to a complete stop right in front of the cows! The cows all looked at Daisy and mooed at her.

“Oh no, not this again!” She groaned under her breath.

She tried hooting her horn to make them move out of the way, but it was no good. There were more cows than one and they refused to even move. Daisy was cross!

“I’m going to be late!” She complained to her driver.

So her driver tried to shoo them away himself, but it was no good either. There were too many cows and every time he tried, the cows completely ignored him.

“It’s no good old girl.” He sighed. “These cows are acting too stubborn to even notice me.” Daisy groaned again.

Luckily, Farmer McIntosh ran up to see what had happened and looked down to see what had happened. He was very surprised to see Brownie and the other cows straying on the line!

“I’ll go and call Ffarquhar!” He called. “Help will be on its way!” And so he ran off back to the farmhouse to telephone for help.

The stationmaster at Ffarquhar answered the call and rushed out to find an engine to go and help Daisy. He ran up to Toby’s driver when he saw him in a siding having a rest.

“What’s the matter?” Asked Toby’s driver.

“Some cows are stuck on the line and are blocking Daisy’s path to the station.” He explained. “We must find an engine to help take two cattle trucks and to take them away.”

“There’s only Toby, I’m afraid.” Replied the driver. “But he can’t manage it alone.”

“Perhaps we shall acquire Mavis’ help as well.” Said the stationmaster. “They both have cowcatchers and side plates. I’ll have to contact her quarry manager asking him to have her help too. Be quick now.”

So Toby quickly set off to find two cattle vans that Percy had used earlier and the stationmaster telephone the quarry manager asking to borrow Mavis for a rescue mission.

Mavis was excited! Wasting no time at all, she parked her trucks in a siding and she quickly raced down the line to help Toby with the rescue.

“We better hurry!” Called Toby. “We don’t want to delay Daisy’s passengers!”

“No indeed.” Grinned Mavis. “Let’s catch some cows!” And they both set off to find the cows.

At last, they arrived at the same place and found Daisy and the cows and by the look on Daisy’s face, she was not having a good day as more cows mooed around her. She was delighted when she saw Toby and Mavis.

“Thank goodness you’re here, my darlings!” She smiled. “Please get these cows away from me!”

“We’ll have them into these cattle trucks in no time.” Grinned Toby.

The cows paid no attention to Toby, but he wasn’t going to give up easily. He remembered how he once shooed a bull off the line years ago.

And so, Toby whooshed steam loudly towards the cows which made them jump in surprise. With another tiny whoosh of steam, the cows gave in and the farmers managed to herd all of the cows inside the cattle trucks at last.

Daisy was very grateful to the two engines.

“Thank you so much for helping me, my dears!” She smiled. “Please don’t tell Thomas and Percy about this. They’ll never let me hear the last of it!”

“Our lips are sealed.” Chuckled Toby giving out a wink.

“Let’s get these cows back home.” Smiled Mavis and they both reversed back down the line towards Ffarquhar to let the cows off with Daisy following.

Daisy’s driver and apologised to the passengers for being late, but they didn’t mind. They all saw how the situation was handled.

With the help of a lorry, the cows were escorted to the lorry and were taken back to the farm safe and sound. Toby and Mavis were very satisfied with their day’s adventure.
Farmer McIntosh was overjoyed to see that his new cows were all safe and sound.

“Thank you both for helping me return my cows.” He said. “I am truly in your debt.” Toby and Mavis smiled.

“We’re just glad we could help.” Smiled Toby. “Otherwise we wouldn’t be able to catch cows properly if someone’s not wearing cowcatchers and side plates.”

Even the Fat Controller was impressed too.

“A fine rescue mission you two have performed today.” He smiled. “You have certainly proven yourselves to be Really Useful Engines by being safe and handling the situation with style.”

Toby and Mavis smiled happily.

The next day, the fence was repaired with more stronger wood so that Brownie and the other cows wouldn’t try another attempt of devouring the green grass close to the line.

Whenever Toby would pass the farm with Henrietta and Victoria, he would always see Brownie poked her head over the fence and would always go “Moo!” As a way of saying hello to Toby.

Toby would always ring his bell as a response in return.

Mavis was happy that she was able to help Toby out by being relieved from the quarry for she never had the chance to help out before.

“It really was a nice change of pace instead of working in the quarry all the time.” She said.

And as for Daisy, she was glad that she wasn’t being teased by Thomas and Percy as they both weren’t told about what happened with the cows.

“Somehow she wouldn’t approve of being teased by those two engines.” Toby said to himself. “But Farmer McIntosh does approve a cow catcher!”

END OF PART 2...