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Description
~His name is Tobias, Toby for short, and he's a little steam tram. He's short and sturdy, fitted with cowcatchers and side plates on each end. He's one of the oldest engines on Sodor, being around way longer than Edward. Contrary to what most will tell you, Toby's actually been around on Sodor since before the North Western Railway was ever formed. This is the full story.

The year was 1879, a new railway line was being built on the northern side of Sodor. This would later be known as the Arlesdale Tramway, and it was to connect the towns at Arlesdale End and Harwick with the various farms, industries, and mines of the region, putting an end to their transport problems. Of course, an engine was needed to run the line, so while the track was being laid, the board had commissioned an engine to be built from a small workshop in Ireland. This engine was, of course, Toby.

The tram engine would later arrive on the Island in the spring of that year. With his help, work on the line began to move at a much quicker pace. Soon the Arlesdale Tramway was opened in the Fall, later that year amongst heavy fanfare. After its completion, the tram engine worked tirelessly to keep the company running, his stamina and work ethic mirroring his director, Mr. Carl Harrigan. Thanks to their efforts, both goods and livestock were delivered at a fast and efficient rate, and when Toby wasn't handling trucks, he was seen carrying people about the line in his lone coach.

Mr. Harrigan's wife, Henrietta, was a constant visitor among the line, and she and Toby would become particularly close friends. Indeed it was a happy life for all, but sadly it wouldn't last long. Around the early 1910s, Mrs. Harrigan was diagnosed with influenza and soon passed away in 1913. Both Toby and Mr. Harrigan were devastated by this; the director, in particular, took it especially hard and was practically broken by it. He soon began drinking himself into a deep motivation and flat out neglected his responsibilities to the Tramway. Despite the patronage of some friendly investors, the Arlesdale Tramway finally had to close in 1914.

Although he was initially slated for scrap, he was instead bought by the Great Eastern Railway. He was given a complete rebuild, becoming the first of the GER Class C53, later known as LNER J70, tram engines.

Much of Toby's life afterward was a quiet one spent shunting at Great Yarmouth Docks, Norfolk with his brothers, the only time he was ever let out was for a seaside village's festival. In 1946 was transferred to a small tramway located in East Anglia, and it was here; he was given his own faithful coach, which he would name Henrietta, in memory of his deceased friend. For the next few years, he worked, taking trucks from farms and factories to the mainline for other engines to take, similar to his old line. Unfortunately, history would unknowingly repeat itself for the tram engine. Over the years, goods and passengers would steadily decline with the rise of buses and lorries, and Toby would have fewer trucks and passengers and would eventually close, and Toby was left in a shed.

But just like last time, there was light at the end of the tunnel. Back on Sodor, the year Toby left, most of the Railways (S&M, W&S, TK&ELR) had joined together, forming the North Western Railway. And the controller, Sir Bertram Topham Hatt, who he and his family actually visited on his line during his holiday, bought him to work on Thomas' branch line as it was found illegal to go on the Quarry Tramroad without side plates or cowcatchers. Toby was the perfect engine for the job, and since he would often take workmen from Ffarquhar to Anopha Quarry and did general goods work ever since on his true home Sodor.

More to come soon.

Thomas & Friends/The Railway Series ~ The Awdry Family, Britt Alcroft, & Mattel
Sprites © Cj-The-Creator , Princess-Muffins , wyattloughrie , Diamond-Jubilee , Nictrain123 , & Myself.

Description
~His name is Tobias, Toby for short, and he's a little steam tram. He's short and sturdy, fitted with cowcatchers and side plates on each end. He's one of the oldest engines on Sodor, being around way longer than Edward. Contrary to what most will tell you, Toby's actually been around on Sodor since before the North Western Railway was ever formed. This is the full story.

The year was 1879, a new railway line was being built on the northern side of Sodor. This would later be known as the Arlesdale Tramway, and it was to connect the towns at Arlesdale End and Harwick with the various farms, industries, and mines of the region, putting an end to their transport problems. Of course, an engine was needed to run the line, so while the track was being laid, the board had commissioned an engine to be built from a small workshop in Ireland. This engine was, of course, Toby.

The tram engine would later arrive on the Island in the spring of that year. With his help, work on the line began to move at a much quicker pace. Soon the Arlesdale Tramway was opened in the Fall, later that year amongst heavy fanfare. After its completion, the tram engine worked tirelessly to keep the company running, his stamina and work ethic mirroring his director, Mr. Carl Harrigan. Thanks to their efforts, both goods and livestock were delivered at a fast and efficient rate, and when Toby wasn't handling trucks, he was seen carrying people about the line in his lone coach.

Mr. Harrigan's wife, Henrietta, was a constant visitor among the line, and she and Toby would become particularly close friends. Indeed it was a happy life for all, but sadly it wouldn't last long. Around the early 1910s, Mrs. Harrigan was diagnosed with influenza and soon passed away in 1913. Both Toby and Mr. Harrigan were devastated by this; the director, in particular, took it especially hard and was practically broken by it. He soon began drinking himself into a deep motivation and flat out neglected his responsibilities to the Tramway. Despite the patronage of some friendly investors, the Arlesdale Tramway finally had to close in 1914.

Although he was initially slated for scrap, he was instead bought by the Great Eastern Railway. He was given a complete rebuild, becoming the first of the GER Class C53, later known as LNER J70, tram engines.

Much of Toby's life afterward was a quiet one spent shunting at Great Yarmouth Docks, Norfolk with his brothers, the only time he was ever let out was for a seaside village's festival. In 1946 was transferred to a small tramway located in East Anglia, and it was here; he was given his own faithful coach, which he would name Henrietta, in memory of his deceased friend. For the next few years, he worked, taking trucks from farms and factories to the mainline for other engines to take, similar to his old line. Unfortunately, history would unknowingly repeat itself for the tram engine. Over the years, goods and passengers would steadily decline with the rise of buses and lorries, and Toby would have fewer trucks and passengers and would eventually close, and Toby was left in a shed.

But just like last time, there was light at the end of the tunnel. Back on Sodor, the year Toby left, most of the Railways (S&M, W&S, TK&ELR) had joined together, forming the North Western Railway. And the controller, Sir Bertram Topham Hatt, who he and his family actually visited on his line during his holiday, bought him to work on Thomas' branch line as it was found illegal to go on the Quarry Tramroad without side plates or cowcatchers. Toby was the perfect engine for the job, and since he would often take workmen from Ffarquhar to Anopha Quarry and did general goods work ever since on his true home Sodor.

More to come soon.

Thomas & Friends/The Railway Series ~ The Awdry Family, Britt Alcroft, & Mattel
Sprites © Cj-The-Creator , Princess-Muffins , wyattloughrie , Diamond-Jubilee , Nictrain123 , & Myself.