Leaves on the Line! (2014 magazine story)

Leaves on the Line! is a magazine story, illustrated using images from the CGI television series.

Plot
Early one Autumn morning, Toby is talking to Thomas. He says that the leaves will soon be falling off the trees. Thomas is worried; leaves on the line can cause delays. Toby tells Thomas not to worry as he can clear the leaves with his cowcatcher.

That night, there is a huge storm on the island and when the engines awake next morning, they cannot believe their eyes. There are leaves everywhere. The Fat Controller arrives and says he has had to lay on a replacement bus service as there are so many slippery leaves it would be dangerous to run trains. Toby offers to start clearing the tracks, but the Fat Controller says the railway will still have to shut down for days; there are far too many leaves for one engine to clear. Toby doesn't like seeing the Fat Controller so upset and promises to come up with an idea to help. Toby suggests that the engines use their snowploughs to clear the leaves. The Fat Controller thinks this is a grand idea.

Soon, Thomas, Gordon and Emily all have snowploughs fitted. However, it is still a very big job for such a few engines. Toby says that Timothy and Millie have bars to protect their wheels and Den and Dart have low front plates so the Fat Controller tells Toby that they can help too. Toby also remembers Marion; she can use her shovel to help clear the leaves.

All of the engines that could move the leaves off the line set to work. To the Fat Controller's amazement, the lines are cleared in just one day. The Fat Controller thanks Toby for his marvellous suggestion. This leaves Toby feeling very proud indeed.

Characters

 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * Percy
 * Toby
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Thomas (speaks in speech bubble only)
 * Dart (speaks in speech bubble only)
 * Marion (speaks in speech bubble only)
 * Timothy (does not speak)
 * Den (does not speak)
 * Millie (does not speak)
 * Mavis (mentioned)