| This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the vinyl record, the German VHS, the Malaysian VCD, the Ladybird book, the Buzz Book, the 1988 magazine story or the 1998 magazine story. |
| For other uses, see Toby. |
- “Electric indeed! Electric indeed!”
- ― Toby
Toby and the Stout Gentleman, retitled Toby the Tram Engine on American releases, is the twenty-first episode of the first series. It is based on the story of the same name from The 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 traditional steam engine. He has his own coach called Henrietta, who always rides along with him. Sadly, they have both seen better days as the amount of passengers and trucks they take have been decreasing due to the increasing popularity of road transportation: 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 Controller - his wife and their two grandchildren Stephen and Bridget Hatt visit the railway while on holiday. The two children note that Toby looks unusual for an engine and the Fat Controller tells them that he is a tram engine. After Bridget 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 Controller speaks to Toby, thanking him for a lovely journey and Toby thanks him back. He notes to himself that the Fat Controller 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.
"Wake up, Toby! And listen to this! It's a letter from the stout gentleman!"
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, to Toby's grief. Later that day, a crowd 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 has arrived.
Characters
- Toby
- Henrietta
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Stephen Hatt
- Bridget Hatt
- Lady Hatt (not named, does not speak)
- Toby's Controller (mentioned)
Locations
- Black Loch
- Lower Arlesburgh
- Arlesdale End
- Post Windmill
- Tidmouth Sheds (deleted scene)
- Tidmouth Goods Station (deleted scene)
Trivia
- This marks the first appearance of several things:
- The first appearance of Toby, Henrietta, Bridget and Lady Hatt in the television series.
- The first appearance of Arlesdale End, Arlesdale Castle, Lake and Mountains Line in the television series.
- The first episode where a line was closing down; in this case, it was Toby's Old Tramway.
- The first episode where an engine had escaped from scrap; in this case, Toby was brought to the North Western Railway by the Fat Controller, although it was officially seen in the next episode and an escape from scrap was not shown on-screen until the second series episode Saved from Scrap.
- In the Welsh dub, a few bits of footage were removed, such as Toby leaving the station on his last day and when Toby goes to his shed.
- A deleted scene shows Toby pulling his first train past Tidmouth Sheds and towards the Main Line.
- In a deleted scene and several behind the scenes photos, there is a turntable in front of Toby's shed. However, the turntable was not seen in the episode itself.
- This is the only episode of three things:
- The only time until the nineteenth series episode Henry Spots Trouble that Stephen and Bridget Hatt are referred to by name.
- The only appearance of Arlesdale End until the tenth series episode The Green Controller, though it was mentioned in the fifth series episode Baa! and Toby's Shed appeared later in the fifth, seventh, eighth and ninth series.
- The only episode of the series to feature only one non-human character without a face, with this being Henrietta.
- When George Carlin's dub aired on Shining Time Station, the first shot was cut out.
- The last day of Toby's line being in service and the last scene both take place during Thomas in Trouble.
- This episode and Thomas in Trouble were the last two episodes to air in four pairings on 20 August 1990.
- The US title is one of two titles to share its name with a book of The Railway Series, the other being Four Little Engines.
- When this episode and Thomas in Trouble were released on Curiosity Stream, the episode's format was stretched to 16:9 widescreen and the UK narration was used.
Goofs
- In the restored version:
- The footage sometimes overlaps.
- Studio equipment is visible in the top left corner at the beginning of the episode.
- A small piece of blu tack can be seen on the Fat Controller's shoes when Toby first meets him at Lower Arlesburgh.
- When the Fat Controller says, "Stop!" he has five holes in his face and hat.
- In the first to third close-ups of the Fat Controller, a camera tripod is seen on the left corner of the screen.
- When Bridget says "Is it electric?" and "But trams are electric, aren't they?" there is red marking on her left (viewers' right) palm.
- In the first and last close-up of Stephen and Bridget Hatt and the two close-ups of Bridget Hatt, a light stand is seen.
- In both US dubs, after Toby complains about being called electric, it is said that he "was proud of being a steam train," when the narrator was really supposed to be talking about Toby being proud of being a steam tram.
- In the French dub, instead of the grandchildren saying to Sir Topham Hatt: "Do look at this engine"; they said: "Regarde, c'est un tramway?", "Look, is that a tram?" And the Fat Controller responded: "Non c'est une locomotive à bennes, Stéphane", "No, that is a goods engine, Stephen".
- Toby's bell is silver instead of gold in the close-up.
- When the passengers say "We are sorry your line is closing down", Toby's cowcatcher is slanted.
- In the shot where Toby said "Nobody wants me", part of the studio wall can be seen behind the sky painting.
Quotes
- Grandchildren: Come on, Grandfather! Do look at this engine.
- Stout Gentleman (The Fat Controller): That's a tram engine, Stephen.
- Bridget: Is it electric?
- Toby: [furiously] WHOOSH!!
- Stephen: Shh! Shh! You've offended him.
- Bridget: But trams are electric, aren't they?
- The Fat Controller: They are mostly but this is a steam tram.
- Stephen and Bridget: May we go in it, Grandfather? Please?
- The Fat Controller: [to the guard] STOP!
- [he and his family board Henrietta; Toby sets off]
- Henrietta: Hip-hip hurray!
- Narrator: But Toby didn't sing.
- Toby: Electric, indeed. Electric, indeed!
- Narrator: He was very hurt.
- [last lines]
- Toby's Driver: Wake up, Toby! And listen to this! It's a letter from the stout gentleman!
- Narrator: Toby listened and... but I mustn't tell you any more or I shall spoil the next story.
In Other Languages
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Merchandise
- Ladybird Book - Toby and the Stout Gentleman and Thomas in Trouble
- Buzz Book - Toby and the Stout Gentleman
- Book - Thomas and Toby
- My Thomas Story Library book - Toby
- Engine Adventures book - Toby
- Magazine stories - Toby and the Stout Gentleman (1988) and Toby and the Stout Gentleman! (1998)
Home Video Releases
Episode
References
| #01 Thomas and Gordon | #10 James and the Express | #19 The Flying Kipper |
| #02 Edward and Gordon | #11 Thomas and the Guard | #20 Whistles and Sneezes |
| #03 The Sad Story of Henry | #12 Thomas Goes Fishing | #21 Toby and the Stout Gentleman |
| #04 Edward, Gordon and Henry | #13 Thomas, Terence and the Snow | #22 Thomas in Trouble |
| #05 Thomas' Train | #14 Thomas and Bertie | #23 Dirty Objects |
| #06 Thomas and the Trucks | #15 Tenders and Turntables | #24 Off the Rails |
| #07 Thomas and the Breakdown Train | #16 Trouble in the Shed | #25 Down the Mine |
| #08 James and the Coaches | #17 Percy Runs Away | #26 Thomas' Christmas Party |
| #09 Troublesome Trucks | #18 Coal | |