THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE
TOBY AND THE STOUT GENTLEMEN
Adapted for Television by
Britt Allcroft, David Mitton & Robert Cardona
Originally Written by
The Rev.W.Awdry
Air Date:
6/11/84
Plot:
The Fat Controller was spending some time away from the railway with his family. They went to a tram line were they met a quaint and old fashioned tram engine named Toby. His line is located at Arlesdale End. Toby had fewer passengers and trucks as many people preferred to be transported by lorry. Then one day, Toby's driver told them that the line is closing down. Toby thought no one wants him until the next day he received a letter from a certain person.
PRO:
- Giving the backstory of Toby before he arrived on the island.
CON:
- Why in the deleted scene there is a turntable at his shed?
Along with 'The Sad Story of Henry', this is another sad story, but with a semi-happy ending, by semi-happy ending, I mean that Toby's happy ending happens in the next episode. Here you have Toby a quaint and old fashioned tram engine who is careful and wise working hard on his tram line that is loosing business due to the passengers and good being taken by road to places. Now that shows Toby determination as the picture was telling the story instead of the narrator telling you. Despite that the writing was great in this episode, the Railway Series story that its based upon in 'Toby the Tram Engine' has the story a bit expanded, you have the reason why so many people don't ride on Toby that often, but the episode does stick towards the original story.
But I don't see why Toby needs a turntable at his shed. I know that was not in the episode, but in a behind the scenes picture and the deleted scene (above), clearly shows a turntable. We just had an episode of saying why little engines don't need a turntable as they can go backwards and forwards easily. But it was an OK feature and this episode I would watch again and again.
Rating: 4/5
