Toby's Festive Adventure - ThomasNATION Fanstory
December 25, 2025
It was close to Christmas on Sodor. The island was coated in a thick blanket of snow and all the stations were decorated, especially Knapford. As they waited, the engines were admiring the wreaths, lights and garlands as Percy raced into the platform.
"Sir! Sir!" Percy cried. "Has anyone seen Sir Topham Hatt?"
"He's in his office," responded Henry. "I'll get him out here."
Henry blew his whistle as loud as he could, getting Sir Topham Hatt out of his office. "Henry, what's the matter?"
"Percy has something to tell you."
"Yeah," said Percy. "you have some mail from the mainland."
As the mailman fished through the packages, Sir Topham Hatt chuckled in excitement. "Ooh! Is it my Christmas present for my mother?"
"You got Dowager Hatt a present?" asked Nia. "How nice of you, sir!”
"Thank you, Nia," responded Sir Topham Hatt. "I got her a special pair of opera glasses. Oh, when she sees this, she's absolutely going to-" He stopped as the mailman handed him a letter. "Oh. What's this?"
Sir Topham Hatt opened the letter and began reading.
"Dear Sir Topham Hatt,
you have been cordially invited to a gala to celebrate another successful year of running the railways of the United Kingdom. You and your choice of two guests shall attend the King's Cross Station in London this Saturday at 7pm to celebrate the holidays and the railways."
The other engines listened to the letter, growing excited.
"Congratulations, sir!" said Thomas. "Has anyone been selected to take you?"
"I'm getting to that, actually," Sir Topham Hatt chuckled. "every year the foremen host a vote to choose who takes which controller. This year, the mainland's controller will be taken by the Flying Scotsman!"
"And who's taking you?" asked Henry.
"Let's see..."
"Our foremen have decided on the hardest-working, most reliable and the most useful engine on the North Western Railway, and the results say..."
"...hm. I say."
"What is it, sir?" asked Percy.
"It says here that I've to be taken by Toby."
The other engines were surprised at this result. "Toby?"
"He's in his office," responded Henry. "I'll get him out here."
Henry blew his whistle as loud as he could, getting Sir Topham Hatt out of his office. "Henry, what's the matter?"
"Percy has something to tell you."
"Yeah," said Percy. "you have some mail from the mainland."
As the mailman fished through the packages, Sir Topham Hatt chuckled in excitement. "Ooh! Is it my Christmas present for my mother?"
"You got Dowager Hatt a present?" asked Nia. "How nice of you, sir!”
"Thank you, Nia," responded Sir Topham Hatt. "I got her a special pair of opera glasses. Oh, when she sees this, she's absolutely going to-" He stopped as the mailman handed him a letter. "Oh. What's this?"
Sir Topham Hatt opened the letter and began reading.
"Dear Sir Topham Hatt,
you have been cordially invited to a gala to celebrate another successful year of running the railways of the United Kingdom. You and your choice of two guests shall attend the King's Cross Station in London this Saturday at 7pm to celebrate the holidays and the railways."
The other engines listened to the letter, growing excited.
"Congratulations, sir!" said Thomas. "Has anyone been selected to take you?"
"I'm getting to that, actually," Sir Topham Hatt chuckled. "every year the foremen host a vote to choose who takes which controller. This year, the mainland's controller will be taken by the Flying Scotsman!"
"And who's taking you?" asked Henry.
"Let's see..."
"Our foremen have decided on the hardest-working, most reliable and the most useful engine on the North Western Railway, and the results say..."
"...hm. I say."
"What is it, sir?" asked Percy.
"It says here that I've to be taken by Toby."
The other engines were surprised at this result. "Toby?"
Henry thought for a second. "Actually, that completely tracks."
"I'll need to speak with him at once." declared Sir Topham Hatt "Does anyone know where I can find him?"
"I think he's up at Wellsworth right now!" called Thomas.
"Very well, then. Do you reckon you can give me a lift, Thomas?"
"I can't, sir," said Thomas, "I need to get onto my branchline."
"I can take you, sir!" chimed Nia.
"I'll need to speak with him at once." declared Sir Topham Hatt "Does anyone know where I can find him?"
"I think he's up at Wellsworth right now!" called Thomas.
"Very well, then. Do you reckon you can give me a lift, Thomas?"
"I can't, sir," said Thomas, "I need to get onto my branchline."
"I can take you, sir!" chimed Nia.
At Wellsworth, Toby was dropping off passengers, while enjoying the calm winter scenery.
"Isn't Christmas time lovely, Henrietta?" asked Toby.
"Absolutely, Toby," smiled Henrietta. "It's always so peaceful this time of year."
Just then, Nia pulled in with Sir Topham Hatt. "Just a moment there, Toby! I have some big news!"
"What is it, sir?" asked Toby.
"You've been selected to take me and my family to a Christmas party in London on the mainland."
"Me, sir?" Toby asked. "Are you sure? I mean, there are a ton of other bigger and faster engines, and I'm just a little old steam tram."
"It's the host's request," replied Sir Topham Hatt, "and I must oblige."
"How exciting is that, Toby?" chirped Henrietta. "Us, on a grand adventure to the mainland!"
"Well, I guess if the host requested me, then I can't argue with that."
"Wonderful! We'll have to leave at 8am sharp. But for now, you get a good night's sleep, Toby. We have an early day ahead of us!"
The day of the gala arrived, and the Steam Team was lined up to bid the Hatts and Toby farewell and good luck. But Toby was running late, and Sir Topham Hatt was getting worried.
"Oh, where are you, Toby..." he whimpered.
"Don't worry, sir," said Emily, "I'm sure he'll be along shortly."
"But we were due to leave twenty minutes ago." said Sir Topham Hatt. Just then, Toby raced into the station looking concerned.
"Sir! I've got terrible news!" Toby cried.
"Whatever is the matter?" asked Sir Topham Hatt.
"Henrietta's away being repaired!" replied Toby. "She got a wheel flat last night and had to be taken to the Steamworks, and I can't even find Hannah anywhere!"
The other engines, and the Hatts, murmured in shock. "Oh, dear, Toby..." sighed Sir Topham Hatt. "Well, we'd better find another coach. Perhaps an express coach would do nicely...or perhaps a slip coach..."
Thomas looked around for any spare coaches, but he couldn't find any...except Annie and Clarabel. "Hmm..."
"I'm sorry, sir. I really let you down, didn't I?" Toby asked, before getting a mighty shove. "OW!"
"Hatts, your chariots await!" cried Thomas as he shunted Annie and Clarabel into Toby.
"What's going on, Thomas?" asked Annie.
"What are you doing?" pondered Clarabel.
"I'm giving you to Toby for a while," said Thomas. "just until he gets back from the mainland."
"My, what a clever idea, Thomas!" declared Sir Topham Hatt. "Come along, family! Next stop, London!"
"All aboard!" called Toby. "Plenty of room for everyone!"
The Hatts were all seated and it was time to disembark. "Mainland, ho!"
Toby left with Annie and Clarabel to the mainland. He was feeling really excited, but also a bit nervous. But hey, it was just a little trip to London. What could happen?
Soon, Toby was well into the mainland, enjoying all the sights of the snowy countryside and all the flashing lights illuminating the railway. But soon, he had to come to a stop at a canal.
"Toby?" asked Annie. "What's the matter?"
"Why've we stopped?" asked Clarabel.
"I just need to get some more water," replied Toby.
"But there's no water towers here," said Annie. "unless you were planning to fish some out from the canal."
"No matter," said Toby. "I'll just ask for directions from...uh..." He looked around, until he saw Beresford, Thomas' old crane friend. "...that crane! Excuse me?"
"Yes?" Beresford said. "Who goes there?"
"Me." said Toby, timidly. "My name's Toby. I've come all the way from Sodor, and-"
"Ooh, all the way from Sodor, hmm?" Beresford laughed. "Perhaps you know my good friend Thomas! Me and him go way back!"
"Of course I know Thomas," said Toby, "but we're getting side tracked. Do you know the way to the nearest water tower?"
"Certainly. It's just over there." Beresford said, pointing Toby to the nearby water tower. "So what are you here for today? Headed to Bridlington? Seeing the queen?"
"I'm off to London, actually," Toby answered as he filled up with water. "I'm taking the Hatts to a special Christmas party."
"Ooh, sounds fancy!" said Beresford. "I've never celebrated that before."
"Really?" Toby gasped. "I'm sure you must've had some sort of Christmas celebration."
"Actually, my operator celebrates Diwali." Beresford chuckled.
"Diwali?" asked Toby. "What's that holiday?"
"Oh, my operator describes Diwali as a magnificent festival of lights that celebrates the spiritual triumph of good over evil." Beresford explains. "We celebrate it during five days of Kartika!"
"Kartika?"
"It's, like, in between October and November. My operator usually celebrates by illuminating his house, having a grand feast with his family, lighting fireworks and lanterns, and spending time with his loved ones. It's a beautiful time, Toby."
Toby was surprised. Diwali sounded magnificent! "Wow! That sounds incredible!"
"It is, Toby."
"Uh, Toby?" called Sir Topham Hatt. "Have ya filled up yet?"
"Oh! Sorry, sir!" said Toby. "Bye, Beresford! Have a lovely Diwali!"
"Oh, Diwali already passed, Toby." Beresford chuckled. "But I appreciate it, friend!"
And Toby left, with the old crane feeling satisfied. "What a nice little tram."
Soon, Toby was back on his way to London. By the time he was on his way, the snow was starting to pick up. The good news is Toby's cowcatcher made for a makeshift snowplough. The bad news is, it wasn't a very good makeshift snowplough.
"Toby?" called Dowager Hatt from inside Annie. "What is all this rumpus?"
"It's all this snow, ma'am." Toby replied. "I can barely move an inch!"
"Well, get someone to clear it for you!" yelled Dowager Hatt. "We're going to run late!"
"Don't make this a thing, mother." Sir Topham Hatt rolled his eyes. "He's trying his best."
Toby wasn't fond of Dowager Hatt's whinging either. "Alright, keep your hat on. I'll ask someone to clear the line for me."
He pulled into a station and had a look around the yard. There were plenty of engines kicking about the place, from big strong steamies to little diesel shunters. One particular engine caught Annie's eye - a diesel shunter with a bright red snowplough.
"What about him, Toby?" asked Annie. "He has a snowplough on."
"Good idea." Toby approached the diesel. "Excuse me, can you clear the track for us?"
"Nope." said the diesel, not really paying attention to him.
"But we're going to run late!"
"Not my problem."
Toby rolled his eyes. "Y'know, this isn't gonna get you on Santa's nice list."
"Nice try, mate, but my driver and I celebrate Hanukkah."
"What-ukkah?"
"Hanukkah? The Jewish festival? You've never heard of it?"
"No."
The diesel was stunned. "Okay, this, uh...this is a first. So, Hanukkah is a festival of lights. Driver says it commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple."
"Beresford told me that Diwali goes on for five days. Does Hanukkah go on that long as well?"
"No, actually. Instead of five days, we celebrate for eight."
"Eight?" gasped Toby in awe. "That's a little over a whole week of celebration!"
"That's how long the oil in the menorah burns for."
"Wow. And how does your driver celebrate?"
"He usually spends it playing games, eating special food and giving gifts."
"That sounds amazing."
"It really is." the diesel smiled. "Y'know, you're the first engine I've met who actually understood me."
"That's Toby for you!" chirped Annie and Clarabel.
"Well, that's a good trait in an engine. It's important to understand other people's beliefs."
"Uh, Toby?" called out Lady Hatt. "Any luck finding an engine to clear the tracks?"
"Well, what of it?" asked Toby to the diesel.
"...sure. I got you." And with that, the diesel led the way, clearing the tracks as Toby followed him.
Soon, London was in sight. Toby could almost see King's Cross Station coming up.
"So, what brings you to London?" asked the diesel.
"I'm taking Sir Topham Hatt to a Christmas gala." explained Toby.
"Christmas gala?" thought the diesel. "...oh, do you mean that gala where the controllers celebrate the holidays together?"
"That's the one." smiled Toby. "And I think we're almost there."
At last, the two engines pulled into the station. Toby had a look around - the station was decorated, highlighted by a massive Christmas tree, but in lights and decorations he had never seen before.
"What's all this?" he asked.
"It's the holiday decorations." said the diesel. "What's wrong?"
"I've never seen so many colors." Toby had another look around. The decorations started to piece together. "...wait, do they also celebrate Hanukkah here? And Diwali?"
"Yep." smiled the diesel. "The controllers gather here to celebrate the holidays. All of them. For example, the controller of the Birmingham railway? His family celebrates Kwanzaa."
"Wow...what's Kwanzaa?"
"I think it's a celebration of African culture that lasts for six days."
"Six days?" gasped Toby. "Wow. Christmas seems so small now."
"Well, the world is a lot bigger than you think."
The Tophams disembarked from Annie and Clarabel. "Thank you, Toby." said Sir Topham Hatt. "I can see why the committee chose you to take us. You are truly a really useful engine."
Toby smiled. He felt as grand and gallant as a knight.
"Well, all's well that ends well." smirked the diesel. "What's next, you gonna head back to Sodor?"
"No, actually." Toby smiled warmly. "I think I'm gonna celebrate here, and learn about all these other holidays."
And as the night went on, Toby had learned all about the other ways people celebrate, and began to understand their perspectives. As his diesel friend said it best, it's important to understand other people's beliefs.
About the Author: JF the LOLZOR
0 comments