Toby's Tightrope


 * “Oh well. My driver told me about circus people who walk tightropes, but I just didn't fancy doing it myself!”
 * ―Toby

Toby's Tightrope is the fifteenth episode of the third series. It is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Tramway Engines.

Plot
Percy arrives at the quarry to pick up stone for his trucks. The only other engine in the quarry at the moment is Mavis who is sheltering between rocks looking miserable. Percy tells the young diesel to cheer up, but she explains that her manager found out about her going down Toby's line and causing trouble and has confined her to the quarry. She calls Toby a fusspot again, angering Percy who tells her that Toby knows a lot about trucks and that they must be left where he wants them. Percy then leaves to take his trucks to the harbour. Although Mavis likes Percy, she still does not understand why she cannot go down the line.

The siding arrangements at the quarry are very awkward and Mavis is forced to make several journeys to put the trucks in the correct place. Mavis is desperate to leave the quarry and makes a plan. She starts by telling her driver the work would be a lot easier if she could use a small part of Toby's line. Her driver, suspecting nothing, agrees and allows her to go as far as the first level crossing.

The weather changes, with the snow and ice melting away. This causes an increase in work and Mavis takes trains that are so long that she has to go beyond the level crossing. She decides to proceed with her plan to go further down the line without making it look like her fault and asks the trucks to bump her at the level crossing. The trucks agree, but things go awry when Toby arrives while she is gone and decides to shunt them himself. The trucks decide to bump Toby instead and when Toby reaches the level crossing the trucks push him down the line.

Melted ice and snow had caused the river on Toby's line to become a torrent and it washes away a crumbling wooden bridge after a log collides with it but leaves the rails behind which form a tightrope across the abyss. Toby's driver fights for control and by the time Toby is finally able to stop, he is on the "tightrope" precariously above the water, ready to fall any second as more pieces of the bridge crumble into the torrent.

When Mavis hears what has happened, she is horrified and immediately goes to help. Toby is anchored to some rocks with chains as Mavis takes away the trucks. Eventually, she is able to pull Toby to safety and later apologises about what happened with the trucks. Toby thanks Mavis, telling her that he does not fancy walking any tightropes again.

The Fat Controller sees Mavis later and congratulates her for doing well in an emergency. Mavis admits she was responsible for the trucks' behaviour but asks if she can still use Toby's line as Toby has offered to show her what to do. The Fat Controller agrees on the condition that Mavis' manager allows her to, which he does. Mavis is now happier than ever and is considered to be a Really Useful Engine.

Characters

 * Percy
 * Toby
 * Mavis
 * Troublesome Trucks
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Anopha Quarry Manager  (mentioned)

Locations

 * Tidmouth Hault
 * Ffarquhar Quarry
 * Ffarquhar River Bridge
 * The Quarry Tramroad
 * Knapford Harbour  (mentioned)

Trivia

 * This is one of the few third series episodes to use the train brake sound effect from the 20th Century Fox Film sound effects library.
 * Both this episode and its previous episode aired on Christmas Day 1991 in the United States.
 * In the later UK version, the music is more faint when Mavis pulled the trucks away and rescues Toby.
 * Starting with this episode, Percy's whistle is at a lower pitch and would stay that way for the rest of the series. It was previously at a lower pitch in the third series episode Time for Trouble, then returned to normal in the third series episode, Thomas, Percy and the Dragon.
 * In the early narration, when the trucks started to push Toby, Michael Angelis says 'giving him a fearful bump', but in the re-dubbed narration the line is omitted.

Goofs

 * Michael Angelis' early narration of this episode and George Carlin's refer to the chains as ropes.
 * When Toby backs down onto the trucks, his eyes are wonky.
 * In the restored version, a crew member's hand can be seen pushing the trucks when they surge against Toby.
 * In a photographic still, Toby's driver is smiling when Toby is being bumped by the trucks.
 * Percy's roof is lifted when he leaves the quarry.
 * When Mavis pulls Toby to safety, there are chains fastened to her cowcatchers. In the next shot, the chains that are fastened to her cowcatchers disappear and are replaced by a single chain fastened to Mavis' front coupling. The chains fastened to both her front coupling and cowcatchers all appear in the next shot.
 * When Toby is being pulled to safety you can see Toby's face is not properly put in place
 * When Mavis leaves her trucks, there are ten of them, but when Toby arrives, there are only seven. When the trucks are pushing Toby, there are only five.
 * In the beginning of the episode, some studio equipment is visible at the top of the screen.
 * When Toby stops at the level crossing, his face is crooked.
 * Mavis throughout the episode can be seen having her face slightly tilted to the left. This is especially more shown when the Fat Controller compliments Mavis for her work.

Quotes

 * Percy: Cheer up, Mavis.
 * Mavis: [about her previous troubles] Manager says I don't listen to his advice. He says I've no business jauntering down Toby's line. Toby's a fusspot!
 * Percy: Toby has forgotten more about trucks/cars than you will ever know. You must put the trucks where he wants them, then you'll be a Really Useful Engine. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to take these stones to the harbour.


 * Mavis: [after saving Toby from the damaged bridge] I'm sorry about the trucks/cars. I can't think how you managed to stop them in time.
 * Toby: Oh, well. My driver told me about circus people who walk tightropes, but I just didn't fancy doing it myself.


 * The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt: A very smart piece of work. Mavis, you did well too I hear.
 * Mavis: It was my fault about those trucks/cars, sir. But if I could...
 * The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt: Could what?
 * Mavis: Come down the line sometimes, Sir? Toby says he'll show me what to do.
 * The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt: Certainly. If your manager agrees.
 * Narrator: And so it was arranged. Now Mavis is as happy as can be, and The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt thinks she's really useful indeed.

Merchandise

 * Books - Toby in Trouble
 * Buzz Books - Toby's Tightrope
 * My Thomas Story Library - Mavis  (discontinued)

UK

 * Trust Thomas and Other Stories  (Direct-to-Home Video)
 * Thomas' Train and 17 other stories
 * Chases, Races and Runaways
 * My Little Thomas and Toby Adventures
 * The Complete Series 3

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection

WAL

 * Thomas the Tank Engine: Bumper Special 1

US

 * Trust Thomas and Other Stories
 * Thomas and Bertie's Great Race and Other Adventures
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 3

VHS/DVD Packs

 * Special Video Collector's Set
 * Trust Thomas and Other Stories/A Big Day for Thomas Double Feature
 * On-the-Go Pack
 * Totally Thomas Volume 6

AUS

 * Trust Thomas and Other Stories
 * The Complete Series 3
 * My First Thomas with Toby and Edward

DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * Classic Collection
 * Series Three and Series Four Double Pack

NZ

 * Bumper Video Collection Volume 4

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 15
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.8
 * Toby and Edward the Little Engines
 * Fun Stories Popped Out from Picture Book
 * The Complete DVD Box 1

GR

 * The Twin Engines Were Confused!

DVD Boxsets

 * 3 DVD Boxset 2

GER

 * Lots of Little Helpers

DVD Boxsets

 * Thomas and His Friends Box Set 2

DK

 * The Great Escape and Other Stories

NOR

 * Edward, Trevor and the Useful Party
 * The Old Coach
 * Songs and Tales

FIN

 * Edward, Trevor and the Useful Party

NL

 * Rely on Thomas
 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Edward, Toby and the Diesels

UKR

 * A Train Thomas and Friends

MYS

 * Toby's Tightrope and Other Thomas Adventures
 * Donald's Duck and Other Adventures

ITA

 * Locomotive in Trouble

SVN

 * Henry's Forest

SER

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 6

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 7  (VCD)
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 6  (DVD)

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 10