It's New Year's Eve and Mr Toad plans to have a Scottish Hogmanay party at Toad Hall. Badger hears worrying news of the building of a railway that could threaten their homes.
After a storm the river is no longer flowing, Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad set off to find what the cause is. Otter discovers it is due to a building of a bridge for the railway.
Mr Toad reads of jousting tournaments in his boys first book of wonders and decides to hold a medieval tournament in Toad Hall. Toad offers a jousting challenge with a prize, the weasels are set to take up the challenge..
Badger reads an article in the Times about an archaeological find during construction of the railway, Toad hopes being an archaeologist will see his elevation to the nobility and opens a museum at Toad Hall.
Mr Toad's hot air balloon arrives, to Toad's surprise Badger approves of his latest craze as it will help them track the progress of the railway, When Toad takes off unexpectedly Mole tries to follow in Toad's car.
Toad's friends criticise his physical condition and Toad embarks on a fitness craze. Ratty and Mole find some letters about the railway in a drawer at Toad Hall.
Badger heads to London for news on the railway's construction. The weasels trick Toad into giving them Toad Hall, Badger returns to thwart the weasel's plans and persuades them to join forces to fight the railway.
Toad buys a canning machine in the hopes of preserving the produce from his garden, he invites Ratty, Mole and Badger to Toad Hall for the grand opening of his cans of food.
Mr Toad organises a fireworks display for bonfire night, trouble ensues when the weasels steal Toad's expensive fireworks. Meanwhile the railway gets closer.
It's New Year and Mole's cousin Auberon joins the festivities at Toad Hall. The weasels attempt to steal the railway's traction engine and a letter arrives from parliament.
