Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends

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Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends ranks 1,160 out of the 18,222 shows on TV.com.

The 404 users who count themselves as Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends fans have written a total of 114 reviews.

Status

Premiered

Genre

Theme

Related Shows

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Welcome to the Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends guide at TV.com.

The show is about a tank engine, Thomas, and his friends who live on the Island of Sodor. Together, the engines work on the railways under the supervision of Sir Topham Hatt, the "Fat Controller."

Thomas The Tank Engine... more »

Welcome to the Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends guide at TV.com.

The show is about a tank engine, Thomas, and his friends who live on the Island of Sodor. Together, the engines work on the railways under the supervision of Sir Topham Hatt, the "Fat Controller."

Thomas The Tank Engine actually dates back to 1945, when the Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry created The Railway Series to amuse his son Christopher, who was suffering from measles. His wife Margaret encouraged him to publish the stories and he did so, going on to add another book each year (except 1947 and 1971) until 1972. Wilbert's son Christopher later continued The Railway Series up to 40 books.

In 1984 Britt Allcroft decided to turn the stories into a TV series with Ringo Starr as the narrator. He was replaced by Michael Angelis in 1991, who still narrates today. (Full Narrator listings below.) When the series was shown on PBS in the US, it was part of a show called Shining Time Station. 2 of the show's narrators played Mr. Conductor in the series, Ringo Starr in the earlier episodes and George Carlin later. Since the show ran from 1989 to 1993, only early episodes of Thomas are part of it. A note on writers:
In the episode guide, the writers are as follows:
If the episode is based on a Railway Series book by the Rev W Awdry, he will be credited as the writer.
If the episode is based on a Railway Series book by Christopher Awdry, he will be credited as the writer.
If the episode is not based on a Railway Series book, Britt Allcroft and David Mitton will be credited as the writers since they wrote it.
From Season 6 the writers are varied.

Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends® is Based on The Railway Series by The Reverend W. Awdry.

Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends and Thomas & Friends are trademarks of HIT Entertainment Inc.less «

• NeW ePiSoDeS aNd ChArAcTeRs

  now i know this could go under the thread about making your own series, but this tread breaks it down and when i say new ch...more »

  now i know this could go under the thread about making your own series, but this tread breaks it down and when i say new characters i dont mean just engines i mean people & nonrail characters as well and you can make up your own stories for: SERIES 11!!!!!!!!!!! you can make 26 eps then it goes on to: SERIES 12!!!!!!!!!!! and so forth they can be pack eps SG eps NG eps non rail eps even people eps any type of episode RULES no curses or swear words (DAMN HELL and HECK are acceptable) not too many crashes must vaguely follow the laws of physics well? what in the hell are you waiting for go on! PS dont forget songs and interactive intersections PPS u can introduce new places as well less «

  pyroguy9 Last online May 15, 2009
  454 comments, last one 17 hrs, 11 mins ago + Add Comment

• Thomas Wooden Railway Discussion

  According to the main online store Learning Curves are sold, Sir Handel, Peter Sam, and some others are retired. Who owns these out-of-print engines?

  According to the main online store Learning Curves are sold, Sir Handel, Peter Sam, and some others are retired. Who owns these out-of-print engines? less «

  12scarystuff12 Last online 8 days ago
  3,476 comments, last one 1 day, 8 hrs ago + Add Comment

• whos more better duck or emily

  hey folks its been so long i haven't talk too you. Since I don't know who's better Duck or Emily. Because I know when Duck leave Emily took his place. But I don't know whos better.

  hey folks its been so long i haven't talk too you. Since I don't know who's better Duck or Emily. Because I know when Duck leave Emily took his place. But I don't know whos better. less «

  SlyGadget22 Last online 1 day ago
  3 comments, last one 1 day, 10 hrs ago + Add Comment

•  

  9 Superb

  Should've stopped a long, long, time ago. hide « show »

  Thomas The Tank Engine was my favourite thing from when I was a little kid. I was obsessed with everything to do with it and now as I've gotten older my obsession has turned to trains in general.
  
  The first 4 seasons were extroadinary, with almost all of the episodes being based on the books by The Rev W Awdry. Then after that they were all new stories, not being based on the ones done by the Rev. Then the next two seasons after 4 were quite good, but then after that, the quality plummeted. Now Thomas The Tank Engine today, once just a fanatstic series of books called "The Railway Series," which was one of the, in my opinion, greatest childrens series ever written - has been turned into a money making franchise. Which is a truly dreadful thing.
  
  This "was" a fantastic show and I'll always remember it as it used to be.

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  Abhorsen_91 Added May 24, 2009 All my reviews
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  8 Great

  I used to watch it a lot when I was younger. Now, I don't really watch it much anymore, but I was reminded of how good the show was when I looked at my 1st Season Box Set of the show. Although it is widely viewed as a "baby show," it isn't really so bad. hide « show »

  Basically, this is a show with talking trains, a guy called the Fat Controller (later renamed Sir Topham Hat), and the lessons that the young viewer will learn.
  
  The trains learn from their mistakes, and even though they mess up sometimes, Sir Topham Hat doesn't give up hope.
  
  Of course, now that I'm older, I'm way beyond the fact that the trains talk.
  
  What I like about the show is the way it was animated. The sets, needless to say, must have taken forever to assemble, not to mention the trains. All the mechanics involved with the props are just so interesting to me.
  
  Such scenes like the accidents the engines often get into are especially interesting to me. I often wonder how they designed the stuff so the crashing would turn out just right.
  
  So this show isn't entirely for younger kids. Older people, such as myself, could use it as inspiration for a story or even a style of animation.
  
  I'd say how I feel about the episodes, but I haven't seen any of the most recent episodes, so that can't be done.
  
  But that's enough about why this is good for older people. I'm going to talk about why it's good for younger kids.
  
  Of course, as I've already stated, it's good for younger kids because it has good lessons that they can learn. The talking trains are also enough to draw a child to the show. The crashes (not the mechanics of them, obviously) are bound to interest kids around the age of 5-7. So basically, younger kids and older people can enjoy this show--just in different ways.
  
  Oh yeah! I almost forgot! There's one more way that older people can enjoy the show. Someone who's the nostalgic type like I am can enjoy watching the show and bringing back memories.
  
  Well, that's all I've got. Personally, I think this is my longest show review to date (even though it's only my 3rd).
  
  Final show grade: B+

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  CDCB Added May 9, 2009 All my reviews
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  6.5 Fair

  Classic episode, but, to be honest, I found this episode a bit boring hide « show »

  Thomas spots a funny crane thing, his driver explains that it is the breakdown train, used to lift things like engines, coaches or trucks back onto the rails. Later James, the new engine, comes screaming through the yard, with sparks flying. His brake blocks were on fire and he was being pushed down the line by some trucks. Soon, the alarm goes out that James has been derailed. Thomas fetches the breakdown train and heads to the cow field where they find James led on his side. Thomas rescues him and Thomas is given a branch line with two coaches, Annie and Clarabel, all to himself and James gets some better brake blocks. I've seen this episode so many times, I'm beginning to find it boring. If it comes on a video now I wind it on. But still, not a bad episode.

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  benandcal Added Jan 24, 2009 All my reviews
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  9.5 Superb

  Join a little blue tank engine and his friends as they have grand adventures on the Island of Sodor. hide « show »

  The show that started me off. The world of Thomas and Friends is spread all over my family. It all started when my Nana bought me a Thomas bath book when I was 2, in 2000. I fell in love with the character, and it started it all. Thomas trains pile up in Thomas laundry bags all over my house, Thomas videos in stacks all around my family's VHS, Thomas everything! The world of Thomas is the world of fun, friendship, and working together. I just want to tell the Rev. W. Awdry, Christopher Awdry, Britt Alcroft, Simon Spencer, and David Mitton for what they have created, and the storytellers of the series, Ringo Starr, George Carlin (RIP), Alec Baldwin, Michael Angelis, and Michael Brandon a great big thanks. Thomas, you're the leader! :) :)

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  legoindytv3 Added Dec 30, 2008 All my reviews
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  10 Perfect

  The best show ever! hide « show »

  I was only a baby when I first saw Thomas and Friends and I fell in love! I still love this show! My favourite characters are the narrow gauge engines and S.C.Ruffey. I watch it every afternoon when it's been taped for me and I think it's great. I know it's now for younger kids, but all the redubs, remakes etc. are made by teenagers and adults so it proves you're never to young for Thomas. 63 years old and still running, this little engine is the best and a really useful one too. I just have to say: YOU ROCK, THOMAS!

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  PeterSamFan Added Sep 7, 2008 All my reviews