Thomas the Tank Engine: A Retrospective Review

[Lupin the Third]

Hello again, FAN. It's your favorite thief, Lupin the Third. Now, many of you know a lot of my favorite hobbies/likes (drag racing, anime, Nebraska Football, Sioux Falls Storm football), but there is one thing that I will always look back and cherish.


He's a Really Useful Engine, You Know...

That's right. Thomas the Tank Engine. I grew up on the television series as it was part of Shining Time Station. In this part of my review, though, I will look back at the series of books that began almost 70 years ago.

THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE: A RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW
Part 1: The Railway Series

The Simple Beginnings

The origins of the Railway Series actually began three years before the first book was published, as the Rev. Wilbert Awdry would tell his young son, bedridden with measles, stories of engines to cheer him up. Later, these stories would be published, and the world would come to know of the first three engines of the North Western Railway on the Island of Sodor: Edward, Gordon, and Henry.



The stories were simple, yet fun for the entire family. The first book talked about an old engine named Edward, who finally had a day out after being shut up for so long, and his adventure with helping Gordon up a hill. It also dealt with the third engine, Henry, and his fear of the rain, and stopping in a tunnel, and not coming out, which finally led him to be bricked up in the tunnel. However, he was able to redeem himself after Gordon burst his safety valve.

Next up came the most famous character of the whole series. One that is known all over the world.



Yes, our favorite little tank engine. Thomas would get his own book, telling of his adventures on how he got out to see the world.

As time would go on, we would be introduced to more and more characters, including James the Red Engine, Percy, Toby, Annie & Clarabel, Bertie the Bus, Terrance the Tractor, and many more. We would also learn of a smaller railway on the Island of Sodor as well, with the Skarloey Railway. And later on, there would be stories about a Mountain Railway as well as an even smaller railway.

There are many criticisms about these stories. Some feel that the books follow a same pattern over and over again:

1. Little engine wishes to prove his worth, makes mistakes in a somewhat hilarious way.
2. Bigger engines tease little engine, saying they're not useful.
3. Bigger engines get comeuppance when karma bites them in the......um......buffers?
4. Little engine proves his worth, and shows he's a really useful engine.

Do the books follow that pattern? I'll be honest. Yes they do. Do they follow it alot? Oh yeah. Does it make the books any less enjoyable? F*** NO!!! If anything, it makes their charm even more enduring. In fact, most of the stories were based on real life incidents that had happened on many different railways. Which to me, made them even more charming and enduring. But, later on, there would be instances of a dark cloud that would come onto the Island.

Darker Times: The Decline of Steam


"We diesels don't need to learn. We know everything. We come to a yard and improve it. We are revolutionary."

In 1958, the book Duck and the Diesel Engine was published, and it brought about the first non-steam engine character with Diesel. This was the first sign that steam was beginning to decline, as diesel engines were starting to show up on British Railways. Duck has his issues with this engine, who then tells lies about Duck, which makes the Great Western Engine earn his way back into the group.

In 1960, The Twin Engines was published, and it brought about a pair of twins from Scotland, Donald and Douglas. However, only one engine was ordered by Sir Topham Hatt, or as he's known as by the engines, The Fat Controller. This was the first book to show that all was not well on British Railways, as Douglas was concerned with going back. There were some issues for the twins, as a Missing Coach and a Spiteful Brake Van would cause trouble. But they proved their worth in the snow, and would become useful members of the railway.

Later on, they would have a book based on a real engine who was saved from scrap, as Stepney the Bluebell Engine, was published in 1963. And one of the first illustrations was very grim.


As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death....

It was beginning to look very grim. But it also showed that there was hope, as Heritage Railways began to pop up, buying engines to run on these railways and preserve them for future generations. 5 years later, Steam was entirely abolished on British Railways, and the book Enterprising Engines showed this, as Douglas, who escaped scrap himself, was able to help save a Great Western Engine, Oliver, his brake van Toad, and his autocoach Isabel.

Back to Basics

After the dark period of Steam being abolished on the "Other Railway," it was back to the basic stories that started out the series. The series would continue on, and a total of 42 books have been published so far.

These books continue to be popular, almost 70 years since their beginning. And hopefully, they will continue to be popular as time moves on.

Next time, we look at Thomas' step onto television.

[Lupin the Third]

Hello again, FAN. It is I, Lupin the Third. I know, I haven't updated this in quite a while, but since it was the late Rev. Awdry's birthday only a couple days ago, and the 70th anniversary of the Railway Series is this year, I decided to continue on with looking back at one of my most cherished childhood favorites.

THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE: A RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW

Part 2: Television; In the Beginning...

Many know of the hit series that began in 1984, however, there was a prior attempt at creating the magic of the Railway Series on television. In 1953, the BBC attempted to recreate the Railway Series using Hornby OO models and a set that was produced in the style of the original illustrations. However, one episode was produced, The Sad Story of Henry, before being cancelled entirely due to the negative reaction of the first episode's poor production. After that, the Railway Series would be read on television on the popular children's show Jackanory.

However, the series that many would come to love started fruition back in 1979. Britt Allcroft, the woman who would become the producer, was filming a documentary on the Bluebell Railway. Allcroft would read some of the Railway Series books as part of her research, and grew to love the books for their stories. And so, five years later, the series known to everyone as Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends would hit the television screens.

The series at the beginning was very faithful to the original stories in the books. There were small changes here and there, but not enough to really effect the stories.

Each of the engines had multiple faces to show a variety of emotions, as well as eye mechanisms to move the eyes. Another big thing was the music. Each engine had their own little theme that fit that engine's personality.

Thomas' theme was lively, spirited, and cheeky, like the little blue tank engine himself.

Edward's theme was light and friendly, once again fitting to the character's kind personality.

James' theme was lively and bold, like James himself, who had a very cocky attitude about himself.

These are just examples of the great music the series had at the beginning. The other thing that made it work was the narratives. The first narrator of the show was a very successful man in his own right.



Yep, Ringo Starr, the drummer of the Beatles, was the first narrator of Thomas and Friends. And many, including myself, feel he was one of the best narrators in the series. In fact, they kept him on as the character of Mr. Conductor when Thomas was introduced to the American Television Public through another show....


To a Shining Time Station, Where Dreams can come true...

That's right, Shining Time Station. This was the show that actually first introduced me to Thomas. So I have to talk about it as well. Besides our little blue tank engine, it also starred characters of the fictional Indian Valley Railroad (not to be mistaken for the actual IVR that ran from 1917-1938), and the adventures in their own lives.


Ah, Schemer. You were ahead of your time...

The show was quite successful in its run, gaining successful ratings and critical acclaim. And while Ringo Starr would continue to narrate Thomas and Friends in Series 2 in the UK, another man would step up in the role as Mr. Conductor...



Yep. George Carlin. Mr. Seven Dirty Words himself. This choice was very controversial at the time, as many thought Carlin wouldn't be a proper fit, given some of his....well....comedy routines. However, he not only proved to be a suitable successor to Ringo, he made the role his own, and gave the engines even more personality. Some say he's on par with Ringo as the greatest narrator of Thomas.

Anyways, back to Thomas and Friends. The first two series we got to meet the main cast, and the adventures that they went on, which faithfully adapted the books to near perfection. And then, we would see the controversy that was Season 3.

But that's for another time...

[malys]

Oh wow, I didn't know it started in 1984. Maybe it wasn't in the states til much later? Seems like it would have gone well with the old Nickelodeon lineup, The Elephant Show, Pinwheel, all those shows.

In college I used to babysit a little boy who LOVED this show...even now I get that theme song stuck in my head (probably doesn't help that there's all those Thomas the Train rap videos now ).

[Lupin the Third]

Jun 17, 2015 21:07:11 GMT -5 malys said:

Oh wow, I didn't know it started in 1984. Maybe it wasn't in the states til much later? Seems like it would have gone well with the old Nickelodeon lineup, The Elephant Show, Pinwheel, all those shows.

In college I used to babysit a little boy who LOVED this show...even now I get that theme song stuck in my head (probably doesn't help that there's all those Thomas the Train rap videos now ).

Yeah, I forgot to mention that Shining Time Station didn't come out until 1989. So 5 years after the first series had run.

[ICBM]

Until my son got a thomas for a present, I had never heard of him. I enjoy watch No the shows and reading him the books. I like the George Carlin ones best and my son likes those more it seems. The live action toy sets were great. Nothing against the animation now I just thought the presentation thru narration was classy and fun

[Lupin the Third]

Jun 17, 2015 21:36:11 GMT -5 ICBM said:

Until my son got a thomas for a present, I had never heard of him. I enjoy watch No the shows and reading him the books. I like the George Carlin ones best and my son likes those more it seems. The live action toy sets were great. Nothing against the animation now I just thought the presentation thru narration was classy and fun

I'll get to my thoughts and feelings of the newer series along with the new animation.

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

I recently bought my son the first four seasons of Thomas and Friends for his first birthday. It was good enough for me, it's good enough for him.

They run a full-scale Thomas "experience" over here, which I plan on taking him on when he's a little older.

[crashmatsbazz]

i have the original prints of the books at home, they were a gift from my Granddad, he was very good friends with Rev. Wilbert Awdry

i had no idea America had even a clue about Thomas the tank engine, funny as well Rufus is the narrator.

[Hit Girl]

Greatest kid's TV show ever until they changed the theme and then went CGI

[Lupin the Third]

Jun 18, 2015 2:32:28 GMT -5 Mighty Attack Tribble said:

I recently bought my son the first four seasons of Thomas and Friends for his first birthday. It was good enough for me, it's good enough for him.

They run a full-scale Thomas "experience" over here, which I plan on taking him on when he's a little older.

I've wanted the first four Seasons on DVD, but do you think they'd sell them in the States? Hell no!

[foxy]

Jun 18, 2015 9:00:07 GMT -5 Hit Girl said:

Greatest kid's TV show ever until they changed the theme and then went CGI

Oh, goodness! I was watching CBBC with my nephew once, and then Thomas came on.

That theme.....really pissed me off. Having watched it as a kid i was rather quite devastated.

[Hit Girl]

I still remember the classic stories fondly. Bertie and Thomas have their legendary race, Duck arrives!, Gordon runs into a ditch, Henry won't come out of the tunnel so they brick the poor guy up, Percy gets covered with treacle, the trucks routinely try to kill trains by pushing them into oblivion, Daisy won't pull a milk truck, Diesel is an evil bastard, Donald and Douglas murder a guard's van etc...

[Mozenrath]

I remember being utterly horrified as a kid whenever trains crashed.

Also, I recall that the series has been praised for being something very accessible to autistic children, in part maybe since it doesn't have the sensory overload of some children's shows and is more relaxed, with sensibilities they can understand without difficulty empathizing with the characters. I don't remember the specific reasons given, but that was something I found really cool.

[karl100589]

When you look back in retrospect the Fat Controller was a bit of an ass. All he ever seemed to care about was efficiency and workrate to the extent that all of his crew were utterly paramoid about being seen as 'really useful. He was disturbingly heartless too, Henry wants to stay in the tunnel because he has issues over the rain so the sicko bricks him up!

[Lupin the Third]

Jun 18, 2015 12:35:22 GMT -5 Hit Girl said:

I still remember the classic stories fondly. Bertie and Thomas have their legendary race, Duck arrives!, Gordon runs into a ditch, Henry won't come out of the tunnel so they brick the poor guy up, Percy gets covered with treacle, the trucks routinely try to kill trains by pushing them into oblivion, Daisy won't pull a milk truck, Diesel is an evil bastard, Donald and Douglas murder a guard's van etc...

How about the time Duck wanted a shave, and pissed off the barber because instead of using the door, he just crashes through the window. And not calling ahead for an appointment.

[Eunös ✈]

No word of a lie, I use to find this mother f***er beyond scary back when I was a kid.

[The_Don_Mecha]

I watch it with my daughter occassionally, but it is some of the creepiest imagery I've seen. Trains with faces on them kinda frighten me.

[Lupin the Third]

Alright, since darts was cancelled for tonight, I've decided to continue on with the next part of my look back series.

THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE: A RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW

Part 3: Television: Controversy, Among Other Things....

In the last part, we looked at the beginnings of Thomas' television career. The first two series are looked upon to be some of the best work of the series, following the books to a near T. One change for the 3rd series was in the narration. Ringo Starr left the series in the UK version after 2 series, which had a 5 year layoff from the 2nd series to the 3rd series. So Michael Angelis was brought in to narrate, a position he would hold for the UK version for 21 years, making him the longest narrator of the series. George Carlin once again would continue on with the next 2 series for the US, before being replaced.

And the third series used some of the books, as well as some magazine stories. Some of these included Thomas Gets Bumped, Thomas, Percy, & the Dragon, Diesel Does It Again, and No Joke for James. However, there's one episode in the third series that was very controversial to the creator of the Railway Series, and caused a major rift between him and the producers of the show.

Henry's Forest.


"Trees? What do they think I am, a hippie?"

The episode was actually a combination of two magazine stories, Henry's Forest, and Clearing Up. In the episode, we are shown Henry's love for the forest, and his sadness when part of it is destroyed due to a wind storm that blew across the island.

Rev. Awdry criticized this story, as he felt it wasn't completely realistic. He stated that Henry's driver would not have stopped Henry in the forest without alerting a signalman, or Rule 55. Also, he felt that the trees were too close to the line, and that sparks from the engines' funnels would've caused a fire, to which Britt Allcroft countered, stating she has been on railways that had trees close to the line.

In my honest opinion, I loved Henry's Forest. It was actually one of my favorite episodes of this series. Yes, there were issues as previously stated, but otherwise, it was a great episode.

This series also had two original episodes written by Allcroft and David Mitton, another producer who worked on Thomas & Friends for 7 series before stepping down. He also worked on the Thunderbirds TV Series, as well as Thomas' sister show, TUGS.

Anyways, the two original stories were All at Sea, and Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure. Looking back, I should've seen this as a sign of things to come, because in my opinion, neither one of these episodes were really that great. They weren't bad, but just not as good as some of the episodes.

This series also dealt with the dark times that plagued the Railway Series from 1958-1968: The abolition of Steam. There were a couple episodes, besides the Diesel trilogy in season 2, that dealt with this. Tender Engines and Escape!



I loved Escape! Granted they changed the beginning of the episode, but it was very close to the original story. Douglas takes a goods train to the Other Railway, finds Oliver, and saves him from scrap. I loved the theme they had in this episode. And Oliver became one of my favorite characters.

Series 4 would be more of the books being adapted for television, and it would introduce us to the Skarloey Railway. Although, in the series, the engines would retain their colors from their old railways, Sir Handel (Falcon) staying blue, and Peter Sam (Stuart) staying green. Duncan and Rusty would both be orange, while Skarloey and Rheneas would be red. They would bridge the series from the Skarloey Railway to the North Western Railway with Rusty to the Rescue, an odd adaptation of the Bluebells of England.

In the episode, Rusty saves a steam engine, Stepney, from scrap, and brings him to the Bluebell Railway. I liked the episode, but looking back, it was kind of a goofy episode, since apparently, the Skarloey Railway was a lot longer than it was in the books, as Rusty was able to go all the way from the Railway to the Other Railway.

Sadly, this was the last series that Rev. Awdry would see of his creation, as he passed away on March 21, 1997. This would also be the last series for George Carlin as the US Narrator, as he would be replaced for Series 5.

Another thing that was introduced in the 3rd and 4th series were music videos. They would take either engine themes and create songs for them, or they would create original songs.



This was one of my favorites. Thomas was always my favorite engine, and this was the epitome of the little blue tank engine.



This one actually makes me tear up every now and then. It takes me back to my childhood so often. Back to the days of innocence. And how those days are lost.

Next time, we see the series move away from the books, and quite possibly the biggest failure in the history of Thomas.

[ededdneddy]

Alot of the scarier episodes like the one where Percy pretends to be a Ghost or a few others were actually pretty creepy. The atmosphere and the way they were told was what made it all creepy

[Starshine]

Jun 18, 2015 20:34:15 GMT -5 Lupin the Third said:

I loved Escape! Granted they changed the beginning of the episode, but it was very close to the original story. Douglas takes a goods train to the Other Railway, finds Oliver, and saves him from scrap. I loved the theme they had in this episode. And Oliver became one of my favorite characters.

Man, this episode scared the crap out of me when I was a kid.