"Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends" (1984)TV series 1984-????

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | unknown

Genre:

Family

Plot Keywords:

Thomas The Tank Engine | Railway | Train | Kids And Family | Character Name In Title

Awards:

2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Aug. 31

8:00 AM

PBS

Cast

Michael Angelis

...

Narrator / ... (247 episodes, 1991-2007)

(more)

Series Directed by
David Mitton		(37 episodes, 1984-1995)

Series Writing credits
Rev. W. Awdry		(37 episodes, 1984-1995)
Paul Larson		(25 episodes, 2003-2007)
Britt Allcroft		(15 episodes, 1984-1995)
David Mitton		(8 episodes, 1991-1995)

Series Produced by
Britt Allcroft	....	producer (34 episodes, 1984-1995)
David Mitton	....	producer (34 episodes, 1984-1995)
Angus Wright	....	executive producer (15 episodes, 1991-1995)
Robert D. Cardona	....	producer (11 episodes, 1984-1986)

Series Original Music by
Junior Campbell		(20 episodes, 1984-1995)

Series Cinematography by
Terry Permane		(10 episodes, 1994-1995)

Series Film Editing by
Michael Dixon		(6 episodes, 1984)
John Wright		(6 episodes, 1994-1995)
Rebecca De Burgh Mound		(4 episodes, 1986)
Kate Buckland		(unknown episodes)
Lindsey Dillion-Massey		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Andreas Fehrle	....	production manager (unknown episodes, 2003)
Graeme MacArthur	....	production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve Asquith	....	second unit director / first assistant director (11 episodes, 1984-1986)

Series Art Department
Leigh Grosch	....	stagehand (11 episodes, 1994-1995)
Adam Cook	....	stagehand (10 episodes, 1994-1995)
Steve Asquith	....	models supervisor (9 episodes, 1994-1995)
Michelle Wraight	....	sculptor / set dresser (2 episodes, 1991-1994)

Series Sound Department
Gavin Beckwith	....	sound effects / dubbing / ... (11 episodes, 1991-1992)
Gary Dixon	....	sound effects / dubbing / ... (10 episodes, 1991-1992)
Mike Erander	....	dubbing mixer (10 episodes, 1994-1995)
James Perry	....	assistant sound mixer (unknown episodes, 2004)
Mark DeSimone	....	narration recording engineer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
David Eves	....	special effects / special effects model maker (24 episodes, 1991-1995)
Martin Gaskell	....	chief model maker (2 episodes, 1995)
Duncan Orthner	....	special effects technician (unknown episodes, 2002)
Julian Parry	....	special effects crew (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Peter Eves	....	specialist model maker / model maker (19 episodes, 1991-1995)
Martin Gaskell	....	model crew / chief model maker (18 episodes, 1991-1995)
Conrad Ayling	....	model crew (11 episodes, 1994-1995)
Gareth Hutchinson	....	model crew (11 episodes, 1994-1995)
Mark Dorsett	....	model crew (10 episodes, 1991-1992)
Jennie De Naeyer	....	model crew (10 episodes, 1994-1995)
Jeremy King	....	model maker (9 episodes, 1991-1992)
John Piper	....	model crew (7 episodes, 1994-1995)
Jamie Bowering	....	models and sets / electronic effects / ... (6 episodes, 1984-1986)
Bernard Carr	....	specialist model maker (6 episodes, 1984-1986)
Ben Cain	....	models and sets (4 episodes, 1984)
Jamie Jackson Moore	....	models and sets (4 episodes, 1984)
Tom Vane	....	models and sets (4 episodes, 1984)
Ian Kerr	....	specialist model maker (3 episodes, 1984)
David Lillie	....	model maker (2 episodes, 1984)
Chris Noulton	....	model maker (2 episodes, 1984)
Tim Staffell	....	model maker / model supervisor / ... (2 episodes, 1984)
Steve Asquith	....	models supervisor (2 episodes, 1994-1995)
Dave Poole	....	senior animatronic model designer (unknown episodes)
Ken Robinson	....	colourist (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Terry Permane	....	lighting camera / camera operator / ... (24 episodes, 1984-1992)
Nigel Permane	....	camera operator (23 episodes, 1991-1995)
Colin Davidson	....	focus puller (13 episodes, 1984-1986)
Steve Dempsey	....	gaffer (11 episodes, 1984-1986)
David Watkins	....	camera operator (9 episodes, 1991-1995)
John Attwell	....	focus puller / assistant camera (6 episodes, 1984-1986)
Michael Flynne	....	gaffer (5 episodes, 1991)

Series Editorial Department
John Wright	....	editor: video tape (12 episodes, 1991-1995)
Andrea MacArthur	....	assistant editor (6 episodes, 1984)

Series Music Department
Junior Campbell	....	composer: original theme / music arranger / ... (28 episodes, 1984-1995)

Series Other crew
Jonathan Saville	....	figurinist (24 episodes, 1991-1995)
Nasreen Khan	....	production assistant (12 episodes, 1984-1986)
Nadine Schoen	....	production coordinator (10 episodes, 1994-1995)
Rachel Roullier	....	production coordinator (9 episodes, 1991-1992)
Graeme MacArthur	....	program manager (8 episodes, 1994-1995)
Steve Asquith	....	production supervisor (6 episodes, 1991-1992)
Andreas Fehrle	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes, 2002)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Britt Allcroft (Thomas) Ltd.
• Central Independent Television
• FilmFair
• Gullane Pictures
• Gullane
• Thames Television
• Woodland Animations

Distributors

• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2007) (UK) (all media)
• Children's Independent Television (CiTV) (1984-) (UK) (TV)
• Columbia Pictures Television (1984-1995) (worldwide) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001-2002) (worldwide) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Television (1995-2001) (worldwide) (TV)
• Independent Television (ITV) (2009) (UK) (TV)
• Magna Pacific (2007) (Australia) (video)
• Nickelodeon (2000-) (UK) (TV) (repeats)
• Pony Canyon (200?) (Japan) (DVD)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (USA) (TV) (1989-1998 and 2004-)
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-) (worldwide) (TV)
• Strand Home Video (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Video Treasures (1995) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• House of Blues  thanks
• Shepperton Studios  made at
• Technicolor Limited  special thanks

Also Known As:

Thomas & Friends (International: English title) (short title)
Thomas the Tank Engine (International: English title)
Tomas a'i Ffrindiau (UK: Welsh title)

Runtime:

5 min (seasons 1-7) | 7 min (season 8-) | UK:67 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo | Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-G (1985-1995) | USA:TV-Y (1998-) | Germany:o.Al. | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Goofs:

Continuity: In "Thomas and the Guard"), the guard is alternately bearded/clean shaven between shots.

Quotes:

Sir Topham Hatt: No passengers means no polish.
Duncan: [to himself] No polish means no passengers!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Friday Night with Jonathan Ross: (#10.12)" (2006)

Amazing!

Thomas the Tank Engine has been around on the television since 1984, and its clear to see why. Everything is made to a great standard of quality, and it offers a sense of originality.

Who would of thought that The Reverend Wilbert Awdry had originally only written these stories as bed time stories for Christopher Awdry, when he was ill. These stories were first written during the 1920's, and when they eventually got published into books, known as The Railway Series, and then onto television.

Although not all the stories are based on The Railway Series lately, they still have the same impact.

I think its safe to say that Thomas and his friends will be around for a very long time to come.