Thomas & Friends (series 4)
Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends is a children's television series about the engines and other characters working on the railways of the Island of Sodor, and is based on The Railway Series books written by the Reverend W. Awdry.
| Thomas & Friends | |
|---|---|
| Series 4 | |
 DVD cover art | |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 26 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Cartoon Network |
| Original release | 10 September 1994 – 30 May 1995 |
| Series chronology | |
This article lists and details episodes from the 4th series of the show, which was broadcast in 1994 and 1995. This series was narrated by Michael Angelis for the United Kingdom audiences, with George Carlin narrating the episodes for the United States audiences on which was also his last series. This was also the final season where Thomas only appeared in the United States as a segment on Shining Time Station, after that it became a program on Mister Moose's Fun Time and Storytime With Thomas.
Two of the episodes in this series have two titles: the original ones from the United Kingdom broadcasts are shown on top, while the American-adapted titles are shown underneath. It was produced by Britt Allcroft (Thomas) Limited.
Production
Filming
The 4th series saw the introduction of the smaller narrow-gauge engines. For ease of filming, series 5 would introduce larger-scale versions of the characters, and from series 6-7, these larger models were used almost exclusively.
The working title for Thomas and the Special Letter was The Fat Controller's Engines. it aired on Nickelodeon UK from March 19, 1999 to March 23, 2001.
Stories
Half of the 3rd series consisted of stories written by the show's staff, but only one original story, "Rusty to the Rescue" (written by Allcroft and Mitton), was written for the 4th series. The episodes which used The Railway Series did take some liberties with the source material, in order to fill the runtime and make the stories more accessible. From series 5 onward, all stories would be staff-written, without using the Awdrys' books as a source.
Stepney (a character based on a real-life engine and used to highlight the Preservation Movement in the books) was given an entirely different background when he was introduced. This decision carried on into later series, in which he was seen on either a fictionalized Bluebell Railway or as a member of The Fat Controller's railway.
The show had come under fire for having too few female characters, and a conscious decision was made to rewrite Rusty, who was always a male character in the books, as gender-neutral.[1] Thomas' new owners, initially defended the decision, citing Rusty's gender neutrality since Series 4, later releases of the same episode substituted male pronouns in reference to Rusty.
Talent
Initially, each episode was broadcast in installments of the children's television program Shining Time Station. 2 stories from Series 4 were aired in each of the hour-long "Family Specials" in 1995. The rest were broadcast in a 6-episode offshoot called Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales. Later they would air in a new half-hour program called Storytime with Thomas, which also included a Series 5 episode narrated by Alec Baldwin and an episode of Britt Allcroft's Magic Adventures of Mumfie.
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in series | UK title (top) US title (bottom) | Directed by | Source | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | 1 | "Granpuff" | David Mitton | Duke the Lost Engine by Rev. W. Awdry | 10 September 1994 | |
| Thomas tells the story of Duke, a narrow-gauge engine who the younger engines, Stuart and Falcon admired, to the other engines. However, when his line closes, the old engine is put away in a shed. | ||||||
| 80 | 2 | "Sleeping Beauty" | David Mitton | Duke the Lost Engine by Rev. W. Awdry | 12 September 1994 | |
| Thomas continues his story of Duke. Some rescuers go search for him, but his shed was long since covered. However, they know that Duke is around, and continue the grand search. | ||||||
| 81 | 3 | "Bulldog" | David Mitton | Duke the Lost Engine by Rev. W. Awdry | 14 September 1994 | |
| Falcon (known as Sir Handel) is sent to take the Mountain Road with Duke. Falcon does not pay attention to where he is going, and winds up dangling from a cliff with Duke holding tight. | ||||||
| 82 | 4 | "You Can't Win!" | David Mitton | Duke the Lost Engine by Rev. W. Awdry | 21 September 1994 | |
| Duke is not feeling well, and Stuart teases him for it. Soon, Duke is too ill to manage on his own, so Falcon and Stuart assist him. But Duke has enough energy for a trick on Stuart. | ||||||
| 83 | 5 | "Four Little Engines" | David Mitton | Four Little Engines by Rev. W. Awdry Based on Skarloey Remembers and Old Faithful | 25 September 1994 | |
| On the Skarloey Railway, the coaches derail Falcon (known as Sir Handel), meaning that he is unable to work. Skarloey itches for a good run, and his front spring breaks but he still manages to get the passengers back to the station. | ||||||
| 84 | 6 | "A Bad Day For Sir Handel" | David Mitton | Four Little Engines by Rev. W. Awdry Based on Sir Handel | 30 September 1994 | |
| Skarloey and Rheneas become overworked, so Stuart (known as Peter Sam) and Sir Handel come to help. But Sir Handel is in a bad mood, and only makes matters worse for himself. | ||||||
| 85 | 7 | "Peter Sam & the Refreshment Lady" | David Mitton | Four Little Engines by Rev. W. Awdry | 2 October 1994 | |
| Peter Sam is pleased running the line on his own, but Henry's threat to leave if he is not on time makes him rush, and he accidentally leaves the Refreshment Lady behind. | ||||||
| 86 | 8 | "Trucks" "Rusty Helps Peter Sam" | David Mitton | The Little Old Engine by Rev. W. Awdry | 7 October 1994 | |
| While Skarloey is being mended, a diesel called Rusty comes to help. Regardless, Sir Handel does not feel like working, so Gordon suggests he feign illness. However, when Peter Sam is doing Sir Handel's work at the slate quarry, some of the troublesome trucks of slate mistake him for Sir Handel and cause Peter Sam to have an accident. | ||||||
| 87 | 9 | "Home at Last" | David Mitton | The Little Old Engine by Rev. W. Awdry | 9 October 1994 | |
| Skarloey returns home from being repaired and meets Rusty. Peter Sam tells him about Duncan, a rude and careless engine, whom Skarloey must later rescue from under a crumbling tunnel. | ||||||
| 88 | 10 | "Rock 'n' Roll" | David Mitton | The Little Old Engine by Rev. W. Awdry | 14 October 1994 | |
| Duncan is cross about Rusty telling him what to do, even though it is sensible advice. With a tip from James, Duncan is off on his own and causes trouble. He ends up derailing himself much to his own embarrassment. Rusty comes to his aid, and Duncan apologizes for his rudeness. | ||||||
| 89 | 11 | "Special Funnel" | David Mitton | Gallant Old Engine by Rev. W. Awdry | 20 October 1994 | |
| Peter Sam's funnel is still in bad condition from his accident with the slate trucks. He has been promised a new funnel, but he starts to lose hope in it, especially when an icicle knocks off his old funnel. | ||||||
| 90 | 12 | "Steam-Roller" | David Mitton | Gallant Old Engine by Rev. W. Awdry | 14 January 1995 | |
| Sir Handel wants to prove his special set of wheels make him superior, so he agrees to handle George, a rude steamroller who hates rails. But George and Sir Handel are too evenly hot-headed. | ||||||
| 91 | 13 | "Passengers & Polish" | David Mitton | Gallant Old Engine by Rev. W. Awdry | 30 January 1995 | |
| Duncan loses his temper when the passengers and the other engines get luxuries instead of him, and doesn't stop complaining. Duncan is in a bad mood, and to make matters worse, he stops on the viaduct, which causes confusion and delay, making the passengers furious. The Fat Controller later argues with him, "No passengers means no polish!" | ||||||
| 92 | 14 | "Gallant Old Engine" "The Gallant Old Engine" | David Mitton | Gallant Old Engine by Rev. W. Awdry | 2 February 1995 | |
| Skarloey wants to talk some sense into a grumpy Duncan, so he tells the story of Rheneas, who once went through a steep hill and crude weather for the sake of his passengers. Duncan is mollified and agrees to behave. In the end, Rheneas comes home and all the engines whistle as a celebration. | ||||||
| 93 | 15 | "Rusty to the Rescue" | David Mitton | Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton | 7 February 1995 | |
| A new engine is needed for the Bluebell Railway, and Douglas suggests to Rusty that he searches the spot Oliver was found - the scrapyard. Only diesels go there, so Rusty sets out bravely on his mission, and luckily finds and rescues, an engine called Stepney. | ||||||
| 94 | 16 | "Thomas & Stepney" | David Mitton | Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine by Rev. W. Awdry Based on Bluebells of England and Stepney's Special | 10 February 1995 | |
| Thomas is jealous when the visiting engine Stepney gets more attention than he does. It does not help his anger when he is shunted on his own branch line for Stepney that night. | ||||||
| 95 | 17 | "Train Stops Play" | David Mitton | Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine by Rev. W. Awdry | 16 February 1995 | |
| As Stepney's driver and fireman watch a game of cricket, a player hits the ball so hard it lands in one of Stepney's trucks. Therefore, the players chase Stepney in their old car, Caroline, to retrieve their ball. | ||||||
| 96 | 18 | "Bowled Out" | David Mitton | Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine by Rev. W. Awdry | 20 February 1995 | |
| Stepney's visit is coming to an end, and a new visitor, a rude and snobbish unknown diesel arrives. An inspector's hat soon puts him in his place, and Duck and Stepney pull the Express. Stepney leaves with high praises, whilst the embarrassed diesel slips away quietly. | ||||||
| 97 | 19 | "Henry & the Elephant" | David Mitton | Troublesome Engines by Rev. W. Awdry | 12 March 1995 | |
| The circus has arrived and Henry and Gordon are upset when James gets to pull the circus train instead of one of them when it's time for it to leave. Later, Henry is called to investigate a blockage in his tunnel, where he unhappily comes across part of the circus. | ||||||
| 98 | 20 | "Toad Stands By" | David Mitton | Oliver the Western Engine by Rev. W. Awdry | 19 March 1995 | |
| Oliver is sad when the troublesome trucks tease him for his previous accident. Toad has a plan to put the troublesome trucks in their place. But their leader, Special Carriage Ruffey, is the one who really pays. | ||||||
| 99 | 21 | "Bulls Eyes" | David Mitton | Branch Line Engines by Rev. W. Awdry | 2 April 1995 | |
| Daisy scoffs at Toby and his cowcatchers, thinking them no use at all, and that she can just command a cow to move out of her way. However, her boasting is tested when she comes across a bull called Champion on the line, that will need more than a command to move away. | ||||||
| 100 | 22 | "Thomas & the Special Letter" | David Mitton | The 8 Famous Engines by Rev. W. Awdry Based on The Fat Controller's Engines | 4 April 1995 | |
| The Fat Controller reads a letter to the engines asking them to visit the big city, he then tells the engines going that they must show other engines their tasks. Thomas shows Oliver how to manage coaches, but recalls the time he beat Bertie in a race and becomes very conceited, causing an accident that puts his big trip in jeopardy. | ||||||
| 101 | 23 | "Paint, Pots & Queens" "Thomas Meets the Queen" | David Mitton | Gordon the Big Engine by Rev. W. Awdry | 6 April 1995 | |
| As Her Majesty The Queen plans to visit the Island, Thomas and Gordon have made up for their disgrace, and a paint accident with boastful Henry opens up some jobs for them. | ||||||
| 102 | 24 | "Fish" | David Mitton | Really Useful Engines by Christopher Awdry | 8 April 1995 | |
| Henry is assigned to deliver the Flying Kipper, and Duck becomes Henry's back engine when extra vans are added to the train. However, a badly attached tail lamp causes problems on Gordon's Hill. | ||||||
| 103 | 25 | "Special Attraction" | David Mitton | Toby, Trucks and Trouble by Christopher Awdry Based on Toby's Seaside Holiday and Bulstrode | 1 May 1995 | |
| Toby is upset when he realises there is not enough room for him at a seaside festival. Meanwhile, Percy is sent to the harbour to deal with the troublesome trucks, and a grouchy one-time barge called Bulstrode. | ||||||
| 104 | 26 | "Mind that Bike!" | David Mitton | Really Useful Engines by Christopher Awdry | 30 May 1995 | |
| A postman called Tom Tipper is upset about losing his van and having to ride a bike to deliver the post. Percy inadvertently flattens Tom's bike as he is in a rush. In the end, Tom gets a smart new van. | ||||||
Characters
- Stepney the Bluebell Engine ("Rusty to the Rescue")
- The Diesel ("Bowled Out")
- Duke ("Granpuff")
- Rheneas ("Granpuff" (cameo) / "Four Little Engines")
- Falcon / Sir Handel ("Granpuff" / "A Bad Day for Sir Handel")
- Rusty ("Trucks")
- 'Special Carriage' Ruffey ("Toad Stands By")
- George ("Steam-Roller")
- Caroline ("Train Stops Play")
- Bulstrode the Barge ("Special Attraction")
- The Refreshment Lady ("Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady")
- Nancy ("Passengers and Polish")
- Champion the Bull ("Bulls Eyes")
- Staurt/Peter Sam ("Granpuff")
Recurring cast
- Thomas
- Edward
- Henry
- Gordon
- James
- Percy
- Toby
- Duck
- Donald and Douglas
- Oliver the Great Western Engine
- Daisy
- Bill and Ben
- BoCo
- Mavis
- The Fat Controller
- Annie and Clarabel
- Henrietta
- Toad the Brake Van
- Troublesome Trucks
- Bertie
- Terence
- Trevor
- Harold
- Bulgy