Thomas and Friends - Season 1

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Thomas the Tank Engine and 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.

This article lists and details episodes from the first season of this series, which was first broadcast in 1984. Most episodes in this season have two titles; The original titles (also known as "UK titles") are unbracketed, while American-adapted titles (also indicated by " - US") are bracketed. Both titles are considered valid, although the original titles are perhaps more correct than the American-adapted titles.

Season 1 was originally narrated by Ringo Starr, however he and George Carlin have since re-narrated the episodes for American audiences.

[edit] Episodes

[edit] 1. Thomas and Gordon (Thomas Gets Tricked - US)

Thomas is a blue tank engine who works at the big station on the Island of Sodor, shunting coaches to their proper places. He teases Gordon the Big Engine, and makes him angry. Thomas then fetches Gordon's coaches. But the big engine starts before Thomas can be uncoupled from the back of the train, and Thomas gets pulled along the line at top speed. When Gordon stops, Thomas is uncoupled and put into a siding. Thomas is exhausted, and decides never to be rude to Gordon again.

[edit] 2. Edward and Gordon (Edward Helps Out - US)

Edward is a little old engine, and has not been out working for a while. The other engines tease him, but then he gets chosen to work again, and he is very happy. He helps Gordon up a hill with a goods train, but doesn't get a 'thank you' from him. However, his driver is very pleased, and gives him a new coat of paint as a reward.

[edit] 3. The Sad Story of Henry (Come Out Henry! - US)

Henry, the green engine, is afraid of the rain, thinking it will spoil his paint. One day, he runs into a tunnel and refuses to come out. The driver, fireman, passengers, and The Fat Controller try everything to get Henry out of the tunnel (including getting Thomas to push him out) but Henry doesn't budge. They eventually give up on Henry, and brick him up in the tunnel. A sad and sorry Henry now wishes he hadn't been afraid of the rain.

[edit] 4. Edward, Gordon and Henry (Henry to the Rescue - US)

Henry has been in the tunnel for a long time now. Edward is kind to him, but Gordon keeps on teasing him. One day, Gordon tries to go fast past Henry, but bursts his safety valve on the way, meaning he can't move. Edward comes to help, but can't haul the heavy Express train. The Fat Controller decides to bring Henry out of the tunnel to help pull the train, and Henry is delighted. He and Edward pull the train on time, and then help Gordon back home. Gordon gets mended, and they are now all friends.

[edit] 5. Thomas' Train (A Big Day for Thomas - US)

Thomas is getting bored, working at the station shunting coaches all day. He complains about it, and annoys the other engines. But one morning Henry isn't feeling well, and Thomas is the only engine available to pull his train. He is excited, and becomes impatient - so much so that he leaves his coaches behind. Soon, a signalman stops him, and Thomas sadly goes back to collect the train. But the other engines teased him a lot about it, and he learnt not to be so impatient with coaches.

[edit] 6. Thomas and the Trucks (Trouble for Thomas - US)

Thomas is fed up with shunting coaches in the yard, and his complaining annoys the other engines. Edward comes to him and offers to swap jobs. Thomas is to take Edward's trucks, and Edward shunts coaches. Thomas is delighted, and bumps the trucks. The trucks decide to take revenge. At the top of Gordon's Hill, they push Thomas along the line out of control. Thomas is terrified, and ends up stopping just before some buffers in the Yard. The Fat Controller is there, and sorts out the problem with Thomas. Thomas learns he has to be careful with trucks.

[edit] 7. Thomas and the Breakdown Train (Thomas Saves the Day - US)

Thomas is still busy shunting trucks and coaches around the yard. He sees some unusual trucks. His driver explains that this is the 'Breakdown Train' which is used to lift engines, coaches and trucks when they derail. Then he sees a new engine called James, who is being pushed along the line by trucks out of control with his brakes on fire. He eventually crashes into a field. Thomas rushes to the rescue. He helps James back on to the rails and clears away the broken trucks. The Fat Controller decides that Thomas is a responsible engine, and rewards him with his own branch line.

[edit] 8. James and the Coaches (James Learns a Lesson - US)

James, after having an accident in a paddock on his first day, is now trying to be really useful. He does however cause trouble, when he wets the Fat Controller's new top hat with steam, and then bumps coaches so hard that one of their brakes fail and has to be fixed with newspaper and a passenger's bootlace. James gets through the problems, but gets scolded by the Fat Controller.

[edit] 9. Troublesome Trucks (Foolish Freight Cars - US)

James is in trouble with the Fat Controller. He has been confined to the shed for a long time, but is released to shunt trucks. He works hard, and then takes a goods train up Gordon's Hill. The trucks misbehave, but James doesn't give up. When he climbs the hill, some of his trucks break free and run away. James is cross, but the guard stops the trucks. Edward offers to help, but James declines. He gets the trucks coupled up again, and puffs away. Later, The Fat Controller, who was on Edward's train, comes to see James. He tells him he saw what happened in Edward's train, and is very proud of James for making the troublesome trucks behave. James, now being a useful engine again, is very happy.

[edit] 10. James and the Express (A Proud Day for James - US)

James, after proving himself useful, is to shunt coaches in the Yard. Gordon puffs by, boasting about himself as usual, saying he could take the Express by instinct. James ignores him, and continues working. Later, James sees Gordon puff into the station quietly and sadly. He finds out Gordon was switched the wrong way and got lost. The Fat Controller is cross with him, and James teases Gordon. James ends up taking the Express, and is delighted. He has a great time pulling the train, and the Fat Controller tells him that he can pull it again when Gordon is busy. He meets Gordon afterwards, who is shunting trucks. They become friends, and don't tease each other about bootlaces or being stuck on hills ever again!

[edit] 11. Thomas and the Guard (Thomas and the Conductor - US)

Thomas is very busy working on his branch line. But one morning Henry is late, and this makes Thomas cross. When Henry finally arrives, Thomas teases him, and hurries away. Because he is in such a rush, he leaves the guard behind. The guard chases the train down the line, as Thomas tries to make up for lost time, oblivious to what has happened. Thomas finally stops at a signal, and the guard is able to catch up. When he does, he has a rest and a drink. Thomas apologises, and sets off again. He learns an important lesson about being careful.

[edit] 12. Thomas Goes Fishing

Thomas loves his branch line. He especially loves it when he travels over the big bridge, where he sees people fishing. Thomas often wants to watch, but his driver doesn't let him. Thomas also wants to fish, but the other engines say he can't. The next day Thomas needs a drink, but the water tower is out of order, so Thomas' crew decide to get water from the river. He enjoys it, but soon gets a pain in his boiler. He puffs into a siding feeling as if his boiler is about to burst. His driver calls Sir Topham Hatt and an engine inspector, and surrounds Thomas with warning signs. The Inspector and the Fat Controller soon find the cause of the problem - Thomas' driver and fireman have picked up some fish with the water, and now Thomas has them inside him! The men go fishing in Thomas' water tank, and enjoy a picnic supper of fish and chips. Thomas decides that he isn't so keen on fishing any more.

[edit] 13. Thomas, Terence and the Snow (Terence the Tractor - US)

It is autumn on the Island of Sodor. Thomas, pulling Annie and Clarabel, meets Terence the Tractor. Thomas says Terence's wheels are ugly. Terence explains that they are caterpillar tracks, and he can go "anywhere". Thomas puffs crossly away. Winter soon arrives, and Thomas has to wear his snowplough. He hates it, so he bangs and clangs it while he's working, and damages it so much that he can't wear it anymore. Thomas is delighted, and sets off the next day without it. But his pride is short-lived when he gets stuck in a snowdrift. Luckily, a bus picks up Thomas' passengers, and Terence comes to the rescue. Terence pulls Thomas out of the snowdrift. Thomas apologises, and they become friends.

[edit] 14. Thomas and Bertie (Thomas & Bertie's Great Race - US)

Thomas is happy on his branch line. One day he stops at a signal near the bus depot, and meets Bertie the Bus. Bertie reminds Thomas of the time he took the tank engine's passengers after he got stuck in the snow, and Thomas gets jealous. He challenges Bertie to a race. Thomas and Bertie speed along the branch line, each one meeting various obstacles along the way. Thomas ends up winning the race thanks to a tunnel, with Bertie following closely behind. Both get congratulated, and become best friends.

[edit] 15. Tenders and Turntables

Gordon, James, and Henry are upset that they have more work to do. Now that Thomas is gone, they have to shunt their own coaches. Gordon tells Thomas that the tender engines have a position to keep up but Thomas ignores him. Gordon is chosen to pull a special train, but can't turn around because his weight and the high winds are preventing the yard turntable from spinning properly. He ends up pulling the train backwards, and Thomas and James tease him. James later has to turn around on the turntable. Because he is lighter, he stops in the correct place, but then the high winds spin him around like a top, much to the delight of a nearby Gordon. They both are cross, and plan with Henry about striking...

[edit] 16. Trouble in the Shed

Gordon, Henry and James are causing trouble for the Fat Controller. They are going on strike for being treated unfairly, and refuse to work. The Fat Controller scolds them, and goes to get Edward so he can work in the yard again. Then the Fat Controller goes and buys another engine from an Engine Workshop. The new engine is called Percy, and is told to shunt trucks in the yard with Edward. Percy is happy and cheeky, and likes to work hard. The Big Engines then feel sorry and silly.

[edit] 17. Percy Runs Away

Percy, the new engine, is working hard. He is however being cheeky, and annoying the big engines. Edward offers to swap jobs with him, and he is delighted. However he ignores Edward's warning about going on the main line, and almost collides with Gordon and the Express. Percy gets so frightened that he runs away backwards down the line. He ends up in a bank of earth in a siding, and Gordon comes and pulls him out. Afterwards, Percy and Gordon form a close friendship. Although Percy is still cheeky owing to his personality, he is always careful when going on the main line.

[edit] 18. Coal (Henry's Special Coal - US)

Henry is not feeling well. His firebox is too small, and he can't make enough steam. Sometimes he doesn't even have enough power to pull a train. Sir Topham Hatt addresses the problem, and comes to a conclusion that Henry needs different coal. Welsh coal is soon available for Henry, and he feels better than ever. Little does Henry know his next incident would change everything...

[edit] 19. The Flying Kipper

Henry, now having new Welsh Coal and feeling better, is chosen to pull the 'Flying Kipper', a train of fish vans to deliver around Sodor. He is happy, and soon sets off for the snowy countryside in the early morning. He is having a good time, but he misreads a signal that is supposed to say danger, but was forced down by snow. It leads along a siding, where a goods train is waiting, and Henry, unable to stop in time, crashes into it and falls onto the trackside. The breakdown train arrives, as well as the Fat Controller, who explains that it wasn't his fault. He sends Henry to Crewe, a workshop for sick engines, and although doubtful at first, Henry returns with a new shape and bigger firebox, and gains a huge confidence boost.

[edit] 20. Whistles and Sneezes

Henry, now having his new shape, tends to whistle loudly and happily. Gordon despises this, and tells him not to whistle so much. Henry is sad, but cheers up one day when Gordon's whistle jams 'on', and won't stop whistling! Soon the problem is fixed, but Gordon was still teased afterward. Later on, Henry experiences troubles of his own, when boys throw stones at him from a bridge, breaking his coaches' windows, and annoying his crew and the passengers. His driver thinks of a plan to stop them, involving Henry sneezing at them!

[edit] 21. Toby and the Stout Gentleman (Toby the Tram Engine - US)

Toby is a tram engine who works on a little line in the North of Sodor. He is happy there with his coach Henrietta, but is quickly running out of work, being replaced by lorries and buses. Soon, he is only carrying a few passengers and shunting few trucks. But one day he gets a surprise, when a stout gentleman (The Fat Controller) and his grandchildren visit the old line. Toby is very happy, taking them around the line. After they thank him and leave, Toby keeps running out of work. One day, his line closes down, much to the disappointment of him and Henrietta. They are confined to a small shed, until one day the stout gentleman writes him a letter for a special favour....

[edit] 22. Thomas in Trouble (Thomas Breaks the Rules - US)

Every day Thomas travels down a part of his line, which runs beside a road. Usually the friendly policeman at the crossing lets him pass, but a new policeman has taken over, and does not take kindly to Thomas whistling to him in a friendly way. Things take a turn for the worse when the policeman books Thomas as a lawbraker for not having cowcatchers. Soon the Fat Controller hears about it, and tries to explain to the policeman that Thomas is no danger, but the strict policeman refuses to give up, so the Fat Controller decides to get Thomas the cowcatchers. Aghast, Thomas protests that the other engines will say he's a tram, which prompts The Fat Controller to remember the engine he met on his holiday, Toby. He immediately writes to Toby's controller, and arranges for Toby to come to work on Thomas' branch line. At first, Thomas is jealous, but soon becomes good friends with Toby, particularly after Toby uses his bell to scare the policeman!

[edit] 23. Dirty Objects (James in a Mess - US)

Toby is still new to the railway, and gets teased by James about his and Henrietta's appearance. But one day James gets pushed out of control by trucks, and pushed into the yard. He runs into two idling tar wagons, smashing them, and derailing himself, resulting in him getting covered in tar. Percy and Toby soon bring the breakdown train, and help James out of his sticky situation. The Fat Controller then scolds him, and James is embarrassed, when Toby teases James for being dirty himself.

[edit] 24. Off The Rails (Gordon Takes a Dip - US)

Gordon is resting at the big station when he sees Henry is chosen to pull the Express. This makes him cross, as he taunts Henry not to have an accident, saying he has never had one himself. Percy cheekily reminds him though, of his infamous 'burst safety valve' and 'jammed whistle' incidents, and this only makes him more cross, when he finds he has to pull a special goods train. He refuses to go, and Edward has to help him to the turntable. He concocts a scheme of jamming the table for revenge, but it falls through when Gordon misjudges and slides into a muddy ditch. He now realizes his mistake, and is taunted by some schoolboys. The Fat Controller arranges for Edward to take the train, and later that night Henry and James help him back to the shed, and he crawls home a sadder and wiser engine.

[edit] 25. Down the Mine

Thomas teases Gordon about the time he fell in a ditch, much to the horror of Annie and Clarabel. Thomas doesn't care, and is then sent to work at the Mines. He notices a danger board near the tracks, and wants to go past it to prove there's no danger. One day Thomas makes a plan, and ends up pushing trucks past the board. He feels the tracks sag, and ends up falling down a mine! His crew however jumped clear. Thomas feels most embarrassed when it is Gordon, using his winch, who pulls Thomas back out. They apologise to each other, and become an alliance.

[edit] 26. Thomas' Christmas Party

It's Christmas for the first time ever on the Island of Sodor. All the engines are busy with passengers and parcels, especially Thomas. He likes it when he passes Mrs. Kyndley's house while working, and she always waves to him. Thomas says it wouldn't be Christmas without Mrs. Kyndley, and then goes to the shed to discuss to the other engines about throwing a Christmas party for her. All the engines agree, as does The Fat Controller. While making preparations for the party, they hear that Mrs. Kyndley is snowed up in her house. Thomas and Toby soon come to the rescue, and bring Mrs. Kyndley to the party.

[edit] Notes

  • This season introduces many of the main locations around Sodor including Knapford (The Big Station), Gordon's Hill (by Wellsworth), and Tidmouth Sheds (the sheds)
  • The characters introduced in this season would become the central characters in seasons to come. In Season 8, the railway engines introduced in this season (Thomas, Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy and Toby) are seven of the eight engines who form the "Steam Team".
  • All episodes (except Thomas' Christmas Party) were originally stories from The Railway Series. The exception, Thomas' Christmas Party, was written by Rev. W. Awdry in conjunction with the Railway Series.

[edit] Characters introduced

Note that since this is the first season of the series, all characters featured in the season were "introduced" in some way. This section lists which episode each character had a "formal" introduction in.

  • Thomas (Thomas and Gordon)
  • Edward (Edward and Gordon)
  • Henry (The Sad Story Of Henry)
  • Gordon (Thomas and Gordon)
  • James (Thomas and the Breakdown Train)
  • Percy (Trouble In The Shed)
  • Toby (Toby and the Stout Gentleman)
  • Bertie (Thomas and Bertie)
  • Terence (Thomas, Terence and the Snow)
  • Sir Topham Hatt (The Fat Controller) (The Sad Story Of Henry)
  • Lady Hatt (Toby and the Stout gentleman)
  • Stephen Hatt (Toby and the Stout Gentleman)
  • Bridget Hatt (Toby and the Stout Gentleman)
  • Mrs. Kyndley (Thomas' Christmas Party)
  • Annie and Clarabel (Thomas and the Guard)
  • Henrietta (Toby and the Stout Gentleman)
  • Troublesome Trucks (Thomas and the Trucks)
  • Hat-Eating Ram (Edward, Gordon and Henry)

[edit] Rolling Stock introduced

  • The Breakdown Train (Thomas and the Breakdown Train)
  • The Express Coaches (Thomas and Gordon)
  • Tidmouth Milk Tanker (Edward and Gordon)
  • Flying Kipper Wagons (Flying Kipper)
  • Troublesome Trucks (Thomas and the Trucks)
  • Tar Tanker (Dirty Objects)
  • Old Coaches ("Edward & Gordon")

[edit] Places introduced

  • Knapford: The Island's big station seen throughout the series (Thomas and Gordon)
  • Wellsworth: Also known as Edward's station (Thomas and Gordon)
  • Maron Station: The station on the other side of Gordon's Hill. James crashes into the tar wagons here (Edward and Gordon)
  • Ffarquhar: The Station seen in the opening credits. (Thomas and the Guard)
  • Elsbridge: The junction on Thomas's Branch Line (in the TV version) (Thomas and the Trucks)
  • Arlesdale: One of the stations on Toby's old line (in the TV version) (Toby and the Stout Gentleman)
  • Dryaw: The station just next to the airfield (James and the Coaches)
  • Tidmouth Sheds: The main engine sheds seen throughout the series (Thomas and Gordon)
  • The goods yard: Just next to Tidmouth Sheds. Edward shunts here in Edward and Gordon (Edward and Gordon)
  • Bus Depot: Where Thomas meets Bertie (Thomas and Bertie)
  • The River: Where Thomas takes on water, and gets more than he bargained for just beyond Elsbridge (Thomas Goes Fishing)
  • Gordon's Hill (Edward and Gordon)
  • Henry's Tunnel (The Sad Story Of Henry)
  • Mrs. Kyndley's Cottage (Thomas' Christmas Party)
  • The harbour: Where Henry collects the Flying Kipper. This harbour looks a lot different from how it does in later series. (The Flying Kipper)
  • The viaduct: Not far from Wellsworth station. (Thomas and Gordon)
  • The Works: Where the Fat Controller first finds Percy (Trouble In The Shed)
  • Lower Suddery station: Where Percy's runaway is halted (Percy Runs Away)
  • Terence's Field: Field near Ffarquhar where Terence is seen ploughing in Thomas, Terence and the Snow (Thomas, Terence and the Snow)
  • Vicarstown Sheds (not the official name): The sheds on the other side of the Island. They look fairly similar to Tidmouth, only there's only enough room for five engines. (Thomas and the Breakdown Train)
  • The Windmill: Seen in the opening credits (Thomas and the Guard)
  • The mines: Lead mines just near Dryaw. (Down the Mine)
  • Lower Tidmouth Station: the station where Toby first comes to Thomas Line ("Thomas In Trouble")
The world of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
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Book series: The Railway Series
TV Series: Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
Series particulars
List of Railway Series Books
TV Series Seasons: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
Movie and spin-off releases: Thomas and the Magic Railroad | Calling All Engines | On Site with Thomas
Characters
Thomas | Edward | Henry | Gordon | James | Percy | Toby | Duck | Donald and Douglas | Emily
The Fat Controller | Bertie | Terence | Trevor | Harold

The Railway Series: Major Characters | Minor Characters | Unfeatured Characters
TV Series: Major characters | Minor Characters | Rolling Stock | Non-rail vehicles | People & animals | Uncharacterised Vehicles
Movies: Movie-only characters

Locations
Island of Sodor
Railways: North Western | Skarloey | Arlesdale | Culdee Fell | Mid Sodor | Sodor & Mainland | "Other"

Other locations - The Railway Series | TV Series

Significant people and organisations
Rev. W.V. Awdry (series creator) | Christopher Awdry
Britt Allcroft | Gullane Entertainment | HIT Entertainment
Other relevant pages
WikiProject Thomas
The Railway Stories (audiobooks) | Thomas and Friends - Video Releases | Shining Time Station | TUGS | Theodore Tugboat