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Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends merchandise describes the range of merchandise that has been manufactured to cash-in on the success of the TV Series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. It is down to the popularity and longevity of the series—having originated in 1945 with the first of The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry—that large numbers of manufacturers have produced 'Thomas'-branded items.

'Thomas' merchandise has included: videos, audiobooks, magazines and annuals, colouring and activity books, jigsaws, games, stationery, clothing, cutlery, and even household items such as curtains, duvet covers and lampshades. However, the most popular and wide-ranging items of merchandise are the models of the characters. These have been produced in many different ranges.

For a full list of the merchandise ranges covered within Wikipedia,
      see: Category:Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends merchandise

Models

Models of Thomas the Tank Engine and the other characters have been around for as long as The Railway Series of books. Indeed, the Rev. W. Awdry created the original model of Thomas the Tank Engine, which inspired the character, soon after the first book of stories was complete. In 1927, he built Annie, and in 1948, he built Clarabel.

The first ever commercially-produced character was Percy the Small Engine, released by Meccano in 1967 as part of a set. However, as this predated the TV Series by at least 20 years, it really counts as 'Railway Series' merchandise.

Several companies have made models of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends characters, as a result of the TV Series.

Hornby Railways produce a range of OO scale electric 'Thomas' models. The models are not finely detailed but are thus suitable for younger enthusiasts. In the United States, Lionel offers a range of Thomas models in the larger O scale. In Japan where space as at a premium and small size is important Tomix have introduced a series of N scale Thomas models. Ertl Company, now defunct, produced a range of die-cast and plastic models. Learning Curve of Chicago produces and distributes the Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway System, which is compatible with Brio and similar wooden railways. Learning Curve also produce the Take Along Thomas and Friends range of travel Thomas playsets. Tomy produce a Motor Road and Rail plastic train model set with battery powered engines and a wide range of track types and Thomas characters. Recently Tomy has also introduced die-cast models of the Thomas characters.

Complete lists of the models in each range may be found in the companion Wiki Train Spotting World,
see: TSW Category:Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends merchandise.

ERTL Models

Ertl were the first company to manufacture numerous models of characters from the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends TV series. They introduced the first die-cast models in 1984. The range was very popular in the UK, and the nature of the subject matter encouraged collecting. Eventually the range included a large number of models, although it has now been discontinued: Ertl ceased production for the US market in 2001, and for the UK market in 2004.

When the models were first released, they used stickers for faces which could be changed (for some engines, mostly Thomas) to 'happy' or 'sad'. These were soon replaced with fixed plastic faces.

The majority of locomotive models and some road vehicles had a diecast metal body with a moulded plastic chassis and plastic wheels. The bodies were fully painted and lined. They were free-wheeling (rather than motorised) although the chassis was rigid (locomotives were not fitted with separate bogies), and a steam locomotive's tender was part of the same moulding as its body. Models of coaches and trucks were assembled from self-coloured plastic mouldings, with some surface detail (such as coach sides) being applied using self-adhesive labels.

The railway models were designed to be coupled together, so that long trains could be formed. Locomotives had a moulded coupling 'eye' at each end, while rolling stock had one 'hook' and one 'eye'. The unfortunate side-effect of this was that an engine could not 'run-round' to the other end of a train, since, having no hook, there was no means to couple it up. Earlier models had plastic couplings, but later ones had moulded metal couplings, with less 'give', and were more prone to breakage.

Unusually for TV Series -related merchandise, the range included a number of characters who only appeared in The Railway Series books, such as those from the Culdee Fell Railway.

The models released are listed at Train Spotting World.

Miniatures

In around 1991, ERTL started to produce several miniature models of Thomas and his friends. These versions had sticker faces that were previously used in the regular models. They were packaged with random parts of a railway, and – once all were collected – formed a playset. In later years the models were adapted into keyrings.

The models in this range were essentially the 'major characters' from the TV Series.

The playset components included: a station and siding, a level crossing, a (goods?) yard, (engine?) sheds, a loop track, a windmill, and an airport. Ramp pieces and, later on, viaduct connector pieces were also included.

Ertl 'Gold Rail'

In the 90's ERTL also started another short-lived line called the Gold Rail series. These had no tracks, and the engines and rolling stock had magnetic couplings. The models in this range were about the size of an HO scale train, and were extremely similar to the Bandai range made in Japan. Again the series was comprised from some of the 'major' characters from the TV Series.

TOMY

Tomy have made several ranges of 'Thomas' models.

Thomas Tomica Road & Rail

Thomas Tomica Road & Rail is a battery-operated system that is made by Tomy and is compatible with other Tomy Tomica Road & Rail sets. The engines run on a special plastic blue "track", and the roadway vehicles run on a special gray "road". Thomas Tomica Road & Rail is not compatible with other brands of model railway.

A large number of models have been released, including the majority of major and minor characters from the TV Series.

Wind-up Series

In 1997 Tomy made a range of wind-up models that 'have an action when you wind them up'. The range was small and included only a few of the 'major' characters.

In 2006 another range was introduced. More characters were modelled than previously, and some had moving side rods. Additional models from the range were released in Japan.

My First Thomas & Friends

My First Thomas & Friends is a range of chunky plastic toys, produced by British toy company: Golden Bear Toys.

The range started in c.1994, and was advertised for young infants who enjoyed the series. The models were safe for younger fans to play with.

The range started with only a dozen or so models, and has now grown to around 40-45, the range was (for a short-lived amount of time) available in America, under the company Tomy. The toys are still available in many good retail toy shops all around the UK, and despite speculation that perhaps the range has discontinued, after the absence of three years without new products; brand new models have started to appear on Amazon.

The range included most of the major and minor characters from the TV Series.

Talking My First Thomas and Friends

The talking versions of the My First Thomas models were first released in 2001. The models are more complex than the basic ones, their eyes move, and they speak familiar phrases from the original stock narrations by Ringo Starr and Michael Angelis.

Learning Curve Wooden Railway

The Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway (TAFWR) is a wooden model railway system created by Learning Curve in Chicago and made in China. This wooden railway system is based on the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends TV series and The Railway Series. Learning Curve makes a series of tracks, buildings, and bridges for the model trains.

The TAFWR includes characters from The Railway Series that have not been televised, such as Ada, Jane, and Mabel (coaches from the Skarloey Railway), Mike and Frank, (from Small Engines), Wilbert (from Wilbert the Forest Engine), D199 (Spamcan), Ivo Hugh, The Foreign Engine, Catherine the Mountain Coach, Culdee, and The Big City Engine.

History, Design and Construction

The company "Learning Curve" was founded by John W. Lee in Chicago, 1993 . In 2003 the company is acquired by "Racing Champions Ertl" that was renamed in the same year to "RC2".[1] Learning Curve introduced some new designs for the track surface of wooden toy railways, such as the "Clicketyclack" rails patented in 1995[2] and the newer tracks with a relief to supply better traction grip for battery powered trains patented in 2003[3]. They also introduced a road track that uses the same gauge as the railway tracks.

The original models were constructed mainly from painted wood, with metal used in the coupling magnets and axles, and plastic wheels and faces. These models were relatively primitive having simple wooden stubs for the funnel and dome. Details such as windows, whistles and buffer beams were omitted.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the models were upgraded. The wooden funnel and painted smokebox were replaced with a separate plastic smokebox with a more realistic looking funnel. The tender engines received an additional upgrade of moulded plastic coal.

These improved designs were manufactured until 2004 when they were replaced with a third generation of design, which included new and more detailed faces.

Learning Curve is rapidly expanding its lineup of locomotive and locations.

Over the several years that TAFWR has been made several items have remained popular, while others have been withdrawn. Two of the longest running items are the barrel loader, which remains in production, and the single stone tunnel which has recently been withdrawn in favour of the Knapford Covered Bridge. To date "A day at the works set," is the longest running set to date.

The majority of characters from the TV Series, both major and minor, plus some of the Railway Series characters have appeared in the range. They have been acocompanied by a comprehensive range of track, buildings and accessories.

Special model types include "Sights and Sounds" locomotives and buildings, and some battery-powered models. (The majority of locomotives are hand-propelled (push-along).)

Hornby Thomas and Friends

Hornby Railways produces a series of OO gauge model engines, track, accessories and box sets, based on the characters from the TV Series. They are designed to be compatible with other Hornby trains, thus allowing an easy migration to more prototypical modelling.

The models are designed for somewhat older children than most Thomas toys, as placing them correctly on the rails requires a certain degree of dexterity, and the plastic-bodied rolling stock may break if dropped. However, the level of detail is more basic than the 'real' models produced by the company, with the result that the trains can be handled safely by inexperienced hands without fear of damaging delicate parts.

History

Hornby launched its range in its current form in 1985, shortly after the debut of the television series. It mainly utilised modified versions of existing Hornby engines.

List of Engines, Coaches, and Trucks

  • Thomas the Tank Engine- made using a modified version of a London, Brighton and South Coast Railway E2 tank engine.
  • Percy the Small Engine- a brand new moulding utilising the standard Hornby 0-4-0 Smokey Joe chassis.
  • Annie and Clarabel- Thomas' coaches, produced using Hornby's standard four-wheeled coaches.
  • Open Wagon - a five-plank wagon in chocolate brown, with a face printed on the front.
  • Closed Van - a ventilated van with a similar paint scheme to the Open Wagon.
  • Brake Van - a BR standard 20 ton brake van.
  • Milk tanker - four-wheeled tanker, painted white with the words 'TIDMOUTH MILK' on the side in blue. A batch has also been recorded with these words in red, but these are extremely rare.

Thomas and Percy were also released as clockwork 'Playtrains'. Percy used the same moulding as his electric counterpart, but Thomas had an entirely unique body which ran on an inaccurate 0-4-0 chassis.

In 1986, after the second series of the show had been released, Hornby added two more engines, two coaches and two trucks to the collection:

  • Duck the Great Western Engine - used the old Tri-ang GWR Class 57xx tooling.
  • Gordon the Big Engine - used the Tri-ang LNER Class A3 ("Flying Scotsman") tooling, which had been replaced in the regular Hornby range by a more accurate model.
  • Gordon's Composite Coach and Brake Coach - GWR coaches in a green and cream livery to represent Gordon's express as seen in the television series.
  • Cattle truck - A pale brown cattle truck using the Triang moulding. Although cattle trucks were used in the television series, they did not wear this colour scheme. The van also carried the words "TO BE RETURNED TO LEWES". Lewes is not a destination used in the television series, so this wording is something of a mystery. (Oh no it's not. The Triang-Hornby model was a Southern Railway 'sheep wagon', which included the decal 'To be returned to Lewes'.)

1987 saw the release of Devious Diesel, based on the old Tri-ang Class 08 diesel shunter mould, and utilising the same anachronistic inside-framed chassis that the 'real' model had suffered for several decades.

The same year also saw the release of the Breakdown Crane.

A battery-powered set featuring Thomas, Annie, Clarabel and Bertie the Bus was released, which allowed children to recreate the popular story in which Thomas and Bertie have a race. Thomas was unpowered, being pushed along by a motor in Annie.

1989

  • James the Red Engine - used a modified Tri-ang LMS 3F (a model that had been out-of production for over twenty years). The Reverend W. Awdry made a model of James in the same way.
  • Tar Tanker - same tooling as Milk Tanker (but black and printed "Tar")
  • James' Composite and Brake Coaches - same "GWR" coaches as Gordon's, but maroon and white in colour.

The following years saw a winding down of the range. Duck, Gordon, Diesel, the Breakdown Crane, the Closed Van, the Cattle Truck, the Tar Tanker, and James' coaches were quietly retired. Annie was modified so that her face carried a surprised expression, rather than the smiling one previously carried.

It was not until 2000 that Hornby revamped their range, bringing Gordon, Duck and the Tar Tanker back into production.

  • Toby the Tram Engine - completely new body tooling.,
  • Bill and Ben - new saddle tank tooling on Smokey Joe 0-4-0 chassis.
  • Two new Troublesome Trucks - new, much longer, moulding
  • track system was totally redesigned.
  • James' Coaches were re-released.

In 2001, Henry the Green Engine joined the range, along with a reintroduced Devious Diesel. Two completely new trucks, the Sodor Fuel Tanker and the Sodor Scrap Co. truck (a blue 7-plank wagon) were also released.

  • 'Arry and Bert - same tooling as Devious Diesel.
  • 'The Diesel' - used Hornby's Class 37 tooling.

Another 7-plank wagon joined the range, S. C. Ruffey. This carried a moulded face. The following year, Oliver and Stepney were released.

In 2005:

  • D7101 (later D3) Bear and The Flying Scotsman (with a face) were added. These characters had only featured in the Railway Series books, and never on television.
  • The battery-powered Bertie was released as a separate model.
  • A circus train consisting of twelve wagons and three ice cream trucks.
  • Reworked versions of the Cattle Truck and Breakdown Crane were introduced
  • Toad, the brake van - based on Tri-ang GWR brake van moulding
  • Old Slowcoach - based on the equally fictitious clerestorey coach moulding
  • new weathered Brake Van.
  • A new range of resin buildings were released with the adult collector in mind.

2006:

2007:

  • Emily at first in Great Western Railway style. Later Great Northern Railway style.

Sets

The Hornby range currently includes the following Thomas the Tank Engine-themed sets:

Each is supplied with a paper trakmat with printed scenery and track layout, enough track to create a basic oval, and, in some cases, a siding, plus a power-controller. Additional Thomas-branded 'track packs' are available to complete the layout printed on the mat.

In addition, certain 'multi-packs' are included in the range. In addition to 'Thomas, Annie & Clarabel', other sets comprise three trucks.

Bachmann Thomas and Friends

In 2002 Bachmann USA made their own HO-scale electric Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends range. The models are made with new body tools, to resemble the characters in the TV series and the Railway Series.

The range included some of the 'major' steam engines, coaches and freight stock, non-railway characters and a number of train sets, complete with track.

Construction toys

Lego Duplo Thomas & Friends

In 2005, LEGO introduced the first sets in their Duplo 'Thomas' series. Four sets were made, starring James the Red Engine, Thomas the Tank Engine, a Troublesome Truck, Toby the Tram Engine, and Percy the Small Engine. The next year, Harold and Cranky were introduced, with a second Troublesome Truck.

List of Sets

2005

  • 5552: James at Knapford Station - James is taking some of his passengers to Knapford Station. - 32 pieces.
  • 5554: Thomas Load and Carry Set - Thomas is a really useful engine. Today, he and a Troublesome Truck are taking coal to Tidmouth Station. - 61 pieces.
  • 5555: Toby at Wellsworth Station - Toby and Henrietta are taking their passengers to Wellsworth Station. - 18 pieces.
  • 5556: Percy at the Water Tower - Percy is very tired after working all day. So he needs to take a drink at the water tower. - 15 pieces.
  • ....: Thomas Bridge & Tunnel Set - Thomas chugs over bridges and under tunnels, carrying a Troublesome Truck.

2006

  • 3300: Harold the Helicopter - Harold is taking mail, given by Percy, all over Sodor. - 7 pieces.
  • 3301: Cargo-Loading Cranky - At Brendam Docks, Cranky is delivering and carrying some goods to and from ships. - 34 pieces.

2007
The following sets are expected to be released in 2007:

  • Gordon the Big Engine with red/cream express coach
  • Salty the Dockyard Diesel
  • Spencer with Sir Topham Hatt


Thomas Character Builder

In 2006 MV Sports made their own self-assembly Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends engines and buildings. The range consists of the following models:

  • Thomas, Toby and Mavis three pack set
  • Percy track set
  • James and station set
  • Edward and engine shed set

Computer games

A number of different video games based on a 'Thomas' theme have been released, for a variety of different computer platforms.

DOS scrolling games (1992-3)

Two DOS scrolling games were developed by Peakstar and published by Alternative in 1992 and 1993, "Thomas the Tank Engine" and "Thomas the Tank Engine 2."

Info about these games can be found at Home of the Underdogs.

Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (THQ)

Main article: Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (video game)

Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends was an educational one-player video game, developed and published by THQ. Released May 1, 1993, it was available for the Super Nintendo and Sega Mega Drive platforms. It featured the classic Thomas characters in eight adventures, and included "tricky" trivia questions.

Hasbro Interactive / Infogrames

In 1999, Hasbro Interactive made three Thomas & Friends games based on the television series. After Hasbro was purchased by Infogrames a further three games were released under the Infogrames name.

All of these games were designed as educational games for young children.

Games released by Hasbro

  • Thomas and Friends: Great Festival Adventures
  • Thomas and Friends: Trouble on the Tracks
  • Thomas and the Magic: Railroad Print Studio

Games released by Infogrames

  • Thomas and Friends: Building the New Line
  • Thomas and Friends: Railway Adventures
  • Thomas and Friends: Thomas Saves the Day

Playstation 2

A Day at the Races

The first game featuring Thomas for the Playstation 2. Features: Thomas the Tank Engine, Edward the Blue Engine, James the Red Engine, Percy the Small Engine, The Fat Controller.

See also

References

  1. ^ [The Timeline of RC2]
  2. ^ US Patent 5,454,513 from Oct.3,1995
  3. ^ US Patent 6,648,237 B2 from Nov.18,2003

External Links

Merged from Learning Curve Wooden Model Railway page:

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