I am a old and wore out driver but Thomas still packs the kids at the train shows and that makes me happy. Regarding the “USEFUL” word Sir Toppenhat (Spelling?) would reassure the steam that they are worthy and unique. Everyone has a part to play even though the threat of the desiels was not far away.
I see on the show that each of the characters had a different personality. Kinda like the old Snow White and Seven Dwarfs where you had sleepy, bashful, grumpy (Me) happy and so on… The engines ranged from the Big engine on down to the freight cars some of which hate to be pulled and enjoy making mischief.
The show is good for the children. Not like the aforementioned “Teletubbys (What the hell??) or the really infantile shows designed to keep a infant glued in one place while the parent takes a nap.” The content usually has a story or a problem that is challenging to the kids as they learn about life. I think overall it is the greatest.
Strasburg has a live steam (I mean protoype) Thomas running on the railroad, I dont understand how they were able to get such a unit running on American rails but that is a whole different draw on the kids who may be scared or intimidated by #90 or some other big steam.
I have heard much about the Isle of Sodor which is where the setting for the show is based and take it to mean the show stage where they would run the models and create the story. What I dont know is what kind of layout plan the show producers had or did they just use a series of modules with the effects needed for a good image as Thomas was put thru the paces?
The show even spun off some others. I watched a tugboat show once in the truck stop and we all hooted and hollered and laughed when the great harbor master in his tower told the tug that he is a very valuable and useful tugboat as it struggled to deal with all the onery big ships that were pushy and shoving demanding dock space in the harbor. I think Thomas the Tank engine is good for the child
Can the N-scale Thomas be DCC’ed easily?
[quote]
QUOTE: Originally posted by HighIron2003ar
I am a old and wore out driver but Thomas still packs the kids at the train shows and that makes me happy. Regarding the “USEFUL” word Sir Toppenhat (Spelling?) would reassure the steam that they are worthy and unique. Everyone has a part to play even though the threat of the desiels was not far away.
I see on the show that each of the characters had a different personality. Kinda like the old Snow White and Seven Dwarfs where you had sleepy, bashful, grumpy (Me) happy and so on… The engines ranged from the Big engine on down to the freight cars some of which hate to be pulled and enjoy making mischief.
The show is good for the children. Not like the aforementioned “Teletubbys (What the hell??) or the really infantile shows designed to keep a infant glued in one place while the parent takes a nap.” The content usually has a story or a problem that is challenging to the kids as they learn about life. I think overall it is the greatest.
Strasburg has a live steam (I mean protoype) Thomas running on the railroad, I dont understand how they were able to get such a unit running on American rails but that is a whole different draw on the kids who may be scared or intimidated by #90 or some other big steam.
I have heard much about the Isle of Sodor which is where the setting for the show is based and take it to mean the show stage where they would run the models and create the story. What I dont know is what kind of layout plan the show producers had or did they just use a series of modules with the effects needed for a good image as Thomas was put thru the paces?
The show even spun off some others. I watched a tugboat show once in the truck stop and we all hooted and hollered and laughed when the great harbor master in his tower told the tug that he is a very valuable and useful tugboat as it struggled to deal with all the onery big ships that were pushy and shoving demanding dock spac
How about a special one time issue covering what things got kids intersted in modelrailroading. Could cover Lionel, American Flyer, Marx, and Thomas. Could be a very intersting as it would allow us to be children again. You know - back when kit vs RTR, Lenz vs Digitrax, MTH and QSI didn’t matter. I’d buy a copy!
Thanks! That so easy not realizing that it’s not a split frame design. [:D] I’ve done much harder ones with some of the older LL N-scale locos. Now to find an N-scale Thomas…
Nearly all the thomas characters are available in the U.K. They are made by hornby and are OO gauge(HO). Check out Ebay under Thomas Hornby.
while we are on the “Thomas the Tank Engine” subject, i was at ROSS with my wife the other day and came across a Thomas the Tank Engine movie which my wife bought for me (and don’t think i never heard the end of it!)…it had Peter Fonda in it (a far cry from Easy Rider) and Alec Baldwin as Mr. Conductor…the only orginal cast member from the T.V. series was DeeDee Conn…(and to think, i had a crush on her as a teenager)…Chuck
Heck!! I’m 57 and I still watch it!!
I was an avid fan of the show, but now in my teen years, I don’t watch it anymore(but I do sneak an episode when it comes on PBS). I loved the variety of locomotives used on the show. The diesels were really neat, as were the steam engines. I wi***he show would get some electric engines. If a magazine was made talking about models, the locomotives, and so forth, even I would buy it. Does anyone know of a page talking about the different locomotives used on the show and ones in real life? That would be cool
what use to crack me up was when george calin became mr conductor . I remember him as his other line comedian and use to love him I can’t get the shows here where I’am at but use to love them and would still watch them if I could
Hi guys-some body mentioned a special Thomas edition,complete with Rice Track plan-why not go one better and feature Wilburt Awdreys own Ffarquarr branch terminal-I saw him operating it at the National Exhibition in Westminster back in the early seventies,almost everything scratchbuilt if memory serves. somebody else asked about dates-again,reliant on memory(books up in daughters room,dare not disturb) Three Railway Engines published 1946,volume published every year thereafter until 1971. Have a personal theory that Sodor is in fact SOmerset & DORset railway,between Bath and Bournemouth in the U.K.,Edward is definately an SDJR loco and the blue of most of the engines and the changing carriage livery ,plus the gradual introduction of G.W.R engines and the rejection of diesel locos reflects SDJR history-Also many of the illustrations of "the big station" look to be based on Bath Green Park ,Thomass junction on Glastonbury and Street etc. Mother taught me to read with em and still favourites now,40 and some years later
Another book to look for is “The Thomas the Tank Engine Man” which is a biography of Rev. Awdry. It includes a number of pictures of his models. Also taks about his struggles with the illustrators, at least one of whom refused to go down to the station to see what trains looked like, and made a mess of Henry (IIRC) because he didn’t believe Awdry’s drawing.
The Church of England has (or had) a Bishop of Sodor and Man. Man is an island in the Irish sea. Sodor is an ancient term for somewhere in the Scottish isles. Awdry located his Sodor in between England and Man.
The latest Thomas package on TV is a 30 minute show with 3 stories and some in-between educational features. There are a lot of new characters, but the tales are less railway-like and with a more obvious lesson. One of the new engines is Emily, who is a Great Northern Stirling single (4-2-2).
Oh, the Fat Controller is Sir Toppam Hatt.