Thomas & Friends (series 5)

Thomas & Friends (series 5)
DVD cover art
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Release
Original network	ITV
Original release	1 September – 30 October 1998

Thomas & Friends (previously known as 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 Rev. W. Awdry.

This article lists and details episodes from the fifth series of the show, which was first broadcast in 1998. This series is narrated by Michael Angelis for the U.K. audiences, while Alec Baldwin narrated the episodes for the U.S. audiences.

Production

Stories

The show's staff had decided since Series 3 that most of the best stories of The Railway Series had been adapted, the rest involving too many new characters or closely resembling previous stories.^[1] With Series 5, the decision was made to write a full series of original, staff-written stories. One reason for this was producer Britt Allcroft's desire to create a theatrical Thomas the Tank Engine movie, and requested that director David Mitton show off his modelling skills.^[2] Series 5 aired in 1998, and the movie Thomas and the Magic Railroad was released two years later.

Some inspiration for the stories came from a former LMR manager named David Maidment. In 1997, Maidment met with Steven Wright about the possibility of supporting the Railway Children charity, and while Wright told him the series' staff commonly received such requests, they would consider. During their meeting, Maidment relayed stories about his railway experiences working in South Wales and as the manager at Crewe station. Days later, Maidment received a call asking if he would allow some of his stories to be used as material – the stories from The Railway Series were frequently based on true events, and Allcroft and Mitton preferred this. Maidment agreed, and was also asked to review each story to make sure that the railway in the show operated realistically. As a result, Maidment received writing credit alongside Allcroft and Mitton. 10,000 pounds ($14,406 in U.S. dollars) was donated to the Railway Children for his work.^[2]

These stories are amongst those adapted:

"Baa!" – a ram invades a railway station and attacks some vandals; additionally, the idea of a "Best Dressed Station" competition.
"James and the Trouble with Trees" – rain erodes an embankment, causing a tree to slide down and stand upright on the tracks.
"Double Teething Troubles" – a British Rail Class 17 diesel stalls while banking a train.
"Gordon and the Gremlin" – bathwater in a luxury coach splashes around the compartment.

Additionally, "A Better View for Gordon" was based on a famous incident at Gare Montparnasse in 1895.^[2]

The design for each new character would be chosen by David Eves, and given to David Mitton for approval.^[1]

Filming

Mitton shot 2,700 slates for Series 5, the most of any of the series he shot for Thomas.^[2]

Broadcast

Previously Thomas had only appeared in the US as a segment on the TV show Shining Time Station, but Series 5 aired in the US as part of the half-hour Storytime with Thomas program. Each episode would include a new Series 5 episode, an episode of Britt Allcroft's Magic Adventures of Mumfie, and a Series 4 episode narrated by George Carlin, with music videos and footage of Day out with Thomas in between.

Episodes

#	Total	UK title (top) US title (bottom)	Directed by	Source	Original air date
1	105	"Cranky Bugs"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	1 September 1998 (1998-09-01)
Cranky the Crane causes trouble for Thomas and Percy.
2	106	"Horrid Lorry"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	3 September 1998 (1998-09-03)
Three rude lorries take over the engines' work and wreak havoc on the island, getting them sent away.
3	107	"A Better View for Gordon"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	5 September 1998 (1998-09-05)
Gordon complains about the plainness of Kirk Ronan station.
4	108	"Lady Hatt's Birthday Party"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	6 September 1998 (1998-09-06)
On his way to his wife's birthday, the Fat Controller encounters automobile trouble, and has to figure out how to reach the party in time.
5	109	"James and the Trouble with Trees"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	13 September 1998 (1998-09-13)
James is boastful about his new coat of paint. His bragging keeps him from hearing Terence's warning about the trees that are too close to the line.
6	110	"Gordon and the Gremlin"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	16 September 1998 (1998-09-16)
A VIP is arriving soon, but problems continue and the others joke of gremlins here, too. Gordon disagrees until he has trouble with the VIP in his coach.
7	111	"Bye George!"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	20 September 1998 (1998-09-20)
George the Steamroller is once again up to no good to the railway. He goes as far as tarmacking asphalt over the tracks, and causes Thomas to crash through a chicken coop and Gordon to crash into a truck. The Fat Controller then deals with him.
8	112	"Baa!"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	22 September 1998 (1998-09-22)
Thomas, Percy and Toby talk about a competition for "The Best Dressed Station" that is being held across Sodor. But as Percy is helping decorate Maithwaite, a ram is found in the station as decorations are ruined.
9	113	"Put Upon Percy"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	24 September 1998 (1998-09-24)
Percy complains that he is overworked and gets into a predicament in the mines.
10	114	"Toby and the Flood"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	28 September 1998 (1998-09-28)
Heavy storms have been flooding the Island. Toby is sent to inspect the dam, and discovers a few leaks in it. It eventually collapses, causing disaster for him and a nearby village. Harold and Percy are sent to rescue Toby.
11	115	"Haunted Henry"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	3 October 1998 (1998-10-03)
Henry refuses to believe in ghosts until he and his driver see a series of strange events when he takes a goods train during the night.
12	116	"Double Teething Troubles"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	5 October 1998 (1998-10-05)
A new diesel with "teething troubles" arrives to help Bill and Ben. The twins misunderstand him by thinking he has a toothache.
13	117	"Stepney Gets Lost"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	7 October 1998 (1998-10-07)
Stepney is sent to work at the quarry, and after a delivery with a goods train, he unknowingly ends up in the scrapyard, where Iron Arry and Bert want him for scrap.
14	118	"Toby's Discovery"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	9 October 1998 (1998-10-09)
Toby is spooked when he stumbles across a disused quarry. Thomas' tale of the "Old Warrior" ghost does not help, but finds out that "The Old Warrior" is not scary whatsoever, and finds out that he is actually an old engine and is given the nickname due to his courageousness.
15	119	"Something in the Air"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	11 October 1998 (1998-10-11)
Henry teases Thomas too much after fish fell on him to listen to his warning. Now, Henry has to pay by following faulty tracks that lead into the sea.
16	120	"Thomas, Percy and Old Slow Coach"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	13 October 1998 (1998-10-13)
Thomas and Percy want to help an old coach that is due for scrap. After a fire burns down the engineer's depot, the engines might have a use for her.
17	121	"Thomas and the Rumours" "Thomas and the Rumors"	David Mitton	Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends magazine story by Andrew Brenner	17 October 1998 (1998-10-17)
Thomas and the other engines jump to conclusions as Harold flies an important visitor around and they think he will replace them. Gordon tries to be better and gets in a muddle.
18	122	"Oliver's Find"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	19 October 1998 (1998-10-19)
After causing an accident with some trucks, Oliver is sent to take the mail. During the end of the mail run, the signalman is sleeping, resulting in Oliver diverted into an older track.
19	123	"Happy Ever After"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	20 October 1998 (1998-10-20)
Percy is to put together a good luck package for Mrs. Kyndley's daughter's wedding, with something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.
20	124	"Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	22 October 1998 (1998-10-22)
The Fat Controller wants a break from the rails, but his adventure backfires; a biplane named "Tiger Moth" crashes, and then his canal boat gets stuck on a mud bank.
21	125	"A Surprise for Percy" "A Big Surprise for Percy"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	23 October 1998 (1998-10-23)
Percy is bored and wants excitement, but Bertie tells him surprises only come when he does not expect it. Percy discovers that when, whilst hauling them up a steep hill, his trucks break away.
22	126	"Make Someone Happy"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	24 October 1998 (1998-10-24)
Thomas tells James to think of someone else for once. And when Mrs. Kyndley is upset when her sister cannot visit, James gladly takes part in cheering her up.
23	127	"Busy Going Backwards"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	26 October 1998 (1998-10-26)
Toad the brakevan is upset about always going backwards, wanting to see things the other way. Some naughty trucks decide to teach him about being careful what he wishes for.
24	128	"Duncan Gets Spooked"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	27 October 1998 (1998-10-27)
Duncan jokes that Peter Sam's lost trucks will haunt him, so Rusty tells him a story about an engine on a bridge who derailed and got permanently lost in a deep swamp. Duncan does not believe it until he reaches the very same bridge at night. As a trick, Duncan's driver convinces Duncan that the ghost of the derailed engine is there.
25	129	"Rusty and the Boulder"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	28 October 1998 (1998-10-28)
Rusty worries that a Boulder in the new quarry is watching him. The next day, the boulder falls and tumbles down the tracks toward other engines.
26	130	"Snow"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	30 October 1998 (1998-10-30)
Thomas does not think the snow could be any worse, so Rusty tells him about the worst winter, when some trucks caused an avalanche that fell right on top of Skarloey, who manages to clear the snow with his boiler.

Characters

Introduced

Cranky (Cranky Bugs)
Horrid Lorries (Horrid Lorry)
Butch (Horrid Lorry)
The Ram (Baa!)
Old Bailey (Haunted Henry)
Derek (Double Teething Troubles)
'Arry and Bert (Stepney Gets Lost)
Bertram (Toby's Discovery)
Old Slow Coach (Thomas, Percy and Old Slowcoach)
Tiger Moth (Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday)
Thumper (Rusty and the Boulder)
Boulder (Rusty and the Boulder)
Dowager Hatt (Gordon and the Gremlin)

Recurring character cast

References

The Railway Series and Thomas & Friends

Engines	Thomas Edward Henry Gordon James Percy Toby Duck Donald and Douglas Emily (Narrow gauge engines: Skarloey, Rheneas, Sir Handel, Peter Sam, Rusty)

Other characters	The Fat Controller The Thin Controller Annie and Clarabel Bertie Harold Terence Trevor Minor characters in The Railway Series

Railways	North Western Skarloey Culdee Fell Arlesdale Mid Sodor Sodor & Mainland The Other Railway

Places	The Island of Sodor Locations in The Railway Series Locations in Thomas and Friends

The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry

List of Railway Series books Major characters Minor characters

Authors	Rev. W. V. Awdry (creator) Christopher Awdry

Illustrators	C. Reginald Dalby John T. Kenney Peter and Gunvor Edwards Clive Spong

Thomas & Friends, the television show

Characters	Railway engines Narrow gauge engines Minimum gauge engines Rolling stock Vehicles People and animals Film characters Magazine characters

Television series	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Straight-to-video	On Site with Thomas Engines and Escapades

Films and specials	Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000) Calling All Engines! (2005) The Great Discovery (2008) Hero of the Rails (2009) Misty Island Rescue (2010) Day of the Diesels (2011) Blue Mountain Mystery (2012) King of the Railway (2013) Tale of the Brave (2014) The Adventure Begins (2015) Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure (2015) The Great Race (2016)

Production	Britt Allcroft (series creator) David Mitton (original model director) Gullane Entertainment HIT Entertainment Arc Productions List of Thomas & Friends voice actors

Merchandise	Day out with Thomas My Thomas Story Library Thomas Land at Drayton Manor Thomas the Tank Engine pictureback books

Related	Shining Time Station Robert D. Cardona

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