Thomas & Friends Thomas_&_Friends DXT28 Adventures Henrietta Engine, Orange

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But Toby can usually be more cheerful and friendly, as well as having subtle shades of nervousness on top of being placid and easy-going, such as enjoying the peace and quiet of the countryside along Thomas' branch line. He even enjoys listening to the birds in the birdhouse next to his shed and is friends with the pigs at Farmer Trotter's Pig Farm. Although usually nervous and timid at times, and occasionally complaining in bad working conditions, Toby usually maintains a healthy sense of humour, and is not above laughing at juvenile level antics (notably, when he and Thomas were making fun of Sir Topham Hatt's white safari hat). The show steadily became a worldwide hit during the 1990s, leading to the franchise becoming increasingly Merchandise-Driven, leading many cast additions in later seasons (particularly during the CGI series) to be motivated by toy sales (albeit with varying degrees of subtlety). Thomas has also spawned a popular long running magazine series, that similarly has played its part in elements of the show itself.

Captain Obvious: The narration and learning segments in season 8-16 constantly state the obvious. Take this choice quote from a Calling All Engines learning segment: "And bananas are no good for building sheds!"

Massive Multiplayer Crossover: Thomas and his friends have been on 3 compilations that include almost no excerpts in them. First is Thomas and Gordon in NSPCC Children's TV Favourites Volume 2 in 1993, then Thomas' Train in Calling all Toddlers in 1999, and then again in its sequel in 2001. He also appeared alongside many other characters, such as Bob the Builder, Postman Pat, Fireman Sam, Pingu and Paddington Bear, in Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band for Children in Need in 2009. Ringo Starr even reprised his role as Thomas! Series 9 - Percy and the Oil Painting ( cameo), Thomas and the Rainbow, Thomas and the Birthday Picnic ( cameo), Thomas and the Toy Shop ( cameo), Thomas and the New Engine, Toby Feels Left Out, Thomas Tries His Best ( cameo), Thomas and the Statue ( cameo), Henry and the Flagpole, Emily Knows Best, Saving Edward ( cameo) and Keeping Up with James ( cameo) Big World! Big Adventures! | The Journey Never Ends | All the Girls Around the World | The Steam Team | Let's Dream The Reverend Awdry made cameos in the Railway Series and in Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure, where he was known as, in the Railway Series at least, as the Thin Clergyman. Bad "Bad Acting": In Who's Geoffrey?, Thomas puts on a falsetto voice, pretending he's another engine. The Fat Controller is convinced, however.

Animation Bump: The characters' facial expressions have gotten much more fluid and exaggerated as the series progressed. The animation is also noticeably faster since Big World! Big Adventures!.Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine - Stepney's Special ( cameo), Train Stops Play ( does not speak) and Bowled Out The movie Misty Island Rescue has a few machines with names but no faces - a crane called Old Wheezy and a steam donkey called Hee-Haw. Duke himself was abandoned in his shed, which was covered over by nature and buried for many years, until he was unearthed in "Sleeping Beauty". Slightly mollified by the narration implying he was asleep the whole time.

Stories adapted from The Eight Famous Engines use existing characters in place of the Mainland engines. Several minor and one-shot characters, such as Paxton and Charlie, have had their roles greatly expanded upon since Andrew Brenner took over as head writer. Thomas was subject to this treatment in the first few episodes, but this is mainly because of being a cheeky and fussy Attention Whore. Karma Houdini: The adapatation of "Old Iron" neglects to mention the fate of the two boys who meddled with James' controls and caused him to run off out of control, whereas in the book they are caught by the police, "soundly walloped" by their fathers, and forbidden to watch trains for quite some time.Some recurring engines, like Diesel, only appeared in a handful of stories from The Railway Series, but were given bigger roles in the show. Season 22, the start of the Big World! Big Adventures! Series, has another one. Tim Bain, the writer for the Australia-themed episodes of the series and several YouTube shorts, voices Aiden, one of the Australian twin coaches. Series 21 - Dowager Hatt's Busy Day ( cameo), P.A. Problems, Hasty Hannah, Philip's Number, The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor, The Big Freeze and Emily in the Middle

Kid-Appeal Character: One of the reasons Thomas became the star of the show is likely because of his childish personality. Percy counts as well. Signals Crossed, Toby and Bash, Silent Puffing! ( cameo), Marion and the Dinosaurs The Perfect Present ( cameo) and Henrietta's Holiday Deus ex Machina: In "Stepney Gets Lost", Sir Topham Hatt happened to be roving the scrap yards Stepney got lured to, and he shuts off the grabber to save him from getting scrapped last-minute. Toby was built by James Holden at the Great Eastern Railway's Stratford Works in Stratford, London, England circa 1914. He originally lived at a harbour in East Anglia with his brothers. Sometime between 1945 and 1946 Toby was chosen to be an attraction at a seaside village's festival and was repainted and polished for the event. However, after helping their branch line's engine and seeing how smart he looked, the branch line was afraid that he would show them up and did not let him join in the festival. After that he worked on an unnamed tramway in East Anglia. In 1951, Toby came to work at the quarry on Thomas' Branch Line after his tramway closed, as it was found to be illegal for Thomas to go on the Quarry Tramroad without side plates or cowcatchers. At first, Toby was teased by James for his shabby paint. However, James stopped teasing him after he had an accident where he crashed into some tar tankers. Duke warns Stuart and Falcon with the story of a misbehaving engine that was turned into a generator, immobilizing him forever. It gets even more horrifying when the Fridge Logic sets in as he was presumably buried alive along with the rest of the old railway, trapped underneath several feet of dirt and unable to call for help.

Doomed Hometown: The Mid-Sodor Railway, where Duke, Peter Sam, and Sir Handel once lived, was eventually closed down. Great Waterton was abandoned until Thomas recovered it. As well as Toby's old line (though it inexplicably reappears in later episodes). Rachael Louise Miller voices Rebecca, a new member of the main cast. Her previous voice acting role also involved voicing a notable main character of said series. Both series in question are also from HIT Entertainment. Thomas and James are Racing | There's a Job for Everyone | Where, oh Where Is Thomas? | Thomas, You're the Leader Annie and Clarabel | Henrietta | Thomas' Special Coach | Alice and Mirabel | Isabel and Dulcie | Victoria | The Quarryman's Coach | Observation Saloon Coaches | Orange-Brown Corridor Coaches | Orange-Brown Non-Corridor Coaches | Red Express Coaches Adaptation Title Change: The series goes by Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (later shortened to Thomas & Friends) as opposed to the title of the original novels that it’s based on, The Railway Series.