Choo Choo! (Thomas The Tank Engine)

Member Name: andycharger

Product:	Thomas The Tank Engine
Date:	31/10/01 (206 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good entertainment

Disadvantages: None

As a child growing up in the 80's (well some of it), my viewing pleasure was enlightened in the afternoons by a short 2 or 3 minute cartoon about a small steam engine and hisa fellow trains.
The Cartoon was of course, Thomas the Tank Engine.
Thomas was actually written many years before by the Reverend W Awdry in 1945, who provided the stories that entertained generations for his son, Christopher. Out of interest, he lived with a Transvetite in Roxwell, a small village outside of Chelmsford, for a long time!
It was not until the 1980's however that we got to see them on TV.

The stories Follow a small Blue Tank Engine who is called Thomas. Thomas, like all of the tank engines, has a smiley face on the front of his boiler with large eyes.
Its based in a ficticious location caled Sodor.

Thomas and all of his friends have a number on the side of the train.
Anyone remember Thomas's number?
Thats right, Number 1.
But he was not alone.
Thomas pulled 2 carriages. They had names too.
Annie and Clarabel.

The other engines in Thomas's stories all had their own personalitles.
Firstly was Percy.
Percy was as cheeky and naughty as Thomas was good. He is a small Saddle Engine and Green in Colour. Used for shunting around the yard.

Henry.
A large friendly Green engine, Henry enjoys his work. When he first arrived at the station, he was not in the good books of the fat controller, Sir Topham Hatt.

Gordon.
The Real Misery guts of the team. His features are even sharp and pointed. Just like his attitude. Feels he is above everyone else but normally gets in a mess and needs the smaller dirtier engines to help him out.

Then there is James.
James has dellusions of grandure, just like people. Thinks he should be pulling the faster wagons like the big important engines.
He is not as small as Thomas or Percy but not as big as Henry and Gordon.

Trains a
re not the only thing in this story.

There is a Bus called Bertie. He is one Of Thomas's best friends. Once they were rivals but now work as a team.

Terrence is a Tractor that lives in the field. He sometimes gets a toot from Thomas as well as helping them out when they get stuck.

Trevor the Steam engine is very old. He was saved from the scrap yard by the engines.
He like giving Children rides, apparently.

These are just some of the characters in the many stories and all play at least a small role in many books and episodes.

When it was made for TV, it appeared with narration from none other than Scouse 60's Beatles drummer, Ringo Starr.

The trains were modelled on an actual trainset like the ones you find in peoples lofts at home. Hornby must have made some good sponsorhip money!

The programmes were great entertainment and you actually forgot they were actual toys and even believed they were real.

I found it to be an educational and interesting programme. A sort of mini soap opera for trains!

Summary: