TV series
Making Tracks to Great Destinations
Thomas & Friends is a British children's television series, which had its first broadcast on the ITV network on 4 September 1984. It is based on The Railway Series of books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry. These books deal with the adventures of a group of anthropomorphised locomotives and road vehicles who live on the fictional Island of Sodor. The books were based on stories Wilbert told to entertain his son, Christopher during his recovery from measles. From Series one to four, many of the stories are based on events from Awdry's personal experience.
Availability
Thomas & Friends premiered October 9, 1984. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Thomas & Friends is a British children's television series, which had its first broadcast on the ITV network on 4 September 1984. It is based on The Railway Series of books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry. These books deal with the adventures of a group of anthropomorphised locomotives and road vehicles who live on the fictional Island of Sodor. The books were based on stories Wilbert told to entertain his son, Christopher during his recovery from measles. From Series one to four, many of the stories are based on events from Awdry's personal experience.
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Episode 1
After Thomas teases him for creaking, Cranky boasts that he is stronger than the little tank engine. Thomas attempts to prove him wrong by bringing heavy loads for Cranky to lift. When that fails, he suggests that Cranky attempts to lift him, which ends in disaster.
Written by Sharon Miller
Episode 2
Thomas is given the job of transporting a crate containing a very special statue called The Lion of Sodor. However, he thinks his cargo is a real lion, so he decides to take extra care of it. Throughout his journey to Knapford, Thomas decides to make sure that the lion is well fed and comfortable, so he collects syrup from Henry, fish from Edward, and straw from Toby, which are all placed inside the crate. When Thomas arrives at Knapford station, the crate is opened up and everyone is shocked to see the Lion of Sodor in a terrible mess.
Written by Mark RobertsonGuest stars Martin Sherman
Episode 3
James is sent to the Steamworks to have a new coat of paint. However, an emergency forces him to take a train before he has been finished, leaving him covered in his pink undercoat. Believing the others will laugh at him, James attempts to hide wherever he can.
Written by Allan Plenderleith
Episode 4
It's the Fat Controller's birthday, and Thomas is sent to Maithwaite early to collect the Fat Controller and Lady Hatt to take them to the party. However, when Thomas arrives, he is very surprised to see the Fat Controller already there - and that he has a moustache and a strange change in personality.
Written by Sharon Miller
Episode 5
Thomas has a cracked funnel and goes to the Sodor Steamworks for a replacement. The only funnel left is both strangely shaped and brightly coloured and Thomas feels embarrassed. This leads to more problems when he is asked to take some bubble liquid to Mr Bubbles' clown show.
Written by Mark Robertson
Episode 6
Percy is at the Sodor Steamworks for repairs, so the Fat Controller puts Thomas in charge of the mail run. Thomas is excited about doing it and ignores Gordon's advice to ask Percy how he does it. Attempting on his own, Thomas makes the crucial mistake of whistling loudly, disturbing the sleep of others.
Written by David Fox
Episode 7
Thomas is going to the docks to collect Alicia Botti when Percy tells him about a new engine named Charlie - "The most fun engine ever!" When Thomas meets Charlie, he decides to prove how fun he really is.
Written by Sharon Miller
Episode 8
Farmer Trotter asks Thomas to collect some straw for the piglets, which are soon to be born. But on the way, Thomas sees other things he thinks the piglets will like. He collects so much of them that he runs out of room on his flatbeds to put straw on.
Written by Allan Plenderleith
Episode 9
Thomas is taking trucks full of books to the library for the children's storytime, but he is in such a hurry he doesn't see the warnings about trackworks. When the trucks are derailed and the books are scattered in a field, Thomas must come up with an idea to save storytime.
Written by Miranda Larson
Episode 10
It is Dowager Hatt's birthday and Percy feels upset when The Fat Controller doesn't give him an important job. After being comforted by Mavis, Percy is given an important job - to deliver a parcel to Knapford Station. Because she told him to do so, however, he goes to show Mavis first.
Written by Robyn Charteris
Episode 11
Toby's bell is broken, and as there are none spare, he has to make do with a whistle instead. Toby is even more put off when James explains that it is a very loud 3-chime steam whistle, as the old tram engine hates loud noises.
Written by Louise Kramskoy
Episode 12
Knapford Station is being redecorated. When Mavis does not say hello, Emily assumes she is sad and chuffs to the quarry to cheer her up with some of the new flowers, only to cause Edward and Thomas to crash.
Written by Miranda Larson
Episode 13
It is the day of the Sodor Kite Festival and Thomas must collect the winner's cup. However, he ends up taking a detour when Stephen and Bridget Hatt lose their kite, which he offers to catch, ignoring his friend's offers to help whilst doing so.
Written by Louise Kramskoy
Episode 14
While Victor is visiting the narrow gauge engines at the Transfer Yards, Thomas is put in charge of the Sodor Steamworks. Thomas feels very excited; so excited in fact that he doesn't listen to Victor's instructions to ask the engines about their problems or to ask for advice from Kevin. As a result, he ignores the engines and confuses Kevin so much, he ends up making a mess of the Steamworks.
Written by Sharon Miller
Episode 15
Thomas has invented a new game called "Splish, Splash, Splosh!", which involves running through puddles and splashing other engines. When he is given an important job, he finds himself unable to resist playing it again, but not every engine he passes finds it fun.
Written by Sharon Miller
Episode 16
All the engines on the Island of Sodor are very excited. Hiro is returning for a visit, and to help with the summer holiday makers. The Fat Controller is throwing a surprise welcome party at Knapford for Hiro, and tells Thomas to tell all the other engines. But Thomas' mind isn't on the party; he wants to get Hiro a wonderful gift to celebrate his visit. Thomas puffs all around the island, trying to find something special for Hiro. Later, Thomas arrives at Knapford, but no one is there, as Thomas hadn't told anybody about the party. Thomas quickly races around the island, and all soon arrive at Knapford. Thomas apologizes for not finding a gift, but Hiro insists that the best present of all, was having all of his friends together.
Written by Sharon Miller
Episode 17
A snowstorm has covered Sodor, and Thomas and Gordon are given important jobs. While doing his job, Gordon decides to take the shorter, hilly route because he thinks he is special and stronger. He slips several times, spraying Spencer (who is there with the Duke & Dutchess Of Boxford on a visit) with snow and crashing into some slate cars. While climbing Gordon's Hill, he inadvertently creates a giant snowball that starts to roll back. It derails Thomas, who had been following him. While he's delivering his load, Gordon collects Rocky to put Thomas back on the rails. Then he helps Thomas do his job. That night, Gordon announces that no engine is special and they're all the best.
Written by Alan Hescott
Episode 18
After Thomas performs a good deed for Farmer McColl, Henry, who is taking a nesting pole for a rare bird called the Sodor Warbler, decides to try and do a good deed too. However, all of his attempts go horribly wrong. In the end, however, he manages to do a good deed without even realising.
Written by Alan Hescott
Episode 19
Thomas is given the task of delivering beehives to Farmer Trotter. He decides to take the route past a field of flowers, only for the bees to escape.
Written by Sharon Miller
Episode 20
Hiro arrives at Knapford station to find the Fat Controller very busy; so busy in fact that the Fat Controller leaves his top-hat inside his office and bumps into the stationmaster and a porter. Edward arrives and, like Hiro, is quite worried about the Fat Controller's unusual behaviour. The Fat Controller has a meeting to attend with the Thin Controller and he doesn't listen to Edward who tries to ask him where to take his visitors from Brendam Docks. Hiro decides to help Edward, so as not to bother the Fat Controller and tells Edward to take his visitors to the hills. Later, Hiro finds Thomas taking tables and chairs, but he doesn't know where to take them; so Hiro tells Thomas to go and visit Farmer Trotter. Finally, Hiro finds Percy taking ducks, who want to go for a swim; so, Hiro tells Percy to take the Fenlan Track so that the ducks can have a swim.
Written by Sharon Miller
Episode information updated Sep 3, 2026
Available now in United States
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Michael AngelisNarrator (Voice)
Ringo StarrNarrator (Voice)
Mark MoraghanNarrator (voice)
Ben SmallThomas / Toby (voice)
Keith WickhamEdward / Henry / Gordon / James / Percy (voice)
Teresa GallagherEmily (voice)
ITV1United Kingdom
5United Kingdom
CITVUnited Kingdom
Cartoon NetworkUnited Kingdom
CartoonitoUnited Kingdom
Nick Jr.United Kingdom
