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
Emily is a new steam engine who has recently arrived on the Island of Sodor. She accidentally takes Annie and Clarabel, and Thomas gets annoyed by this. Later, Oliver & Toad get stuck and Thomas is fast approaching! Emily, who is closeby, sees this and rushes to the rescue, but will she prevent a possible serious accident from occuring in time?
Written by Jan Page
Episode 2
One day, Percy is travelling along Toby's old branch line and discovers the track is wobbly. He hurries back to the station to warn the other engines but gets frustrated when nobody listens to him. Later on, Thomas goes out onto the old line and gets stuck. Percy starts to worry when Thomas doesn't return home. Where could he be?
Written by Paul Larson
Episode 3
Fergus, a blue steam traction engine, goes to work with Bill & Ben in the quarry. But when he tells the twins to do things right, they become fed up and decide to do things wrong. This however gets them into trouble...
Written by Brian Trueman
Episode 4
Skarloey is crossing an old bridge when he notices the track is out of place and can't stop in time, thus leaving him dangling above the river from a long way up. Rheneas comes and rescues him with the breakdown train and the bridge is soon repaired. But Skarloey is terrifed of using the bridge again and has to shunt trucks and coaches in the yard. Rheneas has to do Skarloey's work now as well as his own. But when he runs out of water due to puffing too hard, he ends up stopping over the first quarter of the bridge and now Skarloey has to overcome his fear and must cross the bridge to save him...
Written by Paul Larson
Episode 5
Edward is due to take the Brass Band to their annual concert, like he does every year. But he has an accident and has to go to the Works. Bertie fills in for him, but gets stuck. What will happen now?
Written by Robyn Charteris
Episode 6
Henry, lately, has been feeling sorry for himself as he's feeling dreadfully ill, but Thomas and Percy take no notice and don't believe him and decide to play a rather mean trick on him...
Written by George Tarry
Episode 7
After hearing that the Queen of Sodor is coming, James volunteers to get her - but his happiness is short lived when the Queen turns out to be an old, dirty coal barge. James tries to do his job and stay clean in the process.
Written by Paul Larson
Episode 8
It's summer on the island and the refreshment lady wants to open a new tea shop. With the help of Peter Sam she looks all over the island for a suitable location to set up but simply can't decide where. But next day, is she in for a surprise...
Written by James Mason
Episode 9
A new tank engine from the LMS called Arthur arrives on the island. He has a spotless record which means he's never been naughty or left a mess. The Fat Controller puts him to work with Thomas and Percy. Arthur's first job on the island is to take a train of closed vans full of fruit to market. The trucks start to sing rudely and Thomas then plays a trick and tells Arthur that The Fat Controller doesn't like the trucks singing and that Arthur should stop them from doing just that. This soon leads to a terrible accident...
Written by Paul Larson
Episode 10
Toby is very fond of the windmill near the branch line. The windmill needs repairs after a storm and the miller can not afford to do so. Toby wants to help, and when he has to help clean up the lines from debris caused by the storm, he finds the solution to the miller's problems.
Written by David Mitton, Jan Page, Jan Page
Episode 11
The old Scottish castle is reopening, much to Donald and Douglas' delight. Rumours start about there being a monster lurking in the waters near the castle, but the twins dismiss this as rubbish. One night, they get stuck near the castle - and in the water, something is heading towards them...
Written by Jenny McDade
Episode 12
Rheneas is not too thrilled when he has to take a class of schoolchildren on a scenic train trip around the line but when he is accidentally diverted on an old branch line with sweeping bends and dips, his view soon changes...
Written by James Mason
Episode 13
Salty is hurt when Thomas and Percy tease him about how he talks, but when a lighthouse's light goes out, it's up to Salty and new arrival Fergus to save a ship heading for the rocks.
Written by Polly Churchill
Episode 14
Oliver does not like snow - at all. When he has to make a delivery to a mountain village, the weather conditions mean he can't get back until morning. And when morning does come, Oliver receives quite an unexpected surprise...
Written by Jenny McDade
Episode 15
The Fat Controller opens a new fishing route and chooses Thomas to run it; Arthur wanted to do so, but he wasn't chosen and Thomas doesn't even want to run it! However, all is resolved thanks to quite an incident later on...
Written by Paul Larson
Episode 16
A new park on the Little Engines' railway is being built. The final thing to add before the opening is a statue of an elephant, hence the name: "Elephant Park". Duncan is being impatient as usual and seeing as he is finished before the other engines, the Fat Controller orders him to take the elephant to the park. However, the foolish little engine realises too late that it's "Better safe than fast" when he leaves without waiting for the brakevan and is dragged down the line with the heavy load. Will he be able to stop in time?
Written by George Tarry
Episode 17
Murdoch is a new arrival on the Island of Sodor. What he especially likes is a bit of peace and quiet. However, this isn't to be...
Written by Paul Larson
Episode 18
Fergus is tricked by Diesel and ends up in the Smelter Yard and when there instantly becomes scared and runs away. Will Thomas find him - or not?
Written by Jan Page
Episode 19
Summertime has arrived on Sodor. There are more passengers arriving but less engines to do the work. Thomas calls this a "double decker" problem, which gives the Fat Controller an idea. He goes to see Bulgy (who has been a henhouse for several years) in his field to tell him that he'll be back on the road, helping to deliver passengers. Bulgy is delighted, but when he is cleaned and mended, the hens miss their old home and they creep aboard him one night, where they cause confusion and delay the next morning...
Written by Brian Trueman
Episode 20
It is the time of year for the Summer Fete. Harold the Helicopter wishes that he could help too; but he's so busy with his patrol duties that he doesn't have time. This makes him sad. Later, however, his friend, Pegasus the Horse becomes stuck in a ditch and needs help. So Harold flies to the rescue by lifting him out of the mud and Pegasus is flown to the Fete - giving Percy quite a shock as to seeing what he thinks is a flying horse!
Written by Robin Kingsland
Episode 21
A new station is being opened and The Fat Controller and Lady Hatt have great difficulty in trying to get there on time. They are, however, grateful when they come across the "late comer" Skarloey.
Written by James Mason
Episode 22
All the engines are entering a competition to see which engine looks the fanciest and most eye attractive. But Gordon thinks it undignified to enter such a silly competition... until he has a slight mishap with a stray banner!
Written by Polly Churchill
Episode 23
The Duke and Duchess of Boxford pay a visit to the engines, and bring with them Spencer, their own private engine. He is sleek, shiny, fast and full of pride. Gordon is jealous and feels that he is not the fastest engine anymore. However, disaster strikes when Spencer runs out of water! It is up to Gordon to save him and redeem himself of his stolen title.
Written by Lee Pressman
Episode 24
It's Christmas time, and Elizabeth gets sent to collect a shipment of Christmas puddings from the docks. But Thomas is jealous and feels sure he would be better than Elizabeth at traveling through the snow. On her journey, the shipment is so heavy Elizabeth gets stuck in the snow...
Written by Robyn Charteris
Episode 25
Rusty is pulling a train across the old wooden bridge when he notices that some of the joints are loose. He goes and tells the Fat Controller who closes the bridge until it is mended. Rusty then tells the other engines, but Duncan thinks Rusty is just being a silly little diesel and puffs away without refilling with coal. Later on Duncan needs coal, and the only coal available is across the bridge, so off he goes. But Duncan runs out of steam halfway across and can't move, and then the bridge starts collapsing...
Written by James Mason
Episode 26
One day, Thomas takes the schoolchildren to their annual sports day. He sees them having fun and wishes he could have a medal too. Later, he has a race with Bertie and when they arrive at their destination, Thomas discovers the medals to be delivered to the sporting area for the winners have been left behind...
Written by Jan Page
Episode information updated Sep 3, 2026
Available now in United States
These shows are available now and closely match Thomas & Friends.
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
