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Railway Series #1-26
Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection
Since the publication of the original Thomas the Tank Engine in 1946, millions of children and their parents all over the world have loved this series of bedtime stories about Thomas and his friends. All 26 of the Reverend W. Awdry's classic stories are here in one beautiful gift volume, with an introduction by the author himself. Illustrated in full color.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published October 10, 1996
42 people are currently reading
555 people want to read
About the author
W. Awdry
1,112 books112 followersWilbert Vere Awdry, OBE, better known as the Rev. W. Awdry, was an English clergyman, railway enthusiast and children's author, and creator of Thomas the Tank Engine, who starred in Awdry's acclaimed Railway Series.
The characters that would make Awdry famous, and the first stories featuring them, were invented in 1943 to amuse his son Christopher during a bout of measles. The first book (The Three Railway Engines) was published in 1945, and by the time Awdry stopped writing in 1972, The Railway Series numbered 26 books. Christopher subsequently added further books to the series.
The characters that would make Awdry famous, and the first stories featuring them, were invented in 1943 to amuse his son Christopher during a bout of measles. The first book (The Three Railway Engines) was published in 1945, and by the time Awdry stopped writing in 1972, The Railway Series numbered 26 books. Christopher subsequently added further books to the series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
November 29, 2020
This lavish complete collection of The Railway Series is the perfect way to celebrate 75 years since the publication of the first set of stories on the Island of Sodar.
Each of the 26 books consists of four stories each, that's plenty of adventures to share for bedtime stories over many nights.
With the numerous books written between 1945 - 1972 it was interesting to see how Adwry evolved the series with many new engines introduced over time, whilst the more popular characters like Thomas had additional stories focusing on them.
I've got fond memories of the classic show narrated by Ringo Starr so the earlier tales resonated with me more, especially Henry being bricked up in a tunnel!
One of the suprise aspects was Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine - a set of stories focusing on the Bluebell Railway in Sussex, I remember visiting that as a kid.
This set is a bargain for the hours of enjoyment that we had over many months.
Each of the 26 books consists of four stories each, that's plenty of adventures to share for bedtime stories over many nights.
With the numerous books written between 1945 - 1972 it was interesting to see how Adwry evolved the series with many new engines introduced over time, whilst the more popular characters like Thomas had additional stories focusing on them.
I've got fond memories of the classic show narrated by Ringo Starr so the earlier tales resonated with me more, especially Henry being bricked up in a tunnel!
One of the suprise aspects was Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine - a set of stories focusing on the Bluebell Railway in Sussex, I remember visiting that as a kid.
This set is a bargain for the hours of enjoyment that we had over many months.
March 23, 2009
The author of the Thomas books was a clergyman, and I'm torn between two thoughts. On the one hand, it's very tempting to believe that they are intended as Christian allegory. On the other, an interpretation along those lines almost inevitably ends with the conclusion that the Fat Controller is God. I'm not a Christian, but even I find this a little blasphemous. Or perhaps it just shows that I will never be a Really Useful Engine.
Surely someone has done a detailed exegesis? I'll confess that I am, indeed, very curious about the details. For example, the episode my kids liked most when they were at the appropriate age. They unwisely fill Thomas up with water from the river. He comes over feeling all funny, so they look in his storage tank.
"Inspector, can you see fish?"
My kids just loved that line, and they used to imitate Ringo Starr's pronunciation endlessly. But what does it mean? Christianity... fish... there has to be something there! Why can't I see it?
Surely someone has done a detailed exegesis? I'll confess that I am, indeed, very curious about the details. For example, the episode my kids liked most when they were at the appropriate age. They unwisely fill Thomas up with water from the river. He comes over feeling all funny, so they look in his storage tank.
"Inspector, can you see fish?"
My kids just loved that line, and they used to imitate Ringo Starr's pronunciation endlessly. But what does it mean? Christianity... fish... there has to be something there! Why can't I see it?
March 18, 2020
This was a lot more fun than I thought it would be and what really surprised me was I knew (sort of) a lot of the stories. I guess they have been retold and referred to so many times that they have filtered through in to my memory and stuck there.
So on to the book - this is a gloriously grand collection of all of the original stories along with the artwork that brought the various engines to life. There are a short afterwards which covers of the Rev Awdry along with the two main artists who illustrated (and brought) the island of Sodor and the various engines to life.
One thing that did catch me by surprise was that there was such a large array of engines - now again I thought a lot of the engines were creations of the various TV and toy franchises trying to expand and increase their sales of the various characters but no - a very large number of the engines where originals from the various stories.
So like I say when I read the various children books - I still have so much to learn from the classics what ever they are.
But why read this book - well for me it was another connection to my late uncle who to me lived for all things historical and natural history. I remember he had a far more spectacular version of this book and I remember being allowed to carefully read it when I was a small boy when we visited them. Strange how as I read the stories I can see Denis reading them along side me.
So on to the book - this is a gloriously grand collection of all of the original stories along with the artwork that brought the various engines to life. There are a short afterwards which covers of the Rev Awdry along with the two main artists who illustrated (and brought) the island of Sodor and the various engines to life.
One thing that did catch me by surprise was that there was such a large array of engines - now again I thought a lot of the engines were creations of the various TV and toy franchises trying to expand and increase their sales of the various characters but no - a very large number of the engines where originals from the various stories.
So like I say when I read the various children books - I still have so much to learn from the classics what ever they are.
But why read this book - well for me it was another connection to my late uncle who to me lived for all things historical and natural history. I remember he had a far more spectacular version of this book and I remember being allowed to carefully read it when I was a small boy when we visited them. Strange how as I read the stories I can see Denis reading them along side me.
November 6, 2013
This book is the most important book that I have ever read in my entire life. It is also one of the most important thing to me that I own. This was the first book I got in relation to Thomas the Tank Engine. I could go on and on about my backstory with Thomas, but I'm afraid that it would be far too much to write. For a while, I seem to have had a strange idea that the TV series was adapted into the books. But I am proud to own this book containing the first twenty-six volumes of The Railway Series.
To be clear, the title "The Complete Collection" refers to the fact that these are all of the Reverend Wilbert Awdry's Railway Series books. His son, Christopher, has written several more afterwards. Though the book says "Thomas the Tank Engine" on it, these stories are not only about him, but also the rest of the Really Useful Engines on the Island of Sodor, with No. 1 sometimes not appearing for a full book.
It annoys me to see some of the reasons that people have given to dislike this book, some along the lines of "the stories are too dark". To be fair, the concept of scrapping is mentioned from time to time, but that is just how the stories were. These are books written by a Christian priest who told the first three stories to his son who had measles. These are the stories that began the massive, beautiful, and Really Useful phenomenon that we now know as Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. For those who think the ten-minute episodes are better because they are longer - I'll have you know that the quality of the writing, illustrations, and the lessons of the "5-minute" stories in this collection are astronomically superior some of the episodes we see today. This is not to say that all of the TV stories are not good as there have been some very worthy adaptations from of the books and original stories in the TV series. Even the humor in Awdry's stories, which I find similar to A. A. Milne's in Winnie the Pooh, is something that not only children would have a laugh about. Here is an example from Duck and the Diesel Engine, featuring Duck and the Fat Controller having a chat about the rather stuck-up big engines.
TFC: "Duck, did you come up with these [rude] names?"
D: "I only wish, sir. If the dome fits -"
TFC: "Ahem!" (tries not to laugh)
Another thing is that people should stop harping about the name "The Fat Controller". Yes, it is referring to a man's rotund stature, but all the same it's a children's book, referring to a fictional controller. If you prefer, while reading this, just say "Sir Topham Hatt" (his actual name) in your mind or out loud, if you are reading it.
There is nobody whom I would not hesitate to recommend this to. This is the sort of book that parents could read to their children, and still have a great time reading it. These are the types of stories that those children will read and praise when they are older. These are the stories that those children will tell their children.
And even if the books stop being published, the legacy will never end.
To be clear, the title "The Complete Collection" refers to the fact that these are all of the Reverend Wilbert Awdry's Railway Series books. His son, Christopher, has written several more afterwards. Though the book says "Thomas the Tank Engine" on it, these stories are not only about him, but also the rest of the Really Useful Engines on the Island of Sodor, with No. 1 sometimes not appearing for a full book.
It annoys me to see some of the reasons that people have given to dislike this book, some along the lines of "the stories are too dark". To be fair, the concept of scrapping is mentioned from time to time, but that is just how the stories were. These are books written by a Christian priest who told the first three stories to his son who had measles. These are the stories that began the massive, beautiful, and Really Useful phenomenon that we now know as Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. For those who think the ten-minute episodes are better because they are longer - I'll have you know that the quality of the writing, illustrations, and the lessons of the "5-minute" stories in this collection are astronomically superior some of the episodes we see today. This is not to say that all of the TV stories are not good as there have been some very worthy adaptations from of the books and original stories in the TV series. Even the humor in Awdry's stories, which I find similar to A. A. Milne's in Winnie the Pooh, is something that not only children would have a laugh about. Here is an example from Duck and the Diesel Engine, featuring Duck and the Fat Controller having a chat about the rather stuck-up big engines.
TFC: "Duck, did you come up with these [rude] names?"
D: "I only wish, sir. If the dome fits -"
TFC: "Ahem!" (tries not to laugh)
Another thing is that people should stop harping about the name "The Fat Controller". Yes, it is referring to a man's rotund stature, but all the same it's a children's book, referring to a fictional controller. If you prefer, while reading this, just say "Sir Topham Hatt" (his actual name) in your mind or out loud, if you are reading it.
There is nobody whom I would not hesitate to recommend this to. This is the sort of book that parents could read to their children, and still have a great time reading it. These are the types of stories that those children will read and praise when they are older. These are the stories that those children will tell their children.
And even if the books stop being published, the legacy will never end.
April 20, 2022
Absolute banger
March 21, 2025
My favorite childhood book.
December 26, 2023
When I was four, I saw this book in one of those ads that played on your VHS tapes before the Feature Presentation guy came in and scared you with his booming voice. For years, I looked for it in used bookstores. It was an active search at first that turned passive over the years. But I finally found it.
If you've seen the first four seasons of Thomas and Friends when they were model trains on a set, then you know all the stories. This omnibus is a collection of the first 26 books written by the original author of the series. Those episodes use these books as the script, some of them are exact recreations, but I feel like this is a bit more special. I love the vibrant colors, the evolution of the illustrations (my favorite illustrator of the series is John T. Kenney), the inclusion of Scottish and sometimes Irish dialects, and the maps with detailed histories behind their locations. Anyone who knows me know that I love lore.
Lore is what makes a world. A book on it's own is fine, and stories that are involved can be very interesting, but nothing beats lore. Lore is what plunges you into hours of Wikipedia pages so that you can understand the cultural significance of one line of dialogue between a railroad commissioner and a literal talking steam engine. And you're reading this review thinking: "Is this actually a review about a children's book?" Yes. It is. "The Railway Series," from which Thomas and Friends comes from, has insane lore.
Castle ruins in the background of illustrations come with political intrigue and wars that happen centuries before the establishment of the railroad. Stations are placed in small villages named after dignitaries who have helped build the Isle of Sodor, the fictional place that has been placed snuggly between mainland Great Britain and the Isle of Man. There's even two engines with Sudric names, the fictional language of Sodor. What's also interesting is that these engines are based on two real engines that exist in Towyn, Wales and that Sodor is not supposed to be some magical place. The author fully implies that Sodor is real and is affected by the real events happening in the reader's world. The original 26 books span 30 years and in those 30 years, your child will learn about English industrialization, the mass scrapping of steam engines in the 1960s, railway defamation, the implications of organ harvesting (I wish I was joking), and what railways they can visit that have the EXACT engine that the main character of the story is based on.
I'd recommend these books to people who are big fans of lore. Especially lore that you have to piece together by collecting side details. As a lifelong steam enthusiast, I know that I loved catching all the references to big stations, heritage railways, and engine generations. The illustrations also do a great job at showing all the gritty detailing of the mechanics of these engines. I can appreciate that none of the stories are dumbed down for kids either. The author fully expects you to know how a railway works and I love it.
I came for the nostalgia, I stayed for the lore and real life parallels.
If you've seen the first four seasons of Thomas and Friends when they were model trains on a set, then you know all the stories. This omnibus is a collection of the first 26 books written by the original author of the series. Those episodes use these books as the script, some of them are exact recreations, but I feel like this is a bit more special. I love the vibrant colors, the evolution of the illustrations (my favorite illustrator of the series is John T. Kenney), the inclusion of Scottish and sometimes Irish dialects, and the maps with detailed histories behind their locations. Anyone who knows me know that I love lore.
Lore is what makes a world. A book on it's own is fine, and stories that are involved can be very interesting, but nothing beats lore. Lore is what plunges you into hours of Wikipedia pages so that you can understand the cultural significance of one line of dialogue between a railroad commissioner and a literal talking steam engine. And you're reading this review thinking: "Is this actually a review about a children's book?" Yes. It is. "The Railway Series," from which Thomas and Friends comes from, has insane lore.
Castle ruins in the background of illustrations come with political intrigue and wars that happen centuries before the establishment of the railroad. Stations are placed in small villages named after dignitaries who have helped build the Isle of Sodor, the fictional place that has been placed snuggly between mainland Great Britain and the Isle of Man. There's even two engines with Sudric names, the fictional language of Sodor. What's also interesting is that these engines are based on two real engines that exist in Towyn, Wales and that Sodor is not supposed to be some magical place. The author fully implies that Sodor is real and is affected by the real events happening in the reader's world. The original 26 books span 30 years and in those 30 years, your child will learn about English industrialization, the mass scrapping of steam engines in the 1960s, railway defamation, the implications of organ harvesting (I wish I was joking), and what railways they can visit that have the EXACT engine that the main character of the story is based on.
I'd recommend these books to people who are big fans of lore. Especially lore that you have to piece together by collecting side details. As a lifelong steam enthusiast, I know that I loved catching all the references to big stations, heritage railways, and engine generations. The illustrations also do a great job at showing all the gritty detailing of the mechanics of these engines. I can appreciate that none of the stories are dumbed down for kids either. The author fully expects you to know how a railway works and I love it.
I came for the nostalgia, I stayed for the lore and real life parallels.
May 15, 2025
This was my jam when I was a child - one of my earliest favourite books that I toted around everywhere and was obsessed with - but I haven't had occasion to read it in full in at least 15 years. With the 80th anniversary of the publishing of the first book on May 12, that seemed as good a time as any to revisit these stories, which I was pleased to find still go hard.
Top 5 volumes from the series:
Mountain Engines
Very Old Engines
Duke the Lost Engine
Gallant Old Engine
Mainline Engines
Top 5 volumes from the series:
Mountain Engines
Very Old Engines
Duke the Lost Engine
Gallant Old Engine
Mainline Engines
December 12, 2023
a little too protestant for me
Want to read
November 1, 2021poggers
July 14, 2015
A timeless classic that has influenced many, ever since the first book, 'The Three Railway Engines', was published in 1945, with the second book in 1946 entitled 'Thomas The Tank Engine', the 'Railway Series', or the 'Thomas the Tank Engine stories', as they are now called, has had an impact on the lives of many a child or adult, culminating in the Reverend's son, Christopher, continuing the range with sixteen more books, the beginning of the hit series in 1984, and a devoted fanbase. On a study of the text, the characters are simple, and easy for the reader to relate to, while representative of the many personalities of a human, such as cheeky Thomas, boastful Gordon, wise old Edward, and Devious Diesel, while the society is reflective of the period of publication, 1945 to 1972, through the patriarchal figure embodied in Sir Topham Hatt, the Fat Controller. In addition, the series intertwines several times with the real world, with real engines City of Truro, and Flying Scotsman, both famous record-breaking engines, making appearances. This is accompanied by one of Awdry's characters, Skarloey, revealing that he is the twin brother of Talyllyn, of the Talyllyn Railway in Wales, and how the series deals with the theme of retirement and death, through narratives based on existing issues, such as steam-powered traction being replaced by diesel traction. What is interesting is the manner in which these issues are covered. The issue of being replaced by diesels is often merely hinted at in rivalries in stories such as 'Thomas and Bertie' and 'Percy and Harold'. The theme of death by being scrapped becomes a minor, but key theme in books such as 'Enterprising Engines', in which, while Henry is jealous of having one tender in comparison to Flying Scotsman, who visited the island, because Gordon was mourning the death of engines of his build, and who needs two tenders due to a lack of coal and water on his railway, Douglas rescues a tank engine, Oliver, from being scrapped, and one of the visiting engines, Stepney the Bluebell Engine, of the Bluebell Railway, visits, famed, because he was one of the first engines who escaped being scrapped, by being preserved. As a long-standing, and ever-willing reader of these stories, I recommend them to any parent whose child loves trains, or whose child likes the 'Thomas and Friends' TV series.
March 26, 2012
A sturdy favourite of my youth, and now that of my little boy, having read through this whole collection together many times! He can explain when you need a banking engine, and the difference between mainlines and branchlines and even (thanks to James) why damaged brakes 'leak on'.
They are great little tales, creating a wonderful and sadly bygone world. Had these stories never been written I'll bet that not half as many steam locomotives would have been preserved today!
They are great little tales, creating a wonderful and sadly bygone world. Had these stories never been written I'll bet that not half as many steam locomotives would have been preserved today!
March 7, 2009
We've been through this one with two boys and now number three is enthralled with the pictures and stories in this book. The stories teach about consequences, working together, friendship, obedience and more!
January 27, 2015
A gem of a book for my Thomas obsessed son. I wish we still owned it, but we had to leave it behind when we moved home from overseas.
April 2, 2024
Thomas is a small young boy 0-6-0 Sodor standard-gauge steam tank engine locomotive. He has six small drive wheels and a short stumpy smokestack funnel and a short stumpy boiler and a short stumpy steam dome with a shiny gold double whistle. He lives on the Sodor North-Western Standard-Gauge Railway located on the faraway mythical Island of Sodor, the land where trains and non-train vehicles can talk. He’s the leader of all the talking trains and the talking non-train vehicles and the human people friends and the Sodor animals on the faraway mythical Island of Sodor and he’s the leader of the Sodor standard-gauge steam train engine locomotive team and he’s a really useful engine because he likes to be the really useful engine by solving some mysteries before the mysteries became history and he ran his branch line train tracks between Knapford Station and Ffarquhar Station with his two passenger coaches, Annie then Clarabel, the twin sister passenger coaches that carried passengers and passengers and their baggages and their luggages and the guard train conductor and he sometimes got to be very forgetful by having a dangerous time misunderstanding lots of orders of many important jobs throughout the history of the whole Sodor North-Western Standard-Gauge Railway, and he turned out to be my hero. He turned out to be my hero because something meant that he saved Mr. Conductor’s acquaintance, Lady the small young girl 0-4-0 Sodor standard-gauge Victorian-styled Lost Magical Golden Steam Tank Engine Locomotive from mighty malice Diesel 10 the young adult big and strongest muscle bound and mean and nasty and evil and grouchy and grumpy and sinister and ugly and hatred and maliceness Sodor standard-gauge Ten Out Of Ten British Railway Class 42 Warship diesel-hydraulic train engine locomotive with his huge mechanical arm that turned out to be his huge metal jagged-claw, Pinchy and his sidekicks, Splatter and Dodge the bumbling young twin boy Sodor standard-gauge Diesel shunter train engine locomotives with the help of the Sodor North Western Standard-Gauge Railway’s Sodor standard-gauge Big Dipper viaduct in Thomas And The Magic Railroad, the movie with Alec Baldwin/Alexander Rae Baldwin the III the North American Nominated-award winner and Emmy-award winner and Golden Globe-award winner and Academy award-winner movie star actor and the film writer and the film producer and the comedian and the well-known oldest of all the four Baldwin brothers as my friend, Mr. Conductor the North American Indian Valley Railroad Shining Time Station train conductor who guided me with-on his trip to the Sodor North-Western Standard-Gauge Railway on the faraway mythical Island of Sodor so that I could help him look after Thomas and his great friends and watch out for Diesel 10 and make certain and sure that Diesel 10 would behave himself and keep an eye deep on Henry the young adult 4-6-0 Sodor standard-gauge number 3 Big Green steam tender engine locomotive’s health while Sir Topham Hatt the Fat Controller and the head of the whole Sodor North-Western Standard-Gauge Railway took a much-needed holiday vacation with his true-blue loving wife, Lady Hatt and Peter Henry Fonda as Mr. Conductor’s brand-new friend, Burnett Stone who lived at Muffle Mountain and knew all about Lady on Mr. Conductor’s magic railroad between the Sodor North-Western Standard-Gauge Railway on the faraway mythical Island of Sodor where Thomas and Diesel 10 lived and Shining Time Station the North American railroad passenger train station that turned out to be the prideness part of the North American Indian Valley Railroad in California where Mr. Conductor lived, and knew much about how Lady got destroyed by Diesel 10 and Pinchy when he turned out to be Lady’s caretaker and got reunited with Thomas after he had Henry’s special Island of Sodor coal to bring Lady to life then Cody Arthur McMains was the roll of Mr. Stone’s friend, Patch the boy who promised to clean Mr. Stone’s yard out while he was off to Muffle Mountain, and Michael Ethans Rodgers was the roll of Mr. Conductor’s cousin, C. Junior the resident of the beach that stuffed a bunch of rainbow-colored party poppers down Thomas’s short stumpy smokestack funnel to make Thomas get very angry at him, and saved Thomas’s steam tender engine locomotive buddy, James the young teenager medium-sized 2-6-0 Sodor standard-gauge number 5 Splendid Red steam tender engine locomotive with the two front lead wheels and the six drive wheels and the six tender wheels and the brass steam dome then the red paint along with the number 5 located on his tender from mighty malice Diesel 10 at the Smelter’s Yard and brought James to the Sodor wishing well next to Mr. Conductor near the magic buffers that led Thomas to Lady in Mr. Stone’s workshop in Muffle Mountain, and Colm Joseph Feore was the roll of Toby the very bravest old man 0-6-0 Sodor standard-gauge number 7 brown-painted steam tram engine locomotive with the two cowcatchers and the two side plates and the six small drive wheels and the shiniest gold bell who went after Diesel 10 in order to see the thing that Diesel 10 could do next and delay Diesel 10 and distract Diesel 10 with his shiniest gold bell while Thomas went out to work the railroad night shift in order to deliver the mail post with Percy the small young boy 0-4-0 number 6 Sodor standard-gauge cheerful, but sometimes accident-prone green steam tank engine locomotive with the four small green drive wheels, and Mara Elizabeth Wilson the star of Matilda was the roll of Thomas’s brand-new friend, Lily the girl that turned out to be Mr. Burnett’s Stone’s 11-year-old granddaughter. I’m interested in her as Thomas’s brand-new friend, Lily the girl that turned out to be Mr. Burnett Stone’s 11-year-old granddaughter in Thomas And The Magic Railroad instead of dangerous stupid smart-aleck daughter Matilda Wormwood. I wanted to see her make her brand-new friends with Thomas and his gang of talking Island of Sodor trains and talking Island of Sodor non-train vehicles and Mr. Conductor. She did it with the help of Mr. Conductor’s cousin, C. Junior the resident of the beach that stuffed the rainbow-colored party poppers down Thomas’s short stumpy smokestack funnel to make Thomas get very angry at him, but the good and happy news to know was that Thomas was so happiest to make his brand-new friends with Lily because he made his brand-new friends with a brand-new girl. Lady is the small young girl 0-4-0 Sodor standard-gauge Victorian-styled Lost Magical Golden Steam Tank Engine Locomotive that used to travel on Mr. Conductor’s magic railroad between the Sodor North-Western Standard-Gauge Railway on the faraway mythical Island of Sodor where Thomas and Diesel 10 lived, and Shining Time Station the North American railroad passenger train station that turned out to be the prideness part of the North American Indian Valley Railroad in California where Mr. Conductor lived, and she was part of Mr. Conductor’s clue to the sources of the magic sparkle gold dust and her magic made her feel 101% more very powerful than Diesel 10 would ever be then she was vidled to the magic that held Shining Time Station and the faraway mythical Island of Sodor together, but all of that was only known by Lily’s sad grandpa, Burnett Stone who later became great friends with Mr. Conductor and Junior after he got reunited with Lily’s brand-new friend, Thomas by the time he had Henry’s special Island of Sodor coal to bring Lady to life. Before long Thomas saved Lady from mighty malice Diesel 10, he then his so great friends were really introduced to the North American United States of America North America country during the 20th century’s year, 1989 right on the PTV/Kideo/PBS Kids/WTTW Chicago TV show, Shining Time Station with Ringo Starr/Sir Richard Starkey MBE the famous Beatles drummer from the Beatles as Mr. Conductor the North American fair light white skin 18 inch tall and 20 centimeter tall Indian Valley Railroad Shining Time Station train conductor that lived in the signal and switch house station next to his so great friend, Old Smokey the North American train in the mural painting on the passenger train station wall. Mr. Ringo made his very first appearance to be Mr. Conductor during the Season 1 Shining Time Station episode, the first and only, A Place Unlike Any Other, and he made his very last appearance to be Mr. Conductor during the Shining Time Station Christmas special, ‘Tis A Gift. A man named Mr. Nicholas came to the station around Christmas time. Mr. Nicholas needed some help in his workshop and Mr. Conductor went along with him when he went back to his home located up at the North Pole within the very cold Arctic. And the show continued with Mr. Conductor’s cousins, Mr. Conductor and Sister Conductor who were played by George Denis Patrick Carlin and Teri Ann Garr. George Denis Patrick Carlin appeared as Mr. Conductor’s cousin, Mr. Conductor during the second season of Shining Time Station and the third season of Shining Time Station and the fourth season of Shining Time Station with his co-star, Teri Ann Garr as Sister Conductor who turned out to be Mr. Conductor’s too dangerous cousin and Mr. Conductor’s too dangerous sister in the season four Shining Time Station family special, One Of The Family. Mr. Conductor knew much about the way that he then Sister Conductor had the same parents and that they grew up in the same house together, but somewhere located along the way, Sister Conductor was raised by hilarious laughing spotted hyenas when she turned out to be Mr. Conductor’s little sister. She was all grown up, but you do not know it. I heard much about how neat and polite that Mr. Conductor and Mr. Conductor were. Sister Conductor was so messy and rude because something meant that she got away with everything when she then Mr. Conductor were kids. One night at dinner, Sister Conductor took her shoes and her socks off and she putted her bad smelly feet down in the mashed potatoes. Then one day, she took Mr. Conductor’s picture drawing artist art drawing artwork sketch pictures and made paper airplanes out of them, then she threw Mr. Conductor’s top favorite mittens down in the toilet and had fun and laughed about it for weeks and that did not make Mr. Conductor happy at all. My top favorite Shining Time Station characters were Mr. Conductor (Ringo Starr/Sir Richard Starkey MBE) then his cousins, Mr. Conductor (George Denis Patrick Carlin) and Sister Conductor (Teri Ann Garr) and Mr. Conductor (Alec Baldwin/Alexander Rae Baldwin the III) and C. Junior (Michael Ethans Rodgers) and their friend, Thomas the Tank Engine when I discovered that they had to be completely better than Horace Schemer (Brian Edward O’Connor). I did my Basil of Baker Street detective work and my Sherlock Holmes detective work around the station to solve the Shining Time Station mysteries before they became history from A Place Unlike Any Other to Queen For A Day and Mr. Conductor’s Thomas Tales. Mr. Conductor is the North American fair light white skin 18 inch tall and 20 centimeter tall Indian Valley Railroad Shining Time Station train conductor that lived in the signal and switch house station next to his so great friend, Old Smokey the North American train in the mural painting on the passenger train station wall inside Shining Time Station, the North American railroad passenger train station that turned out to be the prideness part of the North American Indian Valley Railroad in California. He took me to the faraway mythical Island of Sodor to see Thomas the Tank Engine because Thomas was his special friend and he told me the truth about the train schedules and the non-train vehicle schedules on the faraway mythical Island of Sodor. He fitted on the faraway mythical Island of Sodor in normal human-size-wise so that he can ride the talking Island of Sodor train engine locomotives and ride them in their cabs and he fitted in his signal and switch house station in the mural painting inside Shining Time Station at 18 tall inches and 20 tall centimeters because he traveled between Shining Time Station in the North American United States of America North America country and the faraway mythical Island of Sodor near the British mainland. It happened from Ringo Starr/Sir Richard Starkey MBE, the famous Beatles drummer as Mr. Conductor in the Season 1 Shining Time Station episode, the first and only, A Place Unlike Any Other to George Denis Patrick Carlin and Teri Ann Garr as Mr. Conductor’s cousins, Mr. Conductor and Sister Conductor in the second season of Shining Time Station and the third season of Shining Time Station and the fourth season of Shining Time Station and Shining Time Station Mr. Conductor’s Thomas Tales to master Alec Baldwin/Alexander Rae Baldwin the III as Mr. Conductor with Michael Ethans Rodgers as C. Junior in Thomas And The Magic Railroad from 1989 within the 20th century to 2000 within the 21st century. And today, Thomas and his gang of talking trains and talking non-train vehicles and human people friends and I get new train engine locomotive friends and new non-train vehicle friends to come right from all over the planet Earth world on the planet, Earth to the faraway mythical Island of Sodor to help with many important jobs. Thomas discovered Sam the very big and very strong young adult 2-6-6-6 Sodor standard-gauge Virginian steam tender engine locomotive because Sam was the Sodor standard-gauge steam tender engine locomotive that pulled 39 truck freight cars in order to deliver the freight and the raw-materials and the finished products and the manufactured goods and the freight goods and the supplies and the cargo from where they were made to where they were needed in all parts of the faraway mythical Island of Sodor, and Thomas went to the land of India to work with his brand-new train engine locomotive friend, Noor Jehan, and Thomas made brand-new friends with Duchess in The Royal Engine. The good and happy news to know was that I believed in Thomas when I wanted to depend on him to be really useful. It happened from my childhood to my adulthood throughout Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends/Thomas And Friends and Thomas And The Magic Railroad and Shining Time Station. Thomas was born in 1915 during the 20th century because something meant that he was born to be the well-known really useful engine from the whole Sodor North Western Standard-Gauge Railway located on the faraway mythical Island of Sodor, and finally, the news to know was that he went to his death in a really spooky train engine locomotive scrapyard in 2021 then 2022 during the 21st century.
March 29, 2024
Thomas is a small young boy 0-6-0 Sodor standard-gauge steam tank engine locomotive. He has six small drive wheels and a short stumpy smokestack funnel and a short stumpy boiler and a short stumpy steam dome with a shiny gold double whistle. He lives on the Sodor North-Western Standard-Gauge Railway located on the faraway mythical Island of Sodor, the land where trains and non-train vehicles can talk. He’s the leader of all the talking trains and the talking non-train vehicles and the human people friends and the Sodor animals on the faraway mythical Island of Sodor and he’s the leader of the Sodor standard-gauge steam train engine locomotive team and he’s a really useful engine because he likes to be the really useful engine by solving some mysteries before the mysteries became history and he ran his branch line train tracks between Knapford Station and Ffarquhar Station with his two passenger coaches, Annie then Clarabel, the twin sister passenger coaches that carried passengers and passengers and their baggages and their luggages and the guard train conductor and he sometimes got to be very forgetful by having a dangerous time misunderstanding lots of orders of many important jobs throughout the history of the whole Sodor North-Western Standard-Gauge Railway, and he turned out to be my hero. He turned out to be my hero because something meant that he saved Mr. Conductor’s acquaintance, Lady the small young girl 0-4-0 Sodor standard-gauge Victorian-styled Lost Magical Golden Steam Tank Engine Locomotive from mighty malice Diesel 10 the young adult big and strongest muscle bound and mean and nasty and evil and grouchy and grumpy and sinister and ugly and hatred and maliceness Sodor standard-gauge Ten Out Of Ten British Railway Class 42 Warship diesel-hydraulic train engine locomotive with his huge mechanical arm that turned out to be his huge metal jagged-claw, Pinchy and his sidekicks, Splatter and Dodge the bumbling young twin boy Sodor standard-gauge Diesel shunter train engine locomotives with the help of the Sodor North Western Standard-Gauge Railway’s Sodor standard-gauge Big Dipper viaduct in Thomas And The Magic Railroad, the movie with Alec Baldwin/Alexander Rae Baldwin the III the North American Nominated-award winner and Emmy-award winner and Golden Globe-award winner and Academy award-winner movie star actor and the film writer and the film producer and the comedian and the well-known oldest of all the four Baldwin brothers as my friend, Mr. Conductor the North American Indian Valley Railroad Shining Time Station train conductor who guided me with-on his trip to the Sodor North-Western Standard-Gauge Railway on the faraway mythical Island of Sodor so that I could help him look after Thomas and his great friends and watch out for Diesel 10 and make certain and sure that Diesel 10 would behave himself and keep an eye deep on Henry the young adult 4-6-0 Sodor standard-gauge number 3 Big Green steam tender engine locomotive’s health while Sir Topham Hatt the Fat Controller and the head of the whole Sodor North-Western Standard-Gauge Railway took a much-needed holiday vacation with his true-blue loving wife, Lady Hatt and Peter Henry Fonda as Mr. Conductor’s brand-new friend, Burnett Stone who lived at Muffle Mountain and knew all about Lady on Mr. Conductor’s magic railroad between the Sodor North-Western Standard-Gauge Railway on the faraway mythical Island of Sodor where Thomas and Diesel 10 lived and Shining Time Station the North American railroad passenger train station that turned out to be the prideness part of the North American Indian Valley Railroad in California where Mr. Conductor lived, and knew much about how Lady got destroyed by Diesel 10 and Pinchy when he turned out to be Lady’s caretaker and got reunited with Thomas after he had Henry’s special Island of Sodor coal to bring Lady to life then Cody Arthur McMains was the roll of Mr. Stone’s friend, Patch the boy who promised to clean Mr. Stone’s yard out while he was off to Muffle Mountain, and Michael Ethans Rodgers was the roll of Mr. Conductor’s cousin, C. Junior the resident of the beach that stuffed a bunch of rainbow-colored party poppers down Thomas’s short stumpy smokestack funnel to make Thomas get very angry at him, and saved Thomas’s steam tender engine locomotive buddy, James the young teenager medium-sized 2-6-0 Sodor standard-gauge number 5 Splendid Red steam tender engine locomotive with the two front lead wheels and the six drive wheels and the six tender wheels and the brass steam dome then the red paint along with the number 5 located on his tender from mighty malice Diesel 10 at the Smelter’s Yard and brought James to the Sodor wishing well next to Mr. Conductor near the magic buffers that led Thomas to Lady in Mr. Stone’s workshop in Muffle Mountain, and Colm Joseph Feore OC was the roll of Toby the very bravest old man 0-6-0 Sodor standard-gauge number 7 brown-painted steam tram engine locomotive with the two cowcatchers and the two side plates and the six small drive wheels and the shiniest gold bell who went after Diesel 10 in order to see the thing that Diesel 10 could do next and delay Diesel 10 and distract Diesel 10 with his shiniest gold bell while Thomas went out to work the railroad night shift in order to deliver the mail post with Percy the small young boy 0-4-0 number 6 Sodor standard-gauge cheerful, but sometimes accident-prone green steam tank engine locomotive with the four small green drive wheels, and Mara Elizabeth Wilson the star of Matilda was the roll of Thomas’s brand-new friend, Lily the girl that turned out to be Mr. Burnett’s Stone’s 11-year-old granddaughter. I’m interested in her as Thomas’s brand-new friend, Lily the girl that turned out to be Mr. Burnett Stone’s 11-year-old granddaughter in Thomas And The Magic Railroad instead of dangerous stupid smart-aleck daughter Matilda Wormwood. I wanted to see her make her brand-new friends with Thomas and his gang of talking Island of Sodor trains and talking Island of Sodor non-train vehicles and Mr. Conductor. She did it with the help of Mr. Conductor’s cousin, C. Junior the resident of the beach that stuffed the rainbow-colored party poppers down Thomas’s short stumpy smokestack funnel to make Thomas get very angry at him, but the good and happy news to know was that Thomas was so happiest to make his brand-new friends with Lily because he made his brand-new friends with a brand-new girl. Lady is the small young girl 0-4-0 Sodor standard-gauge Victorian-styled Lost Magical Golden Steam Tank Engine Locomotive that used to travel on Mr. Conductor’s magic railroad between the Sodor North-Western Standard-Gauge Railway on the faraway mythical Island of Sodor where Thomas and Diesel 10 lived, and Shining Time Station the North American railroad passenger train station that turned out to be the prideness part of the North American Indian Valley Railroad in California where Mr. Conductor lived, and she was part of Mr. Conductor’s clue to the sources of the magic sparkle gold dust and her magic made her feel 101% more very powerful than Diesel 10 would ever be then she was vital to the magic that held Shining Time Station and the faraway mythical Island of Sodor together, but all of that was only known by Lily’s sad grandpa, Burnett Stone who later became great friends with Mr. Conductor and Junior after he got reunited with Lily’s brand-new friend, Thomas by the time he had Henry’s special Island of Sodor coal to bring Lady to life. Before long Thomas saved Lady from mighty malice Diesel 10, he then his so great friends were really introduced to the North American United States of America North America country during the 20th century’s year, 1989 right on the PTV/Kideo/PBS Kids/WTTW Chicago TV show, Shining Time Station with Ringo Starr/Sir Richard Starkey MBE the famous Beatles drummer from the Beatles as Mr. Conductor the North American fair light white skin 18 inch tall and 20 centimeter tall Indian Valley Railroad Shining Time Station train conductor that lived in the signal and switch house station next to his so great friend, Old Smokey the North American train in the mural painting on the passenger train station wall. Mr. Ringo made his very first appearance to be Mr. Conductor during the Season 1 Shining Time Station episode, the first and only, A Place Unlike Any Other, and he made his very last appearance to be Mr. Conductor during the Shining Time Station Christmas special, ‘Tis A Gift. A man named Mr. Nicholas came to the station around Christmas time. Mr. Nicholas needed some help in his workshop and Mr. Conductor went along with him when he went back to his home located up at the North Pole within the very cold Arctic. And the show continued with Mr. Conductor’s cousins, Mr. Conductor and Sister Conductor who were played by George Denis Patrick Carlin and Teri Ann Garr. George Denis Patrick Carlin appeared as Mr. Conductor’s cousin, Mr. Conductor during the second season of Shining Time Station and the third season of Shining Time Station and the fourth season of Shining Time Station with his co-star, Teri Ann Garr as Sister Conductor who turned out to be Mr. Conductor’s too dangerous cousin and Mr. Conductor’s too dangerous sister in the season four Shining Time Station family special, One Of The Family. Mr. Conductor knew much about the way that he then Sister Conductor had the same parents and that they grew up in the same house together, but somewhere located along the way, Sister Conductor was raised by hilarious laughing spotted hyenas when she turned out to be Mr. Conductor’s little sister. She was all grown up, but you do not know it. I heard much about how neat and polite that Mr. Conductor and Mr. Conductor were. Sister Conductor was so messy and rude because something meant that she got away with everything when she then Mr. Conductor were kids. One night at dinner, Sister Conductor took her shoes and her socks off and she putted her bad smelly feet down in the mashed potatoes. Then one day, she took Mr. Conductor’s picture drawing artist art drawing artwork sketch pictures and made paper airplanes out of them, then she threw Mr. Conductor’s top favorite mittens down in the toilet and had fun and laughed about it for weeks and that did not make Mr. Conductor happy at all. My top favorite Shining Time Station characters were Mr. Conductor (Ringo Starr/Sir Richard Starkey MBE) then his cousins, Mr. Conductor (George Denis Patrick Carlin) and Sister Conductor (Teri Ann Garr) and Mr. Conductor (Alec Baldwin/Alexander Rae Baldwin the III) and C. Junior (Michael Ethans Rodgers) and their friend, Thomas the Tank Engine when I discovered that they had to be completely better than Horace Schemer (Brian Edward O’Connor). I did my Basil of Baker Street detective work and my Sherlock Holmes detective work around the station to solve the Shining Time Station mysteries before they became history from A Place Unlike Any Other to Queen For A Day and Mr. Conductor’s Thomas Tales. Mr. Conductor is the North American fair light white skin 18 inch tall and 20 centimeter tall Indian Valley Railroad Shining Time Station train conductor that lived in the signal and switch house station next to his so great friend, Old Smokey the North American train in the mural painting on the passenger train station wall inside Shining Time Station, the North American railroad passenger train station that turned out to be the prideness part of the North American Indian Valley Railroad in California. He took me to the faraway mythical Island of Sodor to see Thomas the Tank Engine because Thomas was his special friend and he told me the truth about the train schedules and the non-train vehicle schedules on the faraway mythical Island of Sodor. He fitted on the faraway mythical Island of Sodor in normal human-size-wise so that he can ride the talking Island of Sodor train engine locomotives and ride them in their cabs and he fitted in his signal and switch house station in the mural painting inside Shining Time Station at 18 tall inches and 20 tall centimeters because he traveled between Shining Time Station in the North American United States of America North America country and the faraway mythical Island of Sodor near the British mainland. It happened from Ringo Starr/Sir Richard Starkey MBE, the famous Beatles drummer as Mr. Conductor in the Season 1 Shining Time Station episode, the first and only, A Place Unlike Any Other to George Denis Patrick Carlin and Teri Ann Garr as Mr. Conductor’s cousins, Mr. Conductor and Sister Conductor in the second season of Shining Time Station and the third season of Shining Time Station and the fourth season of Shining Time Station and Shining Time Station Mr. Conductor’s Thomas Tales to master Alec Baldwin/Alexander Rae Baldwin the III as Mr. Conductor with Michael Ethans Rodgers as C. Junior in Thomas And The Magic Railroad from 1989 within the 20th century to 2000 within the 21st century. And today, Thomas and his gang of talking trains and talking non-train vehicles and human people friends and I get new train engine locomotive friends and new non-train vehicle friends to come right from all over the planet Earth world on the planet, Earth to the faraway mythical Island of Sodor to help with many important jobs. Thomas discovered Sam the very big and very strong young adult 2-6-6-6 Sodor standard-gauge Virginian steam tender engine locomotive because Sam was the Sodor standard-gauge steam tender engine locomotive that pulled 39 truck freight cars in order to deliver the freight and the raw-materials and the finished products and the manufactured goods and the freight goods and the supplies and the cargo from where they were made to where they were needed in all parts of the faraway mythical Island of Sodor, and Thomas went to the land of India to work with his brand-new train engine locomotive friend, Noor Jehan, and Thomas made brand-new friends with Duchess in The Royal Engine. The good and happy news to know was that I believed in Thomas when I wanted to depend on him to be really useful. It happened from my childhood to my adulthood throughout Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends/Thomas And Friends and Thomas And The Magic Railroad and Shining Time Station. Thomas was born in 1915 during the 20th century because something meant that he was born to be the well-known really useful engine from the whole Sodor North Western Standard-Gauge Railway located on the faraway mythical Island of Sodor, and finally, the news to know was that he went to his death in a really spooky train engine locomotive scrapyard in 2021 then 2022 during the 21st century.
December 22, 2020
A wonderful collection of stories written by the Rev W. Awdry, focused around the adventures of the various engines and the railways that they run on in the fictional Island of Sodor.
There is a definite storybook feel to the first twelve books, as if it is the perfect English idyll, populated by these sentient vehicles where nothing bad happens, or if it does it is soon resolved and the engine in question learns an important lesson.
The illustrations by C. Reginald Dalby, John T. Kenney and Peter and Gunvor Edwards helped to cement this feeling, and both the writing and illustrations proved to be very comforting to me. I also enjoyed the fact that most of the stories were based on real railways and incidents which had happened.
After the twelfth book, the story lines start to become more complex and slightly darker. The arrival of Diesel in ‘Duck and the Diesel Engine’ heralds both the introduction of diesel engines, but also a slight sense of threat to the peace of the engines and their previously almost fairy-tale world.
New types of engines and their railways begin to appear, including the Skarloey narrow gauge railway, the Culdee Fell mountain railway and the Arlesdale miniature railway, all of which are based upon real railways, namely the Tallylyn and Corris railways in Wales, the Snowdon Mountain Railway and the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway in Wales.
I enjoyed all these new railways and the storylines they brought to the series, but especially liked the stories of the Skarloey and Mountain Railways.
The later books continue the darker themes introduced in ‘Duck and the Diesel Engine’, going as far as to describe the realities of increasing dieselisation and eventual abolition of steam on the main line.
I enjoyed the earlier books in a different way to the later ones, as they were escapist to me, portraying a world which never perhaps really existed, but also enjoyed the complexity of the later books as well, as the emotions of the situations the engines found themselves in, became more prominent.
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of books, and both the Rev W. Awdry’s writing and the illustrations helped to whisk me away to the Island of Sodor, to become engrossed in the adventures of the various characters. I also found the section at the end of the book detailing the lives of Rev. W. Awdry and the four illustrators to be extremely interesting.
I can’t really name one favourite book in the series as they all offered different things to me, so will give a list of those that I enjoyed the most.
‘Tank Engine Thomas Again’
‘Troublesome Engines’
‘Henry the Green Engine’
‘Toby the Tram Engine’
‘Four Little Engines’
‘The Eight Famous Engines’
‘Gallant Old Engines’
‘Mountain Engines’
‘Very Old Engines’
‘Small Railway Engines’
‘Enterprising Engines’
There is a definite storybook feel to the first twelve books, as if it is the perfect English idyll, populated by these sentient vehicles where nothing bad happens, or if it does it is soon resolved and the engine in question learns an important lesson.
The illustrations by C. Reginald Dalby, John T. Kenney and Peter and Gunvor Edwards helped to cement this feeling, and both the writing and illustrations proved to be very comforting to me. I also enjoyed the fact that most of the stories were based on real railways and incidents which had happened.
After the twelfth book, the story lines start to become more complex and slightly darker. The arrival of Diesel in ‘Duck and the Diesel Engine’ heralds both the introduction of diesel engines, but also a slight sense of threat to the peace of the engines and their previously almost fairy-tale world.
New types of engines and their railways begin to appear, including the Skarloey narrow gauge railway, the Culdee Fell mountain railway and the Arlesdale miniature railway, all of which are based upon real railways, namely the Tallylyn and Corris railways in Wales, the Snowdon Mountain Railway and the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway in Wales.
I enjoyed all these new railways and the storylines they brought to the series, but especially liked the stories of the Skarloey and Mountain Railways.
The later books continue the darker themes introduced in ‘Duck and the Diesel Engine’, going as far as to describe the realities of increasing dieselisation and eventual abolition of steam on the main line.
I enjoyed the earlier books in a different way to the later ones, as they were escapist to me, portraying a world which never perhaps really existed, but also enjoyed the complexity of the later books as well, as the emotions of the situations the engines found themselves in, became more prominent.
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of books, and both the Rev W. Awdry’s writing and the illustrations helped to whisk me away to the Island of Sodor, to become engrossed in the adventures of the various characters. I also found the section at the end of the book detailing the lives of Rev. W. Awdry and the four illustrators to be extremely interesting.
I can’t really name one favourite book in the series as they all offered different things to me, so will give a list of those that I enjoyed the most.
‘Tank Engine Thomas Again’
‘Troublesome Engines’
‘Henry the Green Engine’
‘Toby the Tram Engine’
‘Four Little Engines’
‘The Eight Famous Engines’
‘Gallant Old Engines’
‘Mountain Engines’
‘Very Old Engines’
‘Small Railway Engines’
‘Enterprising Engines’
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2023
Like a lot of young British lads, I absolutely loved Thomas the Tank Engine, and enjoyed the TV series, being the late eighties baby that I was.
I owned many of these separate story books too, but it's only after finding this collection and rereading them all over again that you realise just how clever these books are.
You can absolutely tell the Author was a big fan of Trains, and the research done must have been extraordinary to turn seemingly everyday events on the railways of the time into great adventures, must have taken great imagination!
So yes, as I've already pointed out a little - I really enjoyed how authentic the stories were (minus the talking locomotives obviously!), and there's enough differing stories to not make them boring (not every story is introducing a new engine etc.)
Many of the engines & railways in the book were inspired by real life locos & locations, which were very kindly credited and acknowledged by the author.
I also enjoyed reading the afterwards, adding much info & work I didn't know, that went into these books.
This collection has all of the Reverend's original Thomas books, which definitely saves hunting them down individually, as they could be worth a pretty penny by now. The stories make up most of the first couple of seasons of the animated Thomas the Tank Engine series, minus the 'Small Railway Engines' & the 'Mountain Engines' which never made into the animated series to my knowledge?
(Maybe I'm wrong though).
The only minuses there are (which are few), are some very advanced railway terminology, outdated phrases (I've never before heard "Play him out" yet it's mentioned countless times in the book), and the artwork - which while charming, can sometimes also look like nightmare fuel!
A lovely book for collectors and fans of Thomas young or old.
I owned many of these separate story books too, but it's only after finding this collection and rereading them all over again that you realise just how clever these books are.
You can absolutely tell the Author was a big fan of Trains, and the research done must have been extraordinary to turn seemingly everyday events on the railways of the time into great adventures, must have taken great imagination!
So yes, as I've already pointed out a little - I really enjoyed how authentic the stories were (minus the talking locomotives obviously!), and there's enough differing stories to not make them boring (not every story is introducing a new engine etc.)
Many of the engines & railways in the book were inspired by real life locos & locations, which were very kindly credited and acknowledged by the author.
I also enjoyed reading the afterwards, adding much info & work I didn't know, that went into these books.
This collection has all of the Reverend's original Thomas books, which definitely saves hunting them down individually, as they could be worth a pretty penny by now. The stories make up most of the first couple of seasons of the animated Thomas the Tank Engine series, minus the 'Small Railway Engines' & the 'Mountain Engines' which never made into the animated series to my knowledge?
(Maybe I'm wrong though).
The only minuses there are (which are few), are some very advanced railway terminology, outdated phrases (I've never before heard "Play him out" yet it's mentioned countless times in the book), and the artwork - which while charming, can sometimes also look like nightmare fuel!
A lovely book for collectors and fans of Thomas young or old.
February 7, 2024
This lavish complete collection of The Railway Series is the perfect way to celebrate 75 years since the publication of the first set of stories on the Island of Sodor.
Each of the 26 books consists of four stories each, that's plenty of adventures to share for bedtime stories over many nights.
With the numerous books written between 1945 - 1972 it was interesting to see how Awdry evolved the series with many new engines introduced over time, whilst the more popular characters like Thomas had additional stories focusing on them.
I've got fond memories of the classic show narrated by Ringo Starr & Michael Angelis so the earlier tales resonated with me more, especially Henry being bricked up in a tunnel or Duke saving Falcon or Edward getting a Train of Enthusiasts home after Breaking a Crank-pin and damaging his Wheels and Ripping his Left side apart!
Each of the 26 books consists of four stories each, that's plenty of adventures to share for bedtime stories over many nights.
With the numerous books written between 1945 - 1972 it was interesting to see how Awdry evolved the series with many new engines introduced over time, whilst the more popular characters like Thomas had additional stories focusing on them.
I've got fond memories of the classic show narrated by Ringo Starr & Michael Angelis so the earlier tales resonated with me more, especially Henry being bricked up in a tunnel or Duke saving Falcon or Edward getting a Train of Enthusiasts home after Breaking a Crank-pin and damaging his Wheels and Ripping his Left side apart!
November 20, 2017
Finishing this book has kind of been a goal since I was 8. Back in the early 2000's I used to see this book at Barnes and nobles and could never afford it. Fast forward to 2013 and I remembered how much I wanted to own this book so I tracked it down and finally today I finished reading it!! This book did not disappoint. I loved all these original stories by Rev W Awdry and enjoyed experiencing the differences between them and the episodes of the TV series when I was little. It blows my mind how little changes were made and how timeless these stories are. I felt like I was five years old again. And they are very well written and do not at all dumb down railroad operations but explain them accurately.
April 23, 2018
It might seem strange adding this one to my list of 'read' books, but this book was literally my entire childhood. I was an absolute Thomas - and train - fanatic, and these stories were my favourite thing ever. The drawings that are included in with the stories are just an added bonus too, and I spent hours pouring over them as a three- and four-year-old kid.
This will forever be one of my favourites, and I simply can't rate this any lower than five stars for the level of nostalgia that this series will always have for me.
This will forever be one of my favourites, and I simply can't rate this any lower than five stars for the level of nostalgia that this series will always have for me.
March 22, 2020
This book comprised a large part of my childhood. My dad would read this to me and my brothers before bed and I think the influence it had is considerable. The language of this book is incredible considering its context as a children's book; the vocabulary level raised that of me and my brothers many years beyond our age, in the most subtle and enjoyable way possible.
The stories were rich and so beautifully crafted and Awdry is one of the most talented children's authors I have come across.
The stories were rich and so beautifully crafted and Awdry is one of the most talented children's authors I have come across.
December 30, 2021
This compilation contains all 26 of The Reverend W. Awdry's "Railway Series" books. It doesn't contain any of this son, Christopher's additions to the series, however, so the claim that this is "The Complete Collection" is slightly disingenuous.
What we do get, though, is a collection of superbly written stories about trains by a railway enthusiast. The love and passion the author has for the subject matter is both apparent and infectious. I'd go as far as to say that this is some of the best children's literature out there.
What we do get, though, is a collection of superbly written stories about trains by a railway enthusiast. The love and passion the author has for the subject matter is both apparent and infectious. I'd go as far as to say that this is some of the best children's literature out there.
March 21, 2019
Always enjoyed Thomas the Tank Engine show when I was younger and as I babysat when I got older. But, the stories are hit and miss for me. The beginning ones are great, but later there are only a few hidden gems. I also felt like some of the artwork started to change, and get worse over time. I tried to start reading them to my daughter, but she had no interest in them, so I just continued to read by myself to finish the collection.
January 16, 2022
One of the greatest children's stories of all time. The stories are classic, just like you remember from your childhood (Particularly if you grew up with the original tv show during the 80's and 90's). The artwork in the book is beautiful and the collection of stories is more than enough to make bedtime delightful for young children. If you want to instill a love for trains in your young children, this is the book for you.
March 16, 2022
I was relieved to realize that the original stories are better than most of the adapted ones. I only got half way through this book (it includes around 100 stories) with my 2 year old who loves Thomas but the layout of this book with mostly text and small illustrations made these stories a bit less accessible for him. The story quality seemed to vary a lot with some fun and entertaining and others that just felt flat and dull. Overall a good read I may pick up again with an older child.
July 4, 2023
An absolute classic. Stories that shall be remembered for generations. Although this may be a "kids book" in name, this series is as mature as any other story. The pure nostalgia that radiates from even holding this book in my hand is incredible. I read this book when I was very young, and still hold it near and dear to this day as someone entering college very soon. From the hilarity of stories such as Wooly Bear and Gordon's Whistle, to stories of triumph like Coal and Escape, all the way to stories of tragedy in Grandpuff and Tenders for Henry. Every kind of story anyone can want is in here, except for one: a bad story.
November 26, 2024
Solid gold. This treasury is the reason why the original Thomas the Tank Engine television series are so superior as children's programming and the episodes which follow after season 4 are an affront to taste and decency. They simply do not make children's books like this any more.
July 28, 2018
I love these stories so much! My favourite part is the Scottish trains.
February 4, 2021
I'm so glad Thomas has become such a special reading experience for our family. These are just charming!
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