Thomas and Friends - Season 4
Encyclopedia
Thomas and Friends is a children's television series
about the engines and other characters working on the railways of the Island of Sodor, and is based on The Railway Series
books written by the Rev. W. Awdry.
This article lists and details episodes from the fourth season of this series, which was first broadcast from 10 September 1994 to 30 May 1995. Some episodes in this season have two titles: the original UK titles are shown in bold; the U.S.-adapted titles underneath.
Season 4 is narrated by Michael Angelis
, although George Carlin
narrates the episodes for U.S. audiences. The first half of the season focuses mainly on flashback
s to the Mid Sodor Railway
and, not in flashbacks, the Skarloey Railway
.
Stepney, a character based on a real-life engine and used to highlight the preservation movement
in the books, was given an entirely different background when he was introduced. This decision carried on into later series, in which he was seen on either a fictionalized Bluebell Railway
or as a member of The Fat Controller's railway.
The show had come under fire for having too few female characters, and a conscious decision was made to rewrite Rusty, who was always a male character in the books, as gender-neutral. This led to a minor controversy years later when the American dub of the ninth series referred to Rusty as a female. While HIT Entertainment
, Thomas's new owners, initially defended the decision, citing Rusty's gender neutrality since Series 4, later releases of the same episode substituted male pronouns in reference to Rusty.
and an episode of Britt Allcroft's Magic Adventures of Mumfie
.
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
about the engines and other characters working on the railways of the Island of Sodor, and is based on The Railway Series
The Railway Series
The Railway Series is a set of story books about a railway system located on the fictional Island of Sodor. There are 42 books in the series, the first being published in 1945. Twenty-six were written by the Rev. W. Awdry, up to 1972. A further 16 were written by his son, Christopher Awdry; 14...
books written by the Rev. W. Awdry.
This article lists and details episodes from the fourth season of this series, which was first broadcast from 10 September 1994 to 30 May 1995. Some episodes in this season have two titles: the original UK titles are shown in bold; the U.S.-adapted titles underneath.
Season 4 is narrated by Michael Angelis
Michael Angelis
Michael Angelis is an English actor and voice actor.Michael Angelis was one of the stars of the famous 1982 BBC drama serial Boys from the Black Stuff and another Alan Bleasedale drama G.B.H.. He also starred in comedies such as Luv and The Liver Birds, in which he appeared between series 5 and 9...
, although George Carlin
George Carlin
George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor and author, who won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums....
narrates the episodes for U.S. audiences. The first half of the season focuses mainly on flashback
Flashback (narrative)
Flashback is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point the story has reached. Flashbacks are often used to recount events that happened before the story’s primary sequence of events or to fill in crucial backstory...
s to the Mid Sodor Railway
Mid Sodor Railway
The Mid Sodor Railway is a fictional narrow gauge railway on the Island of Sodor in The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev.W.Awdry and Christopher Awdry. The railway was closed in 1947, but three of its engines survive on the Skarloey Railway...
and, not in flashbacks, the Skarloey Railway
Skarloey Railway
On the fictional Island of Sodor in The Railway Series by Rev. W. Awdry, the Skarloey Railway is a narrow gauge railway which runs from the main line at Crovan's Gate to the passenger terminus at Skarloey. Beyond Skarloey the line continues to a slate quarry.In the stories, the railway is run by...
.
Filming
The fourth series saw the introduction of the smaller narrow gauge engines. For ease of filming, Series 5 would introduce larger-scale versions of the characters, and from Series 6-12, these larger models were used almost exclusively.Stories
Half of the third series consisted of stories written by the show's staff, but only one original story, "Rusty to the Rescue," was written for the fourth series. The episodes which used The Railway Series did take some liberties with the source material, in order to fill the runtime and make the stories more accessible. From series 5 onward, all stories would be staff-written, without using the Awdrys' books as a source.Stepney, a character based on a real-life engine and used to highlight the preservation movement
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
in the books, was given an entirely different background when he was introduced. This decision carried on into later series, in which he was seen on either a fictionalized Bluebell Railway
Bluebell Railway
The Bluebell Railway is a heritage line running for nine miles along the border between East and West Sussex, England. Steam trains are operated between and , with an intermediate station at .The railway is managed and run largely by volunteers...
or as a member of The Fat Controller's railway.
The show had come under fire for having too few female characters, and a conscious decision was made to rewrite Rusty, who was always a male character in the books, as gender-neutral. This led to a minor controversy years later when the American dub of the ninth series referred to Rusty as a female. While HIT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment
Hit Entertainment is a British-American entertainment distribution company established in 1989, and originally the international distribution arm of Jim Henson Productions called Henson International Television...
, Thomas's new owners, initially defended the decision, citing Rusty's gender neutrality since Series 4, later releases of the same episode substituted male pronouns in reference to Rusty.
Talent
In the United States, Series 4 was the last to feature the narration of George Carlin. Initially, each episode was broadcast in installments of the children's program Shining Time Station. Two stories were aired in each of the hour-long "Family Specials" in 1995. The rest were broadcast in a six-episode offshoot called Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales. Later they would air in a new half-hour program called Storytime with Thomas, which also included a Series 5 episode narrated by Alec BaldwinAlec Baldwin
Alexander Rae "Alec" Baldwin III is an American actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television.Baldwin first gained recognition through television for his work in the soap opera Knots Landing in the role of Joshua Rush. He was a cast member for two seasons before his character was killed off...
and an episode of Britt Allcroft's Magic Adventures of Mumfie
Magic Adventures of Mumfie
Britt Allcroft's Magic Adventures of Mumfie is an animated made-for-television movie and television series created by Britt Allcroft and directed by John Laurence Collins. It is based on the Mumfie novels by Katherine Tozer, which were originally published in 1936. Mumfie is a 'nelifunt', a toy...
.
Episodes
| # | Total | Title (Top) US Title (Bottom) |
Source | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
New Characters
- DukeDukeA duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
(Granpuff) - SkarloeySkarloeySkarloey is a fictional locomotive from The Railway Series by Rev. W. Awdry. He is one of the oldest engines on the Island of Sodor. Skarloey lives and works on the Skarloey Railway as Engine No.1.-Railway Series history:...
(Granpuff, Cameo) (Four Little Engines, Properly) - Duncan (Bulldog, Cameo) (Home at Last)
- RustyRusty the dieselRusty the Diesel is a fictional Ruston & Hornsby diesel engine on the Skarloey Railway in The Railway Series children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and the spin-off TV series Thomas and Friends. He is responsible for hauling maintenance trains for gangers to repair the track. He also occasionally...
(Trucks) - RheneasRheneasRheneas is a fictional locomotive from The Railway Series by Rev. W. Awdry and the children's TV series Thomas and Friends. He is one of the oldest engines on the Island of Sodor...
(Granpuff, Cameo) (Four Little Engines) - Stepney (Rusty to the Rescue)
- Peter SamPeter SamPeter Sam is a fictional steam locomotive The Railway Series children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry and the spin-off TV series Thomas and Friends. Peter Sam lives and works on the Skarloey Railway on the Island of Sodor as engine No. 4....
(Granpuff) - George (Steamroller)
- Sir HandelSir HandelSir Handel is a fictional steam locomotive from The Railway Series children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry and its spin-off TV series, Thomas and Friends. Sir Handel lives and works on the Skarloey Railway on the Island of Sodor as Engine No.3...
(Granpuff) - Caroline (Train Stops Play)
- Smudger (Granpuff)
- The Diesel (Rusty to the Rescue, Cameo) (Bowled Out)
- S.C. RuffeyS.C. RuffeyS.C.Ruffey is a fictional character in the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends television series.He was a Private-Owner ballast truck, and was regarded as one of the leaders of the Troublesome Trucks. After Oliver had been pushed down a well, S.C.Ruffey, led the trucks in singing rude songs about...
(Toad Stands By) - Bulstrode (Special Attraction)
- The Refreshment Lady (Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady)
Returning Characters
- ThomasThomas the Tank EngineThomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
- EdwardEdward the Blue EngineEdward the Blue Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic steam locomotive from The Railway Series children's books by the Rev W. Awdry, and the related TV Series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. He is a blue 4-4-0 tender engine with red stripes, about the same size as James the Red Engine, and has...
- HenryHenry the Green EngineHenry the Green Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic 4-6-0 steam locomotive from The Railway Series books written by the Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry, and the spin-off children's television series, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.Henry lives on the fictitious...
- GordonGordon the Big EngineGordon the Big Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic tender locomotive in The Railway Series books by Rev. W. Awdry. Gordon is painted blue and carries the number 4. Gordon views himself as the most important engine because he is the biggest and he pulls the Express...
- JamesJames the Red EngineJames the Red Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic tender locomotive from The Railway Series children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and the spin-off TV series Thomas and Friends. James is a mixed-traffic engine, which means he is just as capable of pulling coaches as trucks...
- PercyPercy the Small EnginePercy the Small Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic steam engine from The Railway Series of children's books written by the Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry...
- TobyToby the Tram EngineToby the Tram Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic tram engine in The Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry and his son, Christopher; he also appears in the spin-off television series Thomas and Friends...
- DuckDuck the Great Western EngineDuck the Great Western Engine is a fictional steam engine from The Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry and the spin-off television series Thomas and Friends. He is a green 0-6-0 pannier tank locomotive and lives and works on the Island of Sodor....
- Donald and DouglasDonald and DouglasDonald and Douglas are two fictional steam locomotives from The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry. They also appear in Thomas and Friends, the television series based on the books...
- Oliver
- Daisy
- Annie and ClarabelAnnie and ClarabelAnnie and Clarabel are fictional characters from The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry and the related Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends television series...
- Toad
- Troublesome Trucks
- HaroldHarold the HelicopterHarold the Helicopter is a character in the Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry and Christopher Awdry and the television series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends....
- Sir Topham HattThe Fat ControllerThe Fat Controller is the head of the railway in The Railway Series of books written by the Rev. W. V. Awdry. In the first two books in the series he is known as The Fat Director...
- Bill and Ben (do not speak)
- Boco (does not speak)
- MavisMavisMavis is a female name. Its usage was initiated by Marie Corelli's 1895 novel The Sorrows of Satan1 which featured a character named Mavis Clare whose first name is said to be "rather odd" but suitable for Miss Clare as "she sings quite as sweetly as any thrush"...
(does not speak) - BertieBertie the BusBertie the Bus is a small red bus character from The Railway Series books by the Rev. W Awdry and who also appears in the spin-off children's television series Thomas and Friends.-Book character:...
(does not speak) - Diesel (Cameo)
- TerenceTerencePublius Terentius Afer , better known in English as Terence, was a playwright of the Roman Republic, of North African descent. His comedies were performed for the first time around 170–160 BC. Terentius Lucanus, a Roman senator, brought Terence to Rome as a slave, educated him and later on,...
(Non-Speaking Cameo) - HenriettaHenriettaHenrietta may refer to:* Henrietta , a feminine given name, derived from the male name Henry- Places :* Henrietta Island in the Arctic Ocean* Henrietta, Missouri* Henrietta, New York* Henrietta, Ohio* Henrietta, Texas* Henrietta, Wisconsin...
(Cameo) - TrevorTrevorTrevor can be a male given name or a surname.-Etymology:Trevor can be a given name or surname of Welsh origin : also a habitational name from any of the numerous places in Wales, in particular the one near Llangollen, from the Welsh tre, meaning "homestead", or "settlement" and a form of mawr,...
(Non-Speaking Cameo) - Bulgy (cameo only)