Thomas and Friends - Season 2
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 second series of the show, which was first broadcast in 1986. Most episodes in this series have two titles: the original titles from the UK broadcasts are shown in bold text, while the American-adapted titles are shown underneath.
Season 2 was narrated by Ringo Starr
, who dubbed 16 of the episodes for American audiences, and George Carlin
, who narrated every episode for the American dub. It was the last season to be narrated by Ringo Starr. It was also the last season to be produced by Robert D. Cardona
.
was commissioned to write a new Railway Series book as source material for the second series. Three stories from More About Thomas the Tank Engine provided additional roles for Bertie the Bus
, Terence the Tractor
, and Harold the Helicopter
. The episodes "Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree" and "Thomas and Trevor" were both one-off stories written by Christopher Awdry. The following series would begin to use original stories by the production staff, with some of the remaining Railway Series stories deemed "repetitive and too 'story-book' orientated".
Series 2 introduced what would become a recurring conflict on the show: steam engines against diesel engines.
decided the episode had too little action and it's storyline would be too difficult to understand by younger viewers. Five promotional stills have surfaced in various Thomas publications, One of Douglas shunting Thomas' Special Coach at the coal depot is "seen in the 1989 Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Annual", A Close Up of Douglas From the Start of the Episode , A Very Small One of the Twins Confronting Gordon and Henry in the Sheds is "seen in a Japanese Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Book", A Forth of Duck and either Donald or Douglas at Tidmouth and The Fith from the End of the Episode.
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 second series of the show, which was first broadcast in 1986. Most episodes in this series have two titles: the original titles from the UK broadcasts are shown in bold text, while the American-adapted titles are shown underneath.
Season 2 was narrated by Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
, who dubbed 16 of the episodes for American audiences, and 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....
, who narrated every episode for the American dub. It was the last season to be narrated by Ringo Starr. It was also the last season to be produced by Robert D. Cardona
Robert D. Cardona
Robert D. Cardona is an American writer, producer, director and animator. Cardona co-founded Clearwater Features, along with David Mitton, in 1980.-Career:...
.
Stories
Christopher AwdryChristopher Awdry
Christopher Awdry is an English author best known for his contributions to The Railway Series of books featuring Thomas the Tank Engine, which was started by his father, the Rev. W. Awdry. He has also produced children's books based on a number of other railways, as well as non-fiction articles...
was commissioned to write a new Railway Series book as source material for the second series. Three stories from More About Thomas the Tank Engine provided additional roles for Bertie the Bus
Bertie the Bus
Bertie 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:...
, Terence the Tractor
Terence the Tractor
Terence the Tractor is a fictional anthropomorphic crawler tractor from The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and the spin-off TV series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends....
, and Harold the Helicopter
Harold the Helicopter
Harold 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....
. The episodes "Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree" and "Thomas and Trevor" were both one-off stories written by Christopher Awdry. The following series would begin to use original stories by the production staff, with some of the remaining Railway Series stories deemed "repetitive and too 'story-book' orientated".
Series 2 introduced what would become a recurring conflict on the show: steam engines against diesel engines.
Filming
Early in production, a third episode based on The Twin Engines was due to be filmed, based largely on the story "The Missing Coach." The model crew had gone as far as filming scenes on the Tidmouth Station set before Britt AllcroftBritt Allcroft
Britt Allcroft is the multi- award-winning creator of a trio of children's entertainment produced in the 1980s and 1990s: "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends", , "Shining Time Station" and "Britt Allcroft's Magic Adventures of Mumfie".She was born Hilary Mary Allcroft, in Worthing, England and, at...
decided the episode had too little action and it's storyline would be too difficult to understand by younger viewers. Five promotional stills have surfaced in various Thomas publications, One of Douglas shunting Thomas' Special Coach at the coal depot is "seen in the 1989 Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Annual", A Close Up of Douglas From the Start of the Episode , A Very Small One of the Twins Confronting Gordon and Henry in the Sheds is "seen in a Japanese Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Book", A Forth of Duck and either Donald or Douglas at Tidmouth and The Fith from the End of the Episode.
Episodes
| # | Total | Title (Top) US Title (Bottom) |
Source | Original air date |
|---|
Characters Introduced
Characters introduced include the first diesels, Diesel, Daisy who's also the first female engine and Boco.- Bluebell the Cow (Cows)
- TrevorTrevor the Traction EngineTrevor the Traction Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic character from The Railway Series children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and the spin-off TV Series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends....
(Saved From Scrap) - The Vicar (Saved from Scrap)
- Jem Cole (Saved from Scrap)
- 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....
(Duck Takes Charge) - 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....
(Percy and Harold) - Diesel (Percy Takes The Plunge, Cameo) (Pop Goes The Diesel)
- 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...
(Break Van) - Spiteful Brakevan (Break Van)
- Daisy (Daisy)
- Bill and Ben (Percy Takes The Plunge, Improperly) (The Diseasel, Properly)
- Boco (The Diseasel)
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...
- 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:...
- TerenceTerence the TractorTerence the Tractor is a fictional anthropomorphic crawler tractor from The Railway Series of children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and the spin-off TV series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends....
- Henrietta
- Annie & Clarabel
- Troublesome Trucks
- Sir Topham Hatt