Thomas The Tank Engine and Friends - The Complete First Series

**Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends - The Complete First Series** is a UK VHS release by VCI on 18th May 1998.

## Description

All aboard for this special edition classic collection of Original Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends stories. Join Thomas, together with his friends Edward, Gordon, Henry, James, Terence, Bertie, Percy, Toby and of course The Fat Controller on the Island of Sodor in this fun packed classic collection of 26 episodes. Find out however Thomas earns his own branch line, and however James has trouble with the trucks as you can join them all in two and one half hours of frantic fun and frolics!

## The Fat Controller's Letter (VHS)

My Dear Friends,

Welcome to a very special compilation of video stories featuring my family of Really Useful Engines - "The Classic Collection".

As you can see from the title, this is no ordinary compilation. 'Pon my soul, it is a collectors item, containing all 26 stories from the first ever series of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.

I dare say these splendid stories are older than many of you - it never ceases to amaze me how the years travel by even quicker than Gordon on the Main Line!

The memory of my first meeting with award-winning producers Britt Allcroft, Steve Asquith and David Mitton way back in 1984 is as clear and vivid as yesterday's lunch-time. Little did we realise how popular these tales about Sodor Railways would become? The rest, as they say, is history!

Anyway, enough of my ramblings, I must return to my Railway-running responsibilities. Thomas and all the other Engines hope this video brings you hours of fun.

Until we correspond once more, with kind regards I remain

Sir Topham Hatt - The Fat Controller

## Episode Info

1. **Thomas and Gordon** - Thomas, the little blue engine, is cheeky to Gordon once too often. So the big blue engine decides to give Thomas a lesson he won't forget.
2. **Edward and Gordon** - Gordon gets stuck up a steep hill and little Edward helps him out. Gordon rushes away, but The Fat Controller is very pleased with Edward.
3. **The Sad Story of Henry** - Henry is very proud of his shiny coat of green paint with red stripes, but in day he discovers that pride comes before the fall.
4. **Edward, Gordon and Henry** - Disaster strikes Gordon the engine. His chum Edward the engine comes to his rescue but in the end Henry the green engine saves the day!
5. **Thomas' Train** - Thomas the Tank gets a chance to pull his very own train with unexpected results!
6. **Thomas and the Trucks** - Thomas gets into trouble when he has an altercation with some silly trucks - luckily, he only gets a warning from The Fat Controller.
7. **Thomas and the Breakdown Train** - James has trouble with the trucks but good old Thomas is there to help out. The Fat Controller is so pleased that he gives Thomas his own branch line!
8. **James and the Coaches** - James bangs the coaches by being too rough, and brings the train to a hasty stop. The passengers get home only after a piece of ingenious repair work by the guard.
9. **Troublesome Trucks** - James is sent back to pull trucks again. He has a bad time with a long train but with a little help from his friend Edward he wins in the end. The Fat Controller is very pleased.
10. **James and the Express** - Gordon the big engine looks silly when the signalman forgets and switches him from the main line onto a loop. James has to pull the express instead, and is very proud.
11. **Thomas and the Guard** - Annie and Clarabel think Thomas is very silly indeed when he starts off fast and leaves his guard far behind. The guard isn't very pleased to see him, either.
12. **Thomas Goes Fishing** - Thomas has always wanted to go fishing. One day, he gets his chance, but it doesn't turn out quite the way he expected.
13. **Thomas, Terence and the Snow** - Thomas is always cheeky to Terence the Tractor about his caterpillar wheels. But the day comes when Thomas is very glad to have Terence around.
14. **Thomas and Bertie** - Thomas the Tank Engine and Bertie the Bus decide to stage their own version of the Great Race.
15. **Tenders and Turntables** - Sometimes things get very busy in the yard and The Fat Controller has to ask the big engines to do shunting. They don't like it and decide to take action.
16. **Trouble in the Shed** - The big engines go on strike so the Fat Controller decides to leave them to sulk and a new engine arrives in the yard, Percy the Green Saddle Tank Engine
17. **Percy Runs Away** - Henry, James and Gordon decide to go back to work, but Percy is being careless on the mainline and gets a nasty shock.
18. **Coal** - For all his size and his shiny green paintwork, Henry has always been a rather delicate engine. The Fat Controller decides to put things right.
19. **The Flying Kipper** - Henry is very proud the day when he pulls "The Flying Kipper", the morning train from the fish quayside. But snow jams a signal down and disaster strikes.
20. **Whistles and Sneezes** - Gordon looks foolish and Henry gets even with the three naughty boys who drop stones on him from bridges.
21. **Toby and the Stout Gentleman** - The Fat Controller goes on holiday with his family and a new-comer, Toby the Tram Engine arrives in the yard.
22. **Thomas in Trouble** - Thomas is stopped by a policeman and Toby the Tram Engine comes to the rescue.
23. **Dirty Objects** - James the Red Engine learns that it's wise not to speak rudely to the other engines. You'll never know what will happen next.
24. **Off the Rails** - Gordon the big express passenger engine is very upset indeed when he has to pull a special train of trucks. He decides to try a spot of sabotage but gets more than he bargains for.
25. **Down the Mine** - Thomas tries some mischief and gets in a big hole. Gordon has to help him out. Both engines are in disgrace so they decide to form an alliance and never be cheeky to each other again.
26. **Thomas' Christmas Party** - Thomas and all of his friends from the engine shed get together to say "thank you" to a nice old lady and everyone has a happy Christmas.

## Episodes

1. Thomas and Gordon
2. Edward and Gordon
3. The Sad Story of Henry
4. Edward, Gordon and Henry
5. Thomas' Train
6. Thomas and the Trucks
7. Thomas and the Breakdown Train
8. James and the Coaches
9. Troublesome Trucks
10. James and the Express
11. Thomas and the Guard
12. Thomas Goes Fishing
13. Thomas, Terence and the Snow
14. Thomas and Bertie
15. Tenders and Turntables
16. Trouble in the Shed
17. Percy Runs Away
18. Coal
19. The Flying Kipper
20. Whistles and Sneezes
21. Toby and the Stout Gentleman
22. Thomas in Trouble
23. Dirty Objects
24. Off the Rails
25. Down the Mine
26. Thomas' Christmas Party

## Opening (Original 1998 release) (Tape A)

1. VCI Tracking Control Screen (1995-2005)
2. VCI Warning Screen (1995-2005)
3. VCI Children's Promo From 1997-1998 with clips of "Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends", "Fourways Farm", "Sooty & Co.", "The Sooty Show: My Bumper Christmas Sooty", "Teddy Bear Sing-Along: My Christmas Play Rhymes & Songs", "Tots Video" and "Roald Dahl's The BFG: Big Friendly Giant" (Without The New For '97 Overview Is Cut).
4. Britt Allcroft Presents Ident
5. Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends: Season 1 Opening Titles (Digitally Remastered)
6. Start Of Thomas & Gordon (1984)

## Closing (Original 1998 release) (Tape A)

1. End Of Thomas, Terence and the Snow (1984)
2. Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends: Season 1 Closing Credits (Digitally Remastered)
3. VCI Ident (1995-2005)

## Opening (Original 1998 release) (Tape B)

1. VCI Tracking Control Screen (1995-2005)
2. VCI Warning Screen (1995-2005)
3. VCI Ident (1995-2005)
4. Britt Allcroft Presents Ident
5. Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends: Season 1 Opening Titles (Digitally Remastered)
6. Start Of Thomas & Bertie (1984)

## Closing (Original 1998 release) (Tape B)

1. End Of Thomas' Christmas Party (1984)
2. Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends: Season 1 Closing Credits (Digitally Remastered)
3. VCI Ident (1995-2005) (muffled)

## Opening (Original 1998 release) (Single Videocassette only)

1. VCI Tracking Control Screen (1995-2005)
2. VCI Warning Screen (1995-2005)
3. VCI Children's Promo From 1997 with clips of "Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends", "Fourways Farm", "Sooty & Co.", "The Sooty Show: My Bumper Christmas Sooty", "Teddy Bear Sing-Along: My Christmas Play Rhymes & Songs", "Tots Video" and "Roald Dahl's The BFG: Big Friendly Giant" (Without The New For '97 Overview Is Cut).
4. Britt Allcroft Presents Ident
5. Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends: Season 1 Opening Titles (Digitally Remastered)
6. Start Of Thomas & Gordon (1984)

## Closing (Original 1998 release) (Single Videocassette only)

1. End Of Thomas' Christmas Party (1984)
2. Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends: Season 1 Closing Credits (Digitally Remastered)
3. VCI Ident (1995-2005) (muffled)

## Trailers and info

The VCI children's trailer from 1997 (Tape A/1 and Single Videocassette only) with clips of "Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends", "Fourways Farm", "Sooty & Co.", "The Sooty Show: My Bumper Christmas Sooty", "Teddy Bear Sing-Along: My Christmas Play Rhymes & Songs", "Tots Video" and "Roald Dahl's The BFG: Big Friendly Giant" (the 'New for 97' overview is cut).