Thomas the Tank Engine Kiddie Rides

"The Railway Series" was a book series wrote by Reverend W. Awdry. in the mid 80s, Britt Allcroft adapted some of the stories for TV and was called "Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends" Originally done by Clearwater Features, then The Britt Allcroft Company which will then rename itself to Gullane Entertainment which was then purchased by HiT Entertainment which was then purchased by Mattel in 2017. it remained popular for many years. Various kiddie rides from that show were released, There exists some knock-offs and Japanese/Asian kiddie rides as well.

## Whittaker Bros. version

Whittaker Bros. made a Thomas the Train kiddie ride in 1975, re-using the same mould as another one of their rides, Puffin' Billy (released in the same year). Because of this, Thomas is incorrectly depicted with hair, cylinders, and ten wheels, which he never had in the books. This ride was released during the Railway Series’ run and before the successful 80s TV series debuted. Thomas makes puffing sounds and a whistle SFX when the button is pushed.

## RG Mitchell

### Big

History of the ride: RG Mitchell released their first Thomas ride. Inside the ride is a red dashboard with a Rolling Road display and 4 buttons

Year of release: 1994

License: Britt Allcroft (Thomas) Limited

Design: The ride is based from the main character himself, Thomas the Tank Engine. Inside the cab it has a rolling road display on the top, 4 buttons on the bottom of the display, and the speaker is placed on the front of the dashboard. It was originally going to have a camera inside but it was scrapped.

Start Sound: None

Audio Track: Thomas opening theme (Season 1-7)

START Button: Well, It just starts the ride

Thomas (Blue) Button: 'You're a really useful engine!'

The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt (Yellow) Button: 'I need you to help the other engines'

James (Red) Button: Whistle

Percy (Green) Button: Steam wheeshing

Attract Mode: End of the ending theme

V1: The ride does look like the one from the show.

Other releases for different countries: Unknown.

Faults: Unknown.

Trivia: The RGM Big Thomas appears in Season 2 Episode 1 of Little Britain.

### Mini

History of the ride: RG Mitchell released a miniature version of Thomas, features the same buttons, soundboard, and announcements as before.

Year of release: 1995

License: Britt Allcroft (Thomas) Ltd (For later units that are made in the 2000s, it's Gullane (Thomas) Ltd)

Design: Again, the ride is based from the main character. Now the rolling road display is now placed on the top left of the dashboard.

Start Sound: None

Audio Track: Thomas opening theme (Season 1-7)

START Button: Well, It just starts the ride

Thomas (Blue) Button: 'You're a really useful engine!'

The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt (Yellow) Button: 'I need you to help the other engines'

James (Red) Button: Whistle

Percy (Green) Button: Steam wheeshing

Attract Mode: End of the ending theme

V1: (1995) The speaker is on the bottom left of the dashboard and it has Robin Mitchell's announcements.

V2: (1996) Now it has Mrs Mitchell's Announcements.

V3: (1997) Now, the speaker is below on the seat.

V4: (1998) it's the just same as a V2. Nothing special.

V5: (1999) The speaker is now back on the seat and it has a BOT1 board with new announcements.

V6: (2000) The speaker is now back on the dashboard and the audio is low pitched.

V7: (2001) The speaker is now back on the seat and it has the same board as the V6 so it is low pitched.

Other releases for different countries: USA

Faults: Unknown

Trivia: Ethan Reddy Owns a V2 Mini Thomas Currently not on site.

Trivia #2: There is only one unit in Australia, which is located in Tasmania.

## Kiddy Rides Australia/Ride On Entertainment

### U-Drive

History of the ride: Trevor Spitz made his first Thomas ride using the trackless Thomas and a washing machine.

Year of release: 1994

License: Britt Allcroft/Gullane (Thomas) Ltd

Design: The ride is also based from the main character. The dashboard has 4 things. (from left to right) Stop wheel, Slow/Fast lever, Steam wheel, and a black lever on the top for the whistle. another thing that's impressive is while the ride is moving, the wheels move and his eyes move. There is also a steam airhole which blows it out. Some rides lack it.

Start Sound: None

Audio Track V1: Thomas Opening theme (Season 1-7) while the voiceover is telling you to go to the beach

Audio Track V2: Thomas Opening theme (Season 1-7) while the voiceover is telling you to go to the mountains

START Button: Well, It just starts the ride. The button located is useless.

Attract Mode: Unknown

V1: (2000) Voiceover tells you to go to the mountains

V2: (2001) Voiceover tells you to go to the beach

Other releases for different countries: UK.

Faults: Unknown.

Trivia: This is the only U-Drive ever made.

### Carousel

History of the ride: Kiddy Rides Australia made another carousel ride. (Both Hi-boy and Lo-boy) This time it's based from Thomas.

Year of release: 2003

License: Gullane (Thomas) Ltd. A HiT Entertainment Company

Design: While they used the same carousel design for other rides they done in the past, they also used three new characters. Thomas & the Troublesome Trucks (one is laughing while the other has an O-face-like expression)

Audio Track V1: Thomas Closing theme (Season 1-7) while Barry Wigley talks to you about driving Thomas to get to the seaside

Audio Track V2: Thomas Roll Call

START Button: Well, It just starts the ride

Attract Mode: Unknown

V1: (2006) The ride has classic Thomas decals.

V2: (2011) The ride now has CGI era Thomas decals.

Other releases for different countries: Unknown.

Faults: Unknown.

Trivia: This is the only Thomas carousel ride ever made. The ride's mould will also be used and modified for their next ride: Jasper the Steam Engine.

## Jolly Roger Amusement Rides

### Standard

History of the ride: Jolly Roger re-made the Thomas & Friends ride after Mitchells (R.G. Mitchell) shut down, which features a new design and a new dashboard. This version is based on his front promo art from the show. He still plays the classic era theme.

Year of release: 2006

License: Gullane (Thomas) Ltd. A HiT Entertainment Company

Design: The ride is like the others. Based on one of the main character's head-on promos. It is made similar to the RGM Mini Thomas. The dashboard is now blue and only their modern dashboard takes place.

Audio Track V1: Thomas opening theme (Season 1-7)

Audio Track V2: Thomas opening theme (Season 8-10)

START (Green) Button: Well, It just starts the ride

Sound (Red) Button: Thomas' Whistle

Attract Mode: Start of the intro

V1: (2006) Plays the Season 1-7 Theme

V2: (2007) Plays the Season 8-10 Theme

Other releases for different countries: Unknown.

Faults: Unknown.

Trivia: Somewhere at Barry, two of them exists. One has the start button activation bypassed and the price says 50p although the Stamar timer is set to 30p for a ride. Another one is in much better condition, but it is mute and it has the light modification: two for the front buffers, and 2 for the eyes. (yes, literally)

### Video

History of the ride: Jolly Roger made a video option version of the Thomas ride.

Year of release: 2006

License: Gullane (Thomas) Ltd. A HiT Entertainment Company

Design: The ride has the same mould as the standard one. It now has a small LCD screen.

Audio Track: Thomas opening theme (Season 1-7)

START (Red) Button: Starts the ride and can act as a sound button when moving.

Sound (Red) Button: Does the same as the Start button

Button 2 Thomas' whistle, accompanied by random whistle and bell sounds (one of them sounds like Spencer's)

Attract Mode: (Generic whistle sound)

V1: (2006) Plays clips from Season 7's Three Cheers for Thomas.

Other releases for different countries: Unknown.

Faults: Unknown.

Trivia:

## Other Releases/Variants

### RG Mitchell

#### Big

* A prototype exists, with the Fat Controller and James' coloured buttons swapped around and what looks to be some kind of photo coming out of the big black door.
* Versions with the rare prototype Miss Mitchell announcements exist.
* A Jolly Roger-refurbished version exists.
* Versions with the BOT1 board exist.
* Versions of the Big Thomas with a Stamar motherboard exist.
* At Kingsland Shopping Centre In Dalston A Very Faulty Big Thomas With Stamar Board Was Spotted. He is now gone from the centre.
* The Stamar Versions Theme Quality Varies, From Very Good Audio Quality To Very Bad Audio Quality.
* The Ride Appears in the Supernanny UK episode The Bixley Family.

#### Mini

* Most releases have the 1995 announcements.
* Versions with the BOT1 board exist.
* Versions of the Mini Thomas with a Stamar motherboard exist.
* There exists a refurbished V1/V2/V4/V6 Mini Thomas with the JR face and the BOT1 board. It can be found in Gloucester Arcade Shopping Cetnre.
* At Jacksons Amusements, A V6 Mini Thomas With Stamar Board (which is now gone) Was Spotted That Has A Different Sound On The green Button. Another One Can Be Found In Stockport. (The same whistle sound used for this ride can also be heard on the JR video option Thomas ride)
* Some Models Of The V6 And V7 Have Horrible Quality Theme Song.
* At Mothercare In Team Valley, A Low Pitched V5 Was Spotted, Also The Ending Bit Of The Audio Is Cut Off.
* One has been found in America, but modified with an Eletech soundboard containing bell and whistle SFX and a cover of the TTTE&F theme tune by Big Blue Dog Players.

A V2 Mini Thomas has been spotted Distributed by Reddy4Leisure

### Jolly Roger Amusement Rides

#### Standard

* At The Villager Pub and Hotel in Ingoldmells, a standard version was spotted that has stickers of Percy, Thomas himself, and James.
* For German releases and some later models, the ride plays the S8-10 theme, seeing as this ride was released in 2006, the same year that the tenth series of T&F aired on TV.
* In Anchorpoint Mall, Singapore, a standard Thomas with a video screen modified by Patsfield Services has been found. It shows the intro for Series 13-16, followed by the S13 Engine Roll Call. Another modification includes a door on Thomas' back (probably has something to do with the video monitor).

#### Video Option

* During the Video Option's early days, the text reads "Remember Trains and Traintracks Can Be Dangerous Stay Safe!" in the same font as "Remember Fork Lifts and Other Machinery Can Be Dangerous Stay Safe!" from the Jolly Roger Forklift Truck Video Option, but white on a black background before fades to the "Thank you for riding" message and the "Please come back and have another ride soon" text. Also, the "Thank you for riding" message and the "Please come back and have another ride soon" text are white. Also, the "Remember Trains and Traintracks Can Be Dangerous Stay Safe!" text, the "Thank you for riding" message and the "Please come back and have another ride soon" text are in an Arial italic font before turning into the balloon.

### Kiddy Rides Australia

#### Carousel

* Some units have the U-Drive Thomas audio.
* A Lo-Boy Thomas carousel with Jasper the Steam engine's audio has been spotted.

## Banpresto versions

Banpresto of Japan have made several Thomas kiddie rides of their own, such as the one where you get to sit on Annie, one of Thomas' coaches, as Thomas takes you round the track. There also exist versions with Percy and James as well. Some dodgems in the shape of Thomas, Percy, and Bertie exist as well. A dozen more designs also exist.

## "Mad Bomber" Thomas

In an unknown year, a company from possibly Taiwan made their own versions of the Thomas & Friends kiddie rides, once again, featuring Thomas himself. Two versions exist of the standalone Thomas ride, one with a grey roof and siderods, a black smokebox saddle, white frame extensions, one big pushbutton, and a blue base. Another has a black roof and frame extensions, white siderods, a blue smokebox saddle, two small red pushbuttons, and a green base. Two rides that move on tracks exist: one with Thomas himself (which tilts from side to side when the ride is in motion and some even incorrectly depict Thomas with Edward, Henry, Gordon, and James' numbers) and another with Thomas pulling Annie (which is the same model as Banpresto's version of the ride, but one of Thomas' lamp irons and frame extensions are missing, his lamp is positioned in the middle, and the bottom of his running board is red instead of white). Both rides play the S8-10 theme while in motion. This possible knock off is nicknamed "Mad Bomber Thomas" (a reference to one of leokimvideo's classic videos of the same name) by kiddie ride enthusiast Elias Flinter, as it makes Bommerman sounds when the button(s) is/are pushed.

## Korean Thomas

In an unknown year, Korean kiddie ride company Hankook Leisure made their own Thomas ride. It is unknown if it's officially licensed or another bootleg ride. When money is inserted, a train whistle sound plays. The Korean Engine Roll Call plays while the ride is in motion. The button features several SFX, like a guard's whistle, a police car siren (oddly), railway crossing bells, and steam engine whistles.

## Videos:

Thomas The Tank Engine Kiddie Ride (R.G Mitchell V1)RG Mitchell Thomas The Tank Engine Kiddie Ride (V2)Thomas The Tank Engine Kiddie Ride (RG Mitchell V3)Thomas The Tank Engine Kiddie Ride (RG Mitchell) (With Stamar Board)Thomas Kiddie Ride (RG Mitchell, Mini, V1)Mini Thomas The Tank Engine Kiddie Ride (R.G Mitchell V3)Thomas Kiddie Ride (RG Mitchell, Mini, V4)Thomas Kiddie Ride (RG Mitchell, Mini, V5)RG Mitchell Mini Thomas Kiddie Ride (With Stamar Board)Thomas Kiddie Ride (RG Mitchell, Mini, Stamar With Video Option Sound)R.G. Mitchell Mini Thomas the Tank Engine Kiddie Ride (V7.5)Same As Previous Video, But Speaker Under SeatRiding the Giant Thomas Train Ride and Simulator X - WILLY'S TOYS KIDS CHANNEL-1The Eletech refurbished Mini ThomasThomas Kiddie Ride (Jolly Roger)Thomas Kiddie Ride (Jolly Roger, Video Option)U-Drive Thomas Kiddie Ride (V1)Thomas And Friends U Drive Thomas Kiddie Ride(V2)토마스와 친구들 장난감 기차 타기 Thomas and Friends Train Ride おもちゃ Томас โทมัส ของเล่น 라임튜브The Hankook Leisure Thomas & Friends kiddie ride