Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (partially lost deleted scenes of British children's TV series; 1984-2021)
Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends was a television adaptation of the Railway Series book series by Rev. W. Awdry. It premiered on iTV on October 9th, 1984, [1] and was a huge success upon its debut, spawning 584 episodes across 24 seasons before ending on January 20th, 2021. A reboot of the series title "All Engines Go" would begin airing later in 2021[2].
Across the 24 seasons and 584 episodes being produced, numerous scenes were filmed for certain episodes that ended up getting cut during production and various materials from these scenes have been used in various forms of Thomas media, but there are several scenes that have never resurfaced and some remain very obscure.
Deleted Scenes
Edward and Gordon
Status: Lost
Three scenes were filmed with Edward pulling coaches after being let out of the sheds by his driver and fireman. One is him pulling them on the viaduct, another one at the same location but at sunset and another one at Henry's tunnel. These were likely cut due to time constraints and only photos of these scenes remain.
Edward, Gordon and Henry
Status: Lost
A scene of Henry pulling coaches after he was left out the tunnel under a wide-arched bridge was likely cut out of the final episode due to time constraints. A single production photo exists of this scene.
Thomas and the Trucks
Status: Lost
Two production photos show Thomas pulling the trucks over the viaduct and James passes him while he passes the signal.
Thomas and the Breakdown Train
Status: Partially Lost
Shots of Thomas passing the Breakdown Train and a view of the Breakdown Train from the sheds were used in two music videos "Really Useful Engine" and "Boo, Boo, Choo, Choo". However, one scene of Thomas pushing the Breakdown Train through Elsbridge station is the only scene cut from the episode that hasn't been found and only two production photos of this scene survive.
Coal
Status: Lost
A production photo shows Sir Topham Hatt talking to Henry while James is present. The exact reason why this scene was cut is unknown.
Whistles and Sneezes
Status: Lost
A shot of Gordon (with his whistle jammed) racing past the Pond Runby was cut likely due to time constraints. Only a single production photo exists of this scene.
Dirty Objects
Status: Found
An alternate shot of James crashing into the tar wagons was reused for the music video "Troublesome Trucks".
Edward's Exploit
Status: Lost
When Edward returns to Tidmouth Sheds after returning the passengers to Knapford, BoCo and Duck are present at the sheds to make sure he is left in peace. Some production photos show that Henry was present at Tidmouth Sheds (unlike in the film episode where James is present instead of Henry). This could mean an alternate version of the scene was filmed before the one that would be untimely used in the final episode.
A Scarf for Percy
Status: Found
A scene of a troublesome truck reacting to Percy's wreck into the passengers luggage was reused in the music video " Accidents Will Happen"[3].
Time for Trouble
Status: Lost
Three scenes are known to have been cut from this episode. One is of Percy coming to Toby's rescue (after running out of water) but is on the line next to Toby and heading in the same direction as Toby, one is of Gordon crossing the viaduct with the express and one is of James boasting to Toby about pulling the express at Tidmouth Sheds. Only photos of these scenes can be found today.
Horrid Lorry
Status: Found
Scenes of Lorry 2 passing a building in the quarry, Toby looking up at Lorry 2 before he falls off the cliff and James watching Lorry 1 being loaded onto a breakdown lorry were likely cut for time constraints. The scenes were lost for some time until they were recovered by YouTube user ThomasTankMerch and uploaded on July 3, 2022.
A Better View for Gordon
Status: Found
A scene from inside Gordon's cab of his driver, fireman and Sir Topham Hatt after the crash was cut for unknown reasons. The scene was lost for some time until it was recovered by YouTube user ThomasTankMerch and uploaded on July 3, 2022.
Lady Hatt's Birthday Party
Status: Found
A shot of Bertie driving up to the quarry while James goes by was cut from the episode, along with a shot of George smirking after he drives into the mud. The scenes were lost for some time until they were recovered by YouTube user ThomasTankMerch and uploaded on July 3, 2022.
Thomas, Percy and Old Slow Coach
Status: Found
A panning shot of Old Slow Coach in the scrapyard was cut for unknown reasons. The scene was recovered by YouTube user ThomasTankMerch and uploaded on July 3, 2022.
Oliver's Find
Status: Found
After Oliver shoves some trucks into the turntable, a scene took place that features James and Henry. The dialogue that was supposed to be said during the scene is unknown, making it likely the scene was cut before any narration was recorded. The scene was lost for some time with only a single production still of the scene being found, until it was recovered by YouTube user ThomasTankMerch and uploaded on July 3, 2022.
A Surprise for Percy
Status: Found
A scene featuring Percy talking with Thomas at Brendam Docks was likely cut for time constraints. The dialogue that was supposed to be said during the scene is unknown, making it likely the scene was cut before any narration was recorded. Only three photos of the scene could be found and was lost until YouTube user ThomasTankMerch recovered it and uploaded it on July 3rd, 2022.
Busy Going Backwards
Status: Found
A shot of Henry smiling as Toad goes by was likely cut at the last minute as Henry only has a shocked face in the final episode. This shot was recovered by YouTube user ThomasTankMerch and uploaded on July 3rd, 2022.
Duncan Gets Spooked
Status: Found
Peter Sam's role in the episode was originally meant to be larger with several shots of Peter Sam going after the trucks that gave way and him shunting trucks cut from the final episode. Other scenes that were cut include shots of the ghost train heading towards and going across the bridge (with a driver seen in its cab) and Duncan at the quarry after getting spooked. The scenes were lost for some time until they were recovered by YouTube user ThomasTankMerch and uploaded on July 3, 2022.
Thomas and the Rainbow
Status: Lost
A production still shows Salty, Thomas and James at Brendam Docks. The only scene in the final episode that takes place at Brendam Docks is when Edward tells Thomas about the legend of the rainbow. This scene can't be found anywhere.
Molly's Special Special
Status: Lost
Two scenes that were cut from the episode, one of Gordon making fun of Molly and one of Thomas finding tarpaulins. Production photos of these scenes were used in the Japanese book adaptation of the episode, but no footage of these scenes has been found.
Flour Power
Status: Lost
Originally, Sir Topham Hatt was dressed as a devil while he assigns Thomas the job to collect the flour. This was reshot for the final episode (with him being dressed as a wizard), likely to avoid any controversy from religious groups. Only a production photo can be found of this scene.
Sticky Toffee Thomas
Status: Lost
A production photo shows Thomas with Annie and Clarabel after he gets covered with branches and leafs.
Emily's Best Friend
Status: Lost
A poster for the Storytime podcast retelling of the episode features several photos of Emily with Philip and Marion along with Edward in the photo booth. Only scenes with Edward in the photo booth are seen in the final episode while Philip and Marion's scenes in the photo booth are absent.
Gallery
See Also
Thomas & Friends
- Thomas & Friends "Jack Jumps In" (found Alec Baldwin narration of British children's TV series episode; 2002)
- Thomas & Friends: Day of the Diesels (lost original cut of direct-to-DVD film; existence unconfirmed; 2011)
- Thomas & Friends "Series 7" (partially found original music of American dub of British children's TV series; mid 2000s)
- Thomas & Friends "Series 12" (partially found Pierce Brosnan narrations of British children's animated series; 2008)
Thomas the Tank Engine
- Thomas the Tank Engine "Season 3" (found Michael Angelis narriation of British children's TV series episodes; 1991)
- Thomas the Tank Engine "Season 4" (found pre-recorded version of British children's TV series episodes; 1994)
- Thomas the Tank Engine "Down the Mine" (partially found unaired pitch pilot version of children's TV series; 1983)
- Thomas the Tank Engine "The Missing Coach" (partially found footage from unfinished episode of children's TV series; 1986)
- Thomas and the Magic Railroad (found deleted scenes of children's fantasy adventure film; 2000)
- Thomas the Tank Engine (lost pilot episode of unproduced 2D animated adaptation on "The Railway Series" books; 1976)
Other
- Thomas the Tank Engine (found original illustrated edition of book; 1946)
- Thomas and the U.K. Trip & Thomas Number 1 (found Japanese "Thomas the Tank Engine" crossover TV special and music video; 1993)
- Jack and the Sodor Construction Company (miscellaneous lost media of spinoff series; existence unconfirmed; 2002)
- The Three Railway Engines (found original edition of book; 1945)
- Barry the Rescue Engine (lost production material on cancelled "The Railway Series" book; 1980s)
- The Sad Story of Henry (lost live BBC broadcast adaptation of "The Railway Series" books; 1953)
- Thomas and the Magic Railroad (lost test footage of 3.5" character models for British children's TV series; 1995)