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 titled 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[3] 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, although looking at the original book version this could be an alternate version of the final scene.
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."
Season 1 Nameboards
Status: Lost
A brief montage of the show's characters with name boards leaning on them were made to fill the gap between episodes during the original airings of Seasons one and two on iTV. These sequences would later be reworked into home media releases of the show that even include episodes not from Season one or two. Thomas, Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, Toby, Bertie and Terence had name board sequences made with some having been filmed from a different angle. All but one of the sequences were used, one of Thomas' name board from an alternate angle than the one that was used for iTV airings and home media releases. Only a single photo of Thomas' alternate name board sequence has been released, which was used for the book release of The Sad Story of Henry, Thomas's Train and Thomas and the Guard by Bluebird in 1988.
Thomas and Trevor
Status: Partially Found
Four scenes are known to have been cut from this episode, two take place at the viaduct where Trevor is being pulled by Edward in one and later by Thomas in the other and the other two deleted scenes are just shots of Thomas pulling Trevor by Suddery Castle and through the Branch Line Cutting. The former deleted scene was reused in the episode "Better Late Than Never" while only photos of the latter deleted scenes can be found today.
Percy Takes the Plunge
Status: Lost
Two production photos show Percy with mud covered on his left with Thomas at two separate locations (the quayside and a warehouse).
Break van
Status: Lost
A photo featured on the NZ release of Coal has Gordon and Henry at Tidmouth sheds and a front photo of Edward exists indicating that Henry and Gordon may of played a role.
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 passenger's luggage was reused in the music video "Accidents Will Happen."[4]
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.
Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure
Status: Partially Lost
A large amount of scenes filmed for the episode have shown up in various places, mostly in music videos for the songs "The Island Song[5]", "Percy's Seaside Trip[6]", "Come For The Ride[7]", "Really Useful Engine[8]", "Thomas' Anthem[9]", "The Snow Song[10]", "Winter Wonderland[11]", "Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover[12]", "It's Great To Be An Engine[13]" and "Toby[14]". One shot in particular of Thomas passing the windmill would be used for the Season 6 intro. However, two productions show scenes of Percy passing the waterfall[15] and Terence clearing the snow by the village crossing, which have not shown up anywhere.
Season 3 Nameboards
Status: Partially Lost
For Season 3, four new character name board shots were made. The characters with new name board shots were Mavis, Oliver, Toad and Bulgy. Nameboards for Mavis (both in the yard and at the quarry), Oliver and Bulgy ended up only being used in the Thomas and the U.K. Trip crossover with the Japanese show, Hirake! Ponkikki, that was only aired on Japanese television in December 1991. The special can be found online. Toad's name board on the other hand was not used for the crossover or any media associated with the show. No photos or clips of the sequence have surfaced, though a photo of the name board itself has since surfaced[16].
Henry and the Elephant
Status: Lost
Production photos of Henry pushing the workmen to the blocked tunnel and of the elephant right before it sprays Henry.
Season 4 Nameboards
Status: Partially Lost
With the number of new characters (Skarloey, Rheneas, Sir Handel/Falcon, Peter Sam/Stuart, Rusty, Duncan, Duke, Stepney Class 40, Caroline, George, Bulstrode) introduced in Season 4, name board sequences were created for the characters despite certain characters making only one appearance in the season. All but Bulstrode's name board were used, a photo of the name board itself has since surfaced[17], though any visuals from the name board sequence have not surfaced.
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 scene was eventually recovered by YouTuber ThomasTankMerch and uploaded on July 3rd, 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 3rd, 2022.
Lady Hatt's Birthday Party
Status: Found
Shots of Bertie driving up to the quarry while James goes by, a close-up of the hole in the road, the Ffarquhar Stationmaster's Wife reacting to Sir Topham Hatt's presence and George smirking after he drives into the mud were cut from the episode. The scenes 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 YouTuber ThomasTankMerch and uploaded on July 3rd, 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 YouTuber 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 YouTuber 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 YouTuber ThomasTankMerch and uploaded on July 3rd, 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.
See Also
Thomas & Friends
- Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go (partially found test animation of reboot of British children TV series; 2019)
- Thomas & Friends: Day of the Diesels (lost original cut of direct-to-DVD film; existence unconfirmed; 2011)
- Thomas & Friends "Jack Jumps In" (found Alec Baldwin narration of British children's TV series episode; 2002)
- Thomas & Friends "Series 7" (partially found original music of British children's TV series American dub; 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 (lost pilot episode of unproduced 2D animated adaptation of "The Railway Series" books; 1976)
- Thomas the Tank Engine "Down the Mine" (partially found pitch pilot version of British children's TV series episode; 1983)
- Thomas the Tank Engine "The Missing Coach" (partially found footage from cancelled British children's TV series episode; 1986)
- Thomas the Tank Engine "Season 3" (found original Michael Angelis narrations 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)
Other
- The Adventures of Thomas (partially found production material of cancelled "Thomas the Tank Engine" live-action film; early-mid 2010s)
- Barry the Rescue Engine (lost production material of cancelled "The Railway Series" book; 1980s)
- Jack and the Sodor Construction Company (partially lost episodes and production material of cancelled spin-off series; 2002)
- Storytime with Thomas (partially found Fox Family series; 1999-2000)
- The Thomas & Friends Institute of Innovation (partially found informational short film; 2013-2014)
- Thomas and the Magic Railroad (found deleted scenes of children's fantasy adventure film; 2000)
- Thomas and the Magic Railroad (lost test footage of 3.5" character models for British children's TV series; 1995)
- Thomas and the U.K. Trip & Thomas Number 1 (found Japanese "Thomas the Tank Engine" crossover TV special and music video; 1991)
- Thomas the Tank Engine (found original illustrated edition of book; 1946)
- Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (found build of cancelled NES port of educational game; 1993)
- Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (lost build of cancelled PlayStation educational game; 1999)
- The Three Railway Engines (lost live BBC broadcast adaptation of "The Railway Series" books; 1953)
- The Three Railway Engines (found original edition of book; 1945)
External Links
- ThomasTankMerch's playlist of Season 5 rush tapes
- ThomasTankMerch's playlist of Season 5 & 6 video assist tapes
References
- ↑ Twitter post on Thomas the Tank Engine & Friendss TV debut. Retrieved 06 Jul '22
- ↑ Mattel announcing the All Engines Go reboot of the series. Retrieved 06 Jul '22
- ↑ https://imgur.com/gallery/6IkFehx
- ↑ YouTube upload of the "Accidents Will Happen" music video. Retrieved 06 Jul '22
- ↑ https://youtu.be/fBkeeQNUMC8
- ↑ https://youtu.be/_INQfmg06AY
- ↑ https://youtu.be/nwDp12GuNM0
- ↑ https://youtu.be/dVmLTApnwag
- ↑ https://youtu.be/UElAnixSShk
- ↑ https://youtu.be/o2BMst5yVjg
- ↑ https://youtu.be/opndJ0aFQVM
- ↑ https://youtu.be/x_F0dAH-rHs
- ↑ https://youtu.be/ggWnhMUFjqE
- ↑ https://youtu.be/2me354oxjRI
- ↑ https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/File:ThomasandPercy%27sChristmasAdventure8.jpg
- ↑ https://twitter.com/TomsProps/status/1202037089904332800
- ↑ https://twitter.com/TomsProps/status/1202037089904332800