Collecting Thomas

The 1 to 10 of Thomas Engines

2010-04-06T08:57:00.001+10:00

Thomas & Friends engines introduce children to a number of great educational aids. As well as simple colour recognition, the engine numbers can be used to help learn counting and numbers.

Here, we count from 1 to 10.

#1 - Thomas the Tank Engine

#2 - Edward The Blue Engine

#3 - Henry the Green Engine

#4 - Gordon The Big Express Engine

#5 - James the Red Engine

#6 - Percy The Small Engine

#7 - Toby The Tram Engine

#8 - Duck The GWR Pannier Tank Engine

#9 - Donald The Scottish Twin Engine

#10 - Douglas The Scottish Twin Engine

Top 5 Selling Thomas & Friends Toys - March 2010

2010-03-16T22:20:00.002+11:00

In this Top 5 article, I bring you the top 5 selling Thomas & Friends toys.

It says something about the popularity of the Thomas Wooden Railway system over the above systems, as all top 5 products are from the Thomas Wooden Railway.

I am hoping to soon provide a summary and comparison between the various Thomas & Friends systems. It can be confusing when first entering the world of Thomas and finding such a wide range of different, yet similar, toy systems.

I am hoping that these Top 5 articles will become a regular on Collecting Thomas.

#1 - Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway - Water Tower Figure 8 Set

The Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway - Water Tower Figure 8 Set is recommended to anybody looking at starting with the Thomas Wooden Railway system.

I wrote a review of the Water Tower Figure 8 Set in a previous article.

The set includes all you need to start, including sufficient track to build a number of different layouts, a Thomas train and corresponding cargo car. The water tower compliments the set, and features a water level that changes as you raise and lower the water spout.

#2 - Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway - Percy The Small Engine

Everybody's second favourite engine, Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway - Percy The Small Engine is a must have for any collection.

It is similar in size to Thomas, but only features 2 sets of wheels, where Thomas has 3.

#3 - Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway - Sodor Gift Pack with Henrietta

A great way to quickly build a collection of trains is the Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway - Sodor Gift Pack with Henrietta. The set includes the following trains and accessories:

Henrietta (available only in this set)
Fred (available only in this set)
Oliver
Toby
Bertie

It is worth noting that Oliver, Fred and Henrietta are now discontinued, and are near impossible to buy separately.

#4 - Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway - Gordon The Big Express Engine

Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway - Gordon The Big Express Engine, is the fastest and most powerful engine on the Island of Sodor (until Spencer visits !)

Gordon's face is more serious that the other engines, but this is reflected by his more serious personality in the TV series.

#5 - Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway - Henry the Green Engine

Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway - Henry the Green Engine is a kind and gentle engine, however is also a fast and powerful one. He is similar in size to Gordon and includes a slightly different shaped tender.

Collecting Thomas Stores

2010-03-16T21:14:00.000+11:00

We added a number of new Stores to Collecting Thomas. They hopefully compliment the content on Collecting Thomas, by bringing the best products and prices across a wide range of Thomas & Friends products. We have teamed up with Amazon to bring you these store.

I hope you find the Stores a valuable addition to Collecting Thomas. If you have any comments, or wish to provide feedback to us, please send us an email feedback [at] collectingthomas [dot] com.

HIT Entertainment Facing Financial Troubles

2010-03-15T22:18:00.000+11:00

As reported in the UK press, HIT Entertainment, the owner of Thomas the Tank Engine is at risk of breaching bank covenants in the next week. It appears that the owner of HIT Entertainment, Apex Partners (a UK-based private equity firm) has experience substantial losses in the last year.

There are also rumors circulating the Internet that Disney may be interested in acquiring the Thomas the Tank Engine brands.

Read more at the Daily Telegraph Web site.

Download Thomas & Friends Activity Sheets

2010-03-15T14:05:00.000+11:00

Here is a great money saving tip. Thomas & Friends activity books, such as those that allow your child to colour in images of Thomas, or join the dots to reveal their favourite engine can be quite expensive. They also tend to have a short shelf life, as once your child has completed a page, there is no way to start that page again. Egmont, the publishers of the Thomas Library series of books have made available a number of downloadable activity sheets. As they are in black-and-white, you do not need access to a colour printer, and you can print a few copies of each over your lunch break (obviously with permission from your employer!)

The Thomas & Friends activity sheets can be downloaded here. These are highly recommended for any Thomas fan.

Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway - Water Tower Figure 8 Set

2010-03-11T23:03:00.000+11:00

The Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway - Water Tower Figure 8 Set is one of the most popular selling Thomas & Friends sets, and is highly recommended for anybody looking to purchase their first Thomas & Friends set.

With the growing number of different types of Thomas & Friends train systems (such as Wooden Railway, Take Along, etc.), it can be very hard to know which one to initially choose. I will be covering each of the different systems as part of another article, but I do recommend that whatever system you do choose, you should stay with that system. Most of the components are not compatible between systems, and it can become expensive if have to buy for multiple systems.

The Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway - Water Tower Figure 8 Set was my son's first Thomas & Friends toy set. We have since added a number of additional engines and the Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway - Figure 8 Set Expansion Pack. The expansion set allows you to expand the Water Tower set to a number of other layouts. It includes a booklet showing a number of additional layouts, but I have found that the combination of both sets provides enough track to build a lot more different layouts.

Included Parts

The Water Tower set includes all the parts needed to start your Thomas & Friends collection.

Track to make the figure 8 layout
Bridge, as shown to the left
Water Tower that includes simulated water as you move the water spout up and down
Thomas train and cargo car with cargo
Fat controller
Stop sign
Railway crossing sign
Tree

Overall, I highly recommend the Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway - Water Tower Figure 8 Set. It is ideal as a starter set for those looking at beginning with the Wooden Railway.

Kazoo Toys Discount Vouchers, 10%, 15%, and 20% Discounts Available

2010-02-23T22:47:00.002+11:00

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Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails - Overall Okay With Disappointing Ending

2010-01-07T19:59:00.001+11:00

Since reviewing the Hero of the Rails DVD, my son has given me the opportunity to watch the film a number of times. Overall, I am still pretty happy with the transition from physical models to computer animation, and the non-narrated voices and facial animations do grow on you over time.

However, with each viewing I am left a little disappointed by the ending. The film just seems to end without a real conclusion. Yes, we understand that Hero returns home, but it does leave a lot of unanswered questions. Such details may not be understood by the younger audience, but I am sure the more astute child would like to see Hero back home, perhaps see his previous friends welcome him back (I certainly would!)

After my disappointment with the previous Thomas & Friends film, The Great Discovery, I am more than happy with Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails. My son enjoys the characters more, especially Hero, with even Spencer getting a mention.

Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails is highly recommended to all Thomas & Friends fans.

Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails - DVD Review

2009-10-26T21:57:00.000+11:00

My son absolutely loves Thomas & Friends, both watching the TV programs to playing with his wooden Thomas & Friends toys. I also remember watching Thomas when I was younger, and reading, playing and watching Thomas with my son brings back fond memories. I therefore approached the recently released Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails with slight trepidation. I have read both positive and negative reviews of the new film. Most reviews agreed that it was definitely better than Thomas & Friends: The Great Discovery, but many were far from impressed by the updated computer animation and talking train characters.

This may be a result of the childhood memories of the reviewer, who remember the early Ringo Star narrated episodes. Never-the-less, as a fan of animated films, I was interested to see how Thomas & Friends would transfer to the computer.

Computer Animation

Overall, the quality of the computer animation is very good. Whilst not matching the quality of a Pixar movie, it does reproduce the look of the earlier Thomas & Friends very well. It lacks the sharpness and clarity of the models, which I guess is because they were real models rather than computer generated (which typically introduces a slight blurriness to the edges), but this does not detract from the films enjoyment.

I was less convinced by the engines facial expressions. Rather than the simple (and relatively static) movement of the previous models faces, the animated faces show a full range of emotions and movements.

Talking Engines

This is the first time we get to actually see and hear the engines talk. Previously, the narrator would be the voice for all of the engines, with a ... and Thomas said ... and Emily said, etc. Now, the engines have been given individual voices. I guess with the move to computer animation it is a natural change, but it was quite unnerving at first. I used to enjoy the narrator attempting a female Emily !

Story

I was pretty disappointed by Thomas & Friends: The Great Discovery. The story was just too far fetched and with too many obvious 'thats just stupid' moments. Seeing Thomas floating down a mine tunnel was not very convincing for me ! Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails was a lot different. The story was far more believable and enjoyable, and as the film was only around 60 minutes, it seems to have a lot less slow, filler scenes.

It did end a bit too quick for me, and I would have enjoyed a few more scenes from when Hiro returned back to his home island. It seemed to end with a 'ooops, we have run out of money' feel, without really closing off the story.

Conclusion

Overall I enjoyed Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails. I am still not fully convinced about the computer animation, but I am thinking that this is because I am being nostalgic to the earlier series (read getting old). The story was actually well written and the film fast paced. I would have liked some more scenes at the end though, as it did finish a bit too soon.

The film has generated yet another marketing opportunity for the Thomas & Friends toys, as you can buy no less than 3 separate Hiro models, one when Thomas first finds Hiro, one after Thomas has attempted to repair Hiro, and finally one after Hiro has been fully restored. The DVD also includes a short advertisement for Thomas & Friends merchandise, where 2 women discuss how they have spent their child's college fund on every conceivable Thomas accessory for their son's room.

Overall, I recommend Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails to all Thomas fans.

Thomas Story Library - Rocky

2009-10-09T22:10:00.001+11:00

Book #46
ISBN 9781405234931
Pages 32
Publication Date 2 June 2008

Storyline
This is a story about Rocky, a new crane who is so big that he needs an engine to pull him. Edward and Gordon thought he was no use - until they really needed his help…

Thomas Story Library - Mighty Mac

2009-10-09T21:09:00.001+11:00

Book #37
ISBN 9781405234849
Pages 34
Publication Date 2 June 2008

Storyline
This is a story about Mighty Mac, an engine with two faces! Mighty and Mac argued all the time. But one day they realised that if they didn't listen to each other, they could get into serious trouble...

Thomas Story Library - George

2009-10-09T21:05:00.001+11:00

Book #32
ISBN 9781405234795
Pages 34
Publication Date 2 June 2008

Storyline
This is a story about George the Steamroller. He was proud and thought he was better then the engines. He enjoyed saying rude things to them about Railways, but one day he met his match...

Thomas Story Library - Rusty

2009-10-09T20:57:00.002+11:00

Book #39
ISBN 9781405234863
Pages 34
Publication Date 2 June 2008

Storyline
This is a story about Rusty the little diesel engine, who is best friends with Skarloey and Rheneas. Rusty works so hard looking after their line that sometimes he forgets there’s work to be done at the Quarry…

Thomas Story Library - Cranky

2009-10-09T20:56:00.001+11:00

Book #7
ISBN 9781405234535
Pages 34
Publication Date 2 June 2008

Storyline
This is a story about Cranky the Crane. He worked at the Docks on the Island of Sodor. He played tricks on the engines, to get them into trouble. But one day Cranky needed the engines' help...

Thomas Story Library - Dennis

2009-10-09T20:52:00.001+11:00

Book #48
ISBN 9781405234955
Pages 32
Publication Date 2 June 2008

Storyline
This is a story about Dennis, a very lazy diesel engine. On his first day on the Sodor Railway, Dennis played a trick on Thomas. But when he really got into trouble, was anyone there to help?

Thomas Story Library - Fergus

2009-10-09T20:51:00.001+11:00

Book #36
ISBN 9781405234832
Pages 34
Publication Date 2 June 2008

Storyline
This is the story of Fergus, a little traction engine who always liked to "do things right". One day, I asked him to help Bill and Ben at the Quarry, but poor Fergus wasn't used to their tricks. Read about the trouble they caused him...

Thomas Story Library - Bill and Ben

2009-10-09T20:43:00.001+11:00

Book #12
ISBN 9781405234580
Pages 34
Publication Date 2 June 2008

Storyline
This is a story about Bill and Ben the twin engines. They worked at the Quarry and they found it very boring. Then one day, something happened that made them realise the Quarry was quite exciting after all!

Thomas Story Library - Neville

2009-10-09T20:40:00.001+11:00

Book #44
ISBN 9781405234917
Pages 34
Publication Date 2 June 2008

Storyline
This is a story about Neville, a little engine who just wanted to be friends. But Thomas and the others wouldn’t give him a chance, and that got them all into trouble…

Thomas Story Library - Bertie

2009-10-09T20:38:00.001+11:00

Book #27
ISBN 9781405234740
Pages 34
Publication Date 2 June 2008

Storyline
This is a story about Bertie the Bus. Bertie and Thomas both think they can go fastest. They just can't agree, so they decide to have a race to settle the argument once and for all...

Thomas Story Library - The Fat Controller

2009-10-09T20:35:00.002+11:00

Book #50
ISBN 9781405234979
Pages 32
Publication date 2 June 2008

Storyline
This is a story about Sir Topham Hatt, or The Fat Controller as his engines call him. He has loved trains ever since he was a boy but engines are sometimes as troublesome as trucks…

Thomas Story Library - Donald and Douglas

2009-10-06T23:28:00.002+11:00

Book #3
ISBN 9781405206945
Pages 34
Publication Date 2 June 2008

Storyline
This is the story about the twin Scottish engines, Donald and Douglas. They both came to work at my station, but I only needed one of them. The question was, which one should I keep?

Thomas Story Library - James

2009-10-01T22:50:00.021+10:00

Book #2

ISBN 9781405234481
Pages 32
Publication Date 2 June 2008

Storyline
This is a story about James the Red Engine. When he first arrived on Sodor, he was so busy thinking about his shiny red paint that he soon got into lots of trouble. I thought I might have to send him away…

Thomas Story Library - Thomas

2009-10-01T22:14:00.018+10:00

Book #1
ISBN 9781405234474
Pages 32
Publication Date 2 June 2008

Storyline
This is a story about Thomas the Tank Engine. Thomas worked really hard, shunting coaches for the big engines. But what he wanted more than anything was his very own branch line…