Series 1/Behind the Scenes

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Behind the Scenes

Gallery

This is a behind the scenes subpage for Series 1. This subpage contains all behind the scenes material relating to said article.

Unaired Pilot

Thomas' pilot model from the Unaired Pilot

Gordon's pilot model from the Unaired Pilot by Martin Gill, fully refurbished after filming by Christoper Noulton (courtesy of Chris Noulton)

Front angled view of the pilot Gordon Model (courtesy of Chris Noulton)

Pilot Gordon's cab (courtesy of Chris Noulton)

Model Railway Constructor December 1984

The making of Thomas by Chris Leigh

Behind the Scenes

Concept Art

Map of Sodor

Tidmouth District Overview

Concept art for Tidmouth

Concept art for Tidmouth Sheds

Concept art for Tidmouth Engine Works

Concept art for Lower Tidmouth

Knapford District Overview

Concept art for Knapford Engine Sheds

Concept art for part of Knapford Yard (the Coaling Stage would debut in Series 2)

Concept art for Knapford Harbour

Concept art for Knapford Signal Gantry

Concept art for Knapford Station

Concept art for the Luggage Weighing Machine and Platform Trolleys

Concept art for Lower Suddery

Concept art for Elsbridge

Concept art for the Viaduct

Concept art for Wellsworth

Concept art for Gordon's Hill

Concept art for Maron

Concept art for a Signal Box

Set planning for both Knapford Yards and Off the Rails

Story sketch Possibly for the pilot version of "Down the Mine"

Storyboards

Thomas Goes Fishing by Britt Allcroft

Episode Production

Thomas and Gordon

Edward and Gordon

Terence Permane filming Edward's cab during production of The Sad Story of Henry

The Sad Story of Henry

Thomas' Train (Henry and James are missing their coal loads, showing the wiring inside)

Thomas and the Trucks

James and the Coaches with Wilbert Awdry, photographed 6th December 1983

Troublesome Trucks and Tenders and Turntables (Märklin Engine is visible in the centre)

Thomas, Terence and the Snow (Note: Annie and Clarabel's names are missing)

Jamie Jackson-Moore (left)

Percy Runs Away

The Flying Kipper

Whistles and Sneezes

Toby and the Stout Gentleman (Turntable is not shown in the episode)

Thomas' Christmas Party

Crew Photos

(in front) Christopher Noulton, John Holmes, George Phillips, and David Payne at Shepperton Studios in 1981

Photographed 6th December 1983 (Note: Thomas and Edward's eyes are misaligned)

Richard Awdry (lower left) and his family with Britt Allcroft

Ringo Starr with a painting of Thomas

(from left to right) Mike O'Donnell, Britt Allcroft and Junior Campbell

Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach meeting Wilbert Awdry at his home in Stroud

Ringo Starr and Wilbert Awdry with their Thomas models

Wilbert Awdry at London Toy Fair 1985

Ringo Starr Photoshoot

Ringo Starr with Thomas.

Photoshoot - 9 October 1984

Ringo Starr with Gordon, Percy, Thomas, James and Henry at Lower Tidmouth

Ringo Starr and Wilbert Awdry

Wilbert and Christopher Awdry

Crew Photoshoot- 13th November 1984

Taken during filming of Thomas' Christmas Party.

(from left to right) Britt Allcroft, Wilbert Awdry and David Mitton

Thomas with the 35mm movie camera

(from left to right) Wilbert Awdry, David Mitton and Britt Allcroft

Ringo Starr with Thomas

(from left to right) Mike O'Donnell, Britt Allcroft, Junior Campbell and Ringo Starr

Wilbert Awdry (middle) and Angus Wright (behind the right)

Featured in group photo:

Mike O'Donnell	Junior Campbell	Norton Knatchbull	Angus Wright	Robert D. Cardona		David Mitton
Britt Allcroft	Ringo Starr	Wilbert Awdry	Austen Smith	Leslie Creasey	Christopher Awdry

Modelling

Christopher Noulton in the workshop at Shepperton Studios

Christopher modeling the Viaduct

Christopher modeling Maron station

Modelling Lower Suddery station

Modelling Signal box

John Kerr with Thomas' close-up model face

Henry's annoyed face being sculpted (courtesy of Chris Noulton)

James' drowsy face being sculpted (courtesy of Christopher Noulton)

Modelling a railway staff's Gauge 1 figure such as driver, fireman, guard, stationmaster and porter

Character/Building Models and Faces

An asterisk (*) denotes the photographs taken by Chris Leigh for the Model Railway Constructor magazine.

Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt Wedgwood promo

Thomas *

Thomas' inner workings *

Gordon *

James and Percy *

Express Coaches' close-up buffers, Inside Edward and James' cab

Sir Topham Hatt's family models

The Coaling Stage's model, which debuted in Series 2

Present Day

Edward's plastic model (in HiT Entertainment era condition) owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch Edward with James' smiling face Edward's plastic model on display at Edison in 2022 Edward's cab owned by Twitter user TomsProps Edward's close-up whistle owned by Twitter user TomsProps Henry's plastic model (in HiT Entertainment era condition) on display in 2022 Henry's plastic model on display in October 2022 Henry's plastic model on display in Spring 2023 Henry's old shape firebox in Mattel's storage unit in England Gordon's plastic model (in HiT Entertainment era condition) on display in 2021 Gordon's plastic model on display in 2022 Gordon's plastic model on display in October 2022 Gordon's plastic model on display in Spring 2023 Gordon's plastic model on display in Autumn 2023 (photo courtesy of SmurfyDan) Gordon's close-up model in Mattel's storage unit in Southampton, England James' plastic model (in HiT Entertainment era condition) owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch James' plastic model on display at Edison in 2021 James' close-up model in Mattel's storage unit in Southampton, England James' tender Percy's plastic model (in HiT Entertainment era condition) owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch (Note: The chassis is a replica) Percy's plastic model prior to being restored Percy's plastic model on display at Edison in 2022 Edward, Percy and James' plastic models owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch Edward, Percy and James' plastic models alongside the CoolProps Thomas Toby's plastic model (in HiT Entertainment era condition) listed on the Prop Store Toby's plastic model being displayed the day before the auction began (courtesy of Instagram user Sam The Movie Prop Collector) Four 7-plank trucks on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park A 7-plank truck (in Series 6 black livery condition) owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch A 7-plank truck owned by Twitter user TomsProps An L"M"S Wagon owned by Twitter and Instagram user Thomas Tank Merch An NER Van formerly on display at Nitrogen Studios An NER Van on display at the 'Clearwater Weekend' event in 2021 A GWR Ventilated Van on display in 2019 Two milk tankers on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park A Milk Tanker with a face on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park Five tar tankers on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park A tar tanker with a face on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park One of the Breakdown Train's models on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park One of the Breakdown Train's flatbeds on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park One of the Breakdown Train's models on display at the Clearwater Weekend event in 2021 The Breakdown Crane in the V.I.P Area A BR 20 Ton Brake Van on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park A BR 20 Ton Brake Van on display at the Hara Model Railway Museum in Japan A BR 20 Ton Brake Van on display at the second Clearwater Event in 2022 Terence's model on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park in 2009 Terence with a chipped snowplough in 2010 Terence's model in 2020 Terence's model in 2023 during construction of the new layout Terence's model permanently set in place on the layout in September of 2023 The Rolling Gantry Crane on display at the second Clearwater Event in 2022 Two canopy sections of Knapford Station in 2019 Three of Knapford Station's platform numbers posts owned by Twitter user TomsProps Knapford Station clock on display at the second Clearwater Event in 2022 One of the station's signs on display at the second Clearwater Event Maron station prop on display in 2021 Ffarquhar station prop owned by Twitter user TomsProps The Viaduct on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park Rail Under Road Bridge owned by Twitter user TomsProps The Sir Topham Hatt and four worker figures owned by Twitter user FlyingPringle The figures prior to restoration alongside some yet to be restored background figures Sir Topham Hatt's figure from the pilot owned by Twitter user FlyingPringle (Note: The body is a replica and the arms are from Series 5) Sir Topham Hatt's head from the pilot prior to restoration owned by Jonathan Saville Jeremiah Jobling's head formerly owned by Jonathan Saville Jeremiah Jobling's original small scale head and a passenger body owned by Twitter user FlyingPringle Driver and fireman figures owned by Twitter user FlyingPringle The figures and head prior to restoration as owned by Jonathan Saville A driver's head owned by Twitter user TomsProps The head as previously owned by Jonathan Saville An unused bumped Fireman head as formerly owned by Jonathan Saville A driver's close-up figure on display in 2019 Bertie's driver's figure on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park The New Ffarquhar Constable's small scale model in 2019 Two passenger figures owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch Various figures as owned by Twitter user Flying Pringle, on display at the Edison Train Show in 2022 The figures (including some yet to be restored ones) prior to restoration The head prior to restoration The body prior to restoration Thomas' happy face owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch Thomas' drowsy face on display in 2021 Thomas' angry face on display in 2021 Thomas' tired face on display in 2021 Thomas' tired, yawning and drowsy faces owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch Thomas' confused face owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch Thomas' sad face prior to being sold by The Prop Gallery Thomas' concerned (formerly nervous) face on display in 2019 Thomas' scared face owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch Edward's sad face on display in 2022 Edward's shocked face owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch Henry's happy, angry and ill faces on display in 2019 Henry's happy face on display in 2022 Henry's ill face on display in 2022 Henry's stuffed-up face on display in 2022 Henry's original wincing face on display in 2022 Henry's surprised face mould as owned by Twitter user SeansModels Gordon's smiling face on display in 2021 Gordon's original sleeping face on display in 2022 Gordon's concerned/speechless (formerly annoyed) face on display in 2022 Gordon's neutral face on display in 2021 Gordon's sulky and unused yawning faces on display in 2022 James' smiling face owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch Percy's smiling face on display in 2022 Toby's original wider happy and cross faces in a primered state owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch Terence's happy face on display in 2021 Terence's happy face on his model at Drayton Manor Bertie's chuckling (formerly happy) face owned by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch

Production Measurement References

Engines

Edward

Henry

Gordon

James

Percy

Toby

Non-Rail Vehicles

Terence

Bertie

Figures

Sir Topham Hatt

List of Sets

Gauge 1 sets

A total of 70 Gauge 1 sets were constructed for filming of the first series. In order of their first appearance within this series, these are:

1 - The Quarry Tramroad (1)

2 - Knapford (1)

3 - Knapford (2)

4 - The Pond Runby

5 - Tidmouth Sheds (1)

6 - Tidmouth Sheds (2)

7 - Knapford Bus Yard

8 - Three-Track Bend and Signalbox

9 - Henry's Tunnel (1)

10 - Henry's Tunnel (2)

11

12 - The Viaduct

13

14 - Wellsworth

15 - Rail Under Road Bridge and Signalbox (1)

16 - Rail Under Road Bridge and Signalbox (2)

17 - Gordon's Hill (1)

18 - Gordon's Hill (2)

19 - Gordon's Hill (3)

20 - Maron

21 - Maron Bridge

22 - The Goat's Field

23 - Knapford Crossing

24 - Elsbridge (1)

25 - Gordon's Hill (4)

26 - Maron Signals Runby

27 - Rail Under Road Bridge and Stone Wall

28 - The Cow Field

29 - Dryaw

30 - The Woodland Runby

31 - Hackenbeck Tunnel (1)

32 - Terence's Field

33 - Elsbridge Viaduct (1)

34 - Post Windmill

35 - The Wide-Arched Bridge

36

37 - Ffarquhar

38 - Elsbridge (2)

40

41

42 - Hackenbeck Tunnel (2)

43 - Elsbridge Signal Runby

44 - Lower Arlesburgh

45 - Elsbridge Viaduct (2)

46 - Knapford Sheds

47 - Knapford Yards

48 - The Workshop

49

50

51 - Lower Suddery

52

53 (redressed from 52)

54 - Knapford Harbour

55

56

57 - Lower Tidmouth (1)

58 - Arlesdale Castle

60 - Cliff Side Track (1)

61 - Black Loch

62 - Arlesdale End

63 - The Quarry Tramroad (2)

64 - The Lead Mines

65

66

67 - Mrs. Kyndley's Cottage

68 - Cliff Side Track (2)

69 - Hackenbeck Tunnel (3)

70 - Lower Tidmouth (2)

Close-up sets

A total of 38 Close-up sets were constructed for filming of the first series. In order of their first appearance within this series, these are:

1 - Maron Yard

2 - Coach Interior

3

4 - The Goat's Field

5 - Knapford (1)

6

7

8

9 - Knapford (2)

10

11 - Buffer Stop

12 - Tidmouth Sheds Signal Box

13

14

15

16

17 - Sir Topham Hatt's Office (1)

18

19 - The Workshop

20

21 - Brake Van Interior

22

23

24 - Knapford (3)

25 - Rail Under Road Bridge and Signalbox

26 - Lower Arlesburgh (1)

27 - Lower Arlesburgh (2)

28 - The Quarry Tramroad (1)

29 - The Quarry Tramroad (2)

30 - Topham Hall (1)

31 - Topham Hall (2)

32 - Sir Topham Hatt's Office (2)

33 - The Lead Mines

34

35

36 - Mrs. Kyndley's Cottage

37

38

Scripts And Documents

All scripts for the season alongside production notes can be viewed in PDF form on Google Drive. (Courtesy of Twitter user NothernStarCA)

The entire production packet for the series is also available for view on Google Drive. [1]

TV-AM

On the day of the premiere broadcast which featured the first two episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends on 9th October 1984, Wilbert Awdry and Ringo Starr were interviewed on the breakfast television programme, Good Morning Britain, which was part of the TV company, TV-AM.

Wilbert Awdry

Ringo Starr

TV Times

Miscellaneous

Michael Dixon's floppy disk used to log all the scenes shot for the season in 2023 (Note: the data on the disk is no longer present)

The computer the data was created on prior to being sold on Ebay

1984 International Film and TV Festival of New York bronze award won by Michael during his time at Clearwater Features working on this series

See also

• Series 1 Reference Sheets
• Series 2 Reference Sheets
• Series 3 Reference Sheets
• Series 4 Reference Sheets
• Series 5 Reference Sheets
• Series 6 Reference Sheets
• Series 7 Reference Sheets
• Series 8 Reference Sheets
• Series 9 Reference Sheets
• Series 10 Reference Sheets
• Series 11 Reference Sheets
• Series 12 Reference Sheets
• Behind the Scenes Images
• Model Specifications