Thomas and Friends: The Classic Series

The Classic Series was produced from 1984 to 2003. Episodes from these seasons were 5 minutes and 30 seconds long, including the introduction and credits. The classic series is considered to be the 1 7 seasons of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.

The British version were narrated by Michael Angelis; the American versions were narrated by George Carlin, Alec Baldwin and Michael Brandon. Michael Angelis narrated Series 3 and Series 4. George Carlin narrated Series 1 and Series 2. Alec Baldwin narrated Series 3, Series 4, Series 5, Series 6 and  season episodes in the US for the VHS and DVD release, The New Friends for Thomas and Other Adventures. David Mitton directed the classic series, with Junior Campbell and Mike O'Donnell as composers and Gullane producing it as an independent studio.

"The Unaired Pilot"
The Unaired Pilot was the pre-production test episode of the television series. The pilot was based on Down the Mine and had simpler sets, fewer characters, and flatter lighting. Because it was a test pilot, the episode never aired on television and was only viewed in a test screening.

Series 1
The 1 series of the television series is the 1 season of the television series. It aired in the United States in 1984. This season was originally narrated by George Carlin for the US.

Characters introduced:
 * Thomas – the Tank Engine (Voiced By Ben Small)
 * Edward – the Blue Engine (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Henry – the Green Engine (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Gordon – the Express Engine (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * James – the Red Engine (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Percy – the Saddle Tank Engine (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Toby – the Tram Engine (Voiced By Bill Farmer)
 * Annie and Clarabel – Thomas's 2 Faithful Coaches (Voiced By Anna Bentinck And Morweena Banks)
 * Henrietta – Toby's Faithful Coach (Voiced By Anna Bentinck)
 * Troublesome Trucks - the Giggling Trucks (Voiced By Adrienne Posta And Anna Bentinck And Ben Small And Bob Saker And Chris Lang And Eric Idle And Keith Wickham And Lewis McCleod And Martin Clunes)
 * Terence – the Tractor (Voiced By Bill Farmer)
 * Bertie – the Bus (Voiced By Bob Saker)
 * Sir Topham Hatt – The Controller of the North Western Railway (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Stephen Hatt - Sir Topham Hatt's Grandson
 * Bridget Hatt - Sir Topham Hatt's Granddaughter
 * Lady Hatt – Sir Topham Hatt's Wife (does not speak)
 * Jeremiah Jobling (Voiced By Bob Saker)
 * The Butler (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * The Ffarquhar Policeman (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Farmer Finney - the Driver
 * Mrs. Kyndley - Sir Topham Hatt's Husband (Voiced By Adirenne Posta)
 * The Storyteller (not named)
 * Percy's Workshop Friends (wheels and buffers only; do not speak)
 * The Marklin Engine (cameo)
 * Earnest (portrait cameo)
 * The Green Bus (indirectly mentioned)

Highlights:
 * The first series to be narrated by George Carlin.
 * The first series to be filmed in full screen.
 * The only series where all of the episodes are adapted from the Reverend W. Awdry's stories.

Series 2
The 2 series of the television series aired in the United States in 1986. This season was originally narrated by George Carlin for the US.

Characters Introduced:
 * Duck – the Great Western Engine (Voiced By Ed Wynn)
 * Donald and Douglas – the Scottish Twin Engines (Voiced By Bob Saker And Lewis McCleod)
 * Bill and Ben – the Tank Engine Twins (Voiced By Chris Lang And Ben Small)
 * Diesel – the Devious Diesel Shunter (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Daisy – the Diesel Rail-Car (Voiced By Adrienne Posta)
 * BoCo – the Mixed Traffic Diesel Engine (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * The Spiteful Brakevan - the Rude Breakvan (Voiced By Bob Saker)
 * Trevor – the Traction Engine (Voiced By Bill Farmer)
 * Harold - the Helicopter (Voiced By Bob Saker)
 * Jem Cole - Trevor's Driver (Voiced By Bill Farmer)
 * The Vicar of Wellsworth (Voiced By Bill Farmer)
 * Father Christmas (does not speak)
 * Percy's Ghost Engine (does not speak)
 * The Lady with the Floppy Green Hat (does not speak)
 * British Railways Diesels (mentioned)
 * The Mainland Diesels (mentioned)
 * Sam the Farmer (deleted scene; mentioned)
 * Big City Engine (dropped)

Highlights:
 * The first series to feature stories by Christopher Awdry.
 * The first series to feature a story never adapted from the Railway Series.
 * The final series to be narrated by George Carlin.

Series 3
The 3 series of the television series aired in 1991-1992 in the United States. This season was narrated by Michael Angelis in UK and Alec Baldwin in the US.

Characters introduced:
 * Oliver – the Great Western Tank Engine (Voiced By Bob Saker)
 * Mavis – the Quarry Diesel Shunter (Voiced By Adrienne Posta)
 * Bulgy – the Double-Decker Bus (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Toad – the Breakvan (does not speak)
 * City of Truro (not named; does not speak)
 * Flying Scotsman (not named; tenders only; does not speak)
 * Farmer Trotter (not named)
 * Bulgy's Friend (mentioned)

Highlights:
 * Britt Allcroft's first season as producer.
 * First series to have episodes never based off of material by either Awdry.
 * Alec Baldwin's first season as the narrator.

Series 4
The 4 series of the television series aired in the United Kingdom and the United States in 1994-1995. It was narrated by Michael Angelis in the UK and Alec Baldwin in the US.

Characters introduced:
 * Stepney – the Bluebell Engine (Voiced By Eric Idle)
 * Skarloey – the Crimson Red, Narrow Gauge Engine (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Rheneas – the Red Narrow Gauge Engine (Voiced By Eric Idle)
 * Sir Handel – the Blue Narrow Gauge Engine (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Peter Sam – the Green Narrow Gauge Engine (Voiced By Lewis McCleod)
 * Duncan – the Yellow Narrow Gauge Engine (Voiced By Lewis McCleod)
 * Duke – the Old Narrow Gauge Engine (Voiced By By Keith Wickham)
 * Smudger – the Rude Narrow Gauge Engine (Voiced By Bob Saker)
 * Rusty - the Little Narrow Gauge Diesel (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * S.C. Ruffey – the Privately Owned Truck (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * George – the Steamroller (Voiced By Richard Newman)
 * Caroline – the Car (Voiced By Adrienne Posta)
 * Bulstrode – the Barge (Voiced By Bob Saker)
 * Refreshment Lady (Voiced By Anna Bentinck)
 * Nancy – a Conductor's Daughter (Voiced By Anna Bentinck)
 * Tom Tipper – the Postman (Voiced By Bob Saker)
 * The Tailor
 * Class 40 - the Snobbish Diesel (Voiced By Keith Wichkham)
 * Queen Elizabeth I - the Queen of England (does not speak)
 * Other Mid Sodor Railway Engines (indirectly mentioned)

Highlights:
 * Michael Angelis’s last series as the narrator.
 * First season to feature the Skarloey Railway.
 * George Wolf's last series as the writer.
 * Last season to be featured on Shining Time Station as well as the only series to be featured on Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales.

Series 5
The 5 series of the television series aired in the United Kingdom and the United States in 1998. It was narrated by Mike Nawrocki in the UK and Alec Baldwin in the US.

Characters Introduced:
 * Old Slow Coach - the GWR Victorian Luxury Coach (Voiced By Adrienne Posta)
 * The Horrid Lorries - Lorry 1, Lorry 2 and Lorry 3 (Voiced By Bob Saker And Keith Wickham And Richard Ridings)
 * Cranky – the Crane (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Old Bailey – the Fogman (Voiced By Bill Farmer)
 * Tiger Moth's Pilot - the Pilot of Tiger Moth
 * Derek - the Diesel (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * 'Arry - the Ironworks Diesel (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Dowager Hatt - Sir Topham Hatt's Mother (Voiced By Adrienne Posta)
 * Bert - the Ironworks Diesel (does not speak)
 * Bertram – the Old Warrior (does not speak)
 * Rusty's Ghost Engine (does not speak)
 * Butch – the Breakdown Vehicle (does not speak)
 * Thumper - the Quarry Machine (does not speak)
 * Tiger Moth – the Bi-Plane (does not speak)
 * Boulder - the Mysterious Boulder (does not speak)
 * Harry Topper (mentioned)

Highlights:
 * The third series to have episodes narrated by Alec Baldwin for the US.
 * First series never to include any stories from the Railway Series.
 * The first series to have episodes narrated by Mike Nawrocki in UK.

Thomas and the Magic Railroad
Thomas and the Magic Railroad was released on July 26, 2000. It was narrated by Alec Baldwin as Mr. Conductor.

Characters Introduced: Highlights:
 * Lady - the Golden Engine (Voiced By Britt Allcroft)
 * Diesel 10 - the Mean Diesel (Voiced By Neil Crone)
 * Splatter and Dodge - the Two Diesel Minions (Voiced By Neil Crone And Kevin Frank)
 * Mr. Conductor - the Conductor of Shining Time (Voiced By Alec Baldwin)
 * Junior - Mr. Conductor's Cousin (Voiced By Micheal E. Rodgers)
 * Lily - the Granddaughter of Burnett Stone (Voiced By Mara Wilson)
 * Lily's Mother - the Mom in the Big City (Voiced By Lori Hallier)
 * Stacy Jones - the Manager of Shining Time (Voiced By Didi Conn)
 * Burnett Stone - the Tetartagonist (Voiced By Peter Fonda)
 * Billy Twofeathers - the Railway Engineer (Voiced By Russell Means)
 * Patch - the Young Teenage Boy (Voiced By Cody McMains)
 * The Tumbleweed - the One-Off Character (Voiced By Neil Crone)
 * Tasha Stone - Burnett Stone's Wife (voice-over as a child; portrait cameo)
 * P.T. Boomer - the Main Antagonist (cameo; full role cut)
 * Diesel 10 and Lady were featured in Calling All Engines!

Series 6
The 6 series of the television series aired in the United States in 2002. It was narrated by Alec Baldwin in the US and Mike Nawrocki in the UK.

Characters Introduced:
 * Harvey – the Crane Engine (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Salty – the Dockside Diesel (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Elizabeth – the Vintage Sentinel Quarry Truck (Voiced By Adrienne Posta)
 * Jack – the Enthusiastic Front Loader (Voiced By Bob Saker)
 * Alfie – the Little Green Excavator (Voiced By Lewis McCleod)
 * Oliver – the Big Excavator (Voiced By Bob Saker)
 * Max – the Dump Truck (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Kelly – the Crane (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Byron – the Bulldozer (Voiced By Bob Saker)
 * Ned – the Steam Shovel (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Isobella – the Truck (Voiced By Adrienne Posta)
 * Jenny Packard – the Owner of the Sodor Construction Company (Voiced By Adrienne Posta)
 * The Foreman (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Cyril the Fogman - the Fogman (Voiced By Bill Farmer)
 * Allicia Botti – the Famous Opera Singer (Voiced By Adrienne Posta)
 * Headmaster Hastings (Voiced By Chris Lang)
 * Farmer McColl - the Farmer (Voiced By Bill Farmer)
 * Edward's Ghost Engine (does not speak)
 * The Fisherman (cameo)
 * Mr. Jolly (factory logo cameo; mentioned)

Highlights:
 * The final series to be narrated by Mike Nawrocki in the UK.
 * The first series to feature a full writing staff.

Series 7
The seventh series of the television series aired in the United States in 2003. It was narrated by Alec Baldwin in the US.

Characters Introduced:
 * Emily – the Emerald Tender Engine (Voiced By Anna Bentinck)
 * Fergus – the Traction Engine (Voiced By Eric Idle)
 * Arthur – the Big Red Tank Engine (Voiced By Lewis McCleod)
 * Murdoch – the Large Goods Engine (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Spencer —the Streamlined Tender Engine (Voiced By Keith Wickham)
 * Sodor Brass Band - a Brass Band from the Mainland (Voiced By Bob Saker And Chris Lang And Eric Idle And Keith Wickham And Lewis McCleod And Martin Clunes And Richard Ridings)
 * Lord Callan - the Lord of the Callan Castle (Voiced By Lewis McCleod)
 * The Duke and Duchess of Boxford (do not speak)
 * The Mayor of Sodor (mentioned)

Highlights:
 * The last series to have Alec Baldwin as the narrator of the US.
 * The last series to use the classic opening titles and theme.
 * The last series to be filmed in full screen.

Title Sequences and logos
The title sequence has a duration of 30 seconds and displays the main tributes to the episode.

Series 1-5
In these seasons, it shows Thomas, Annie and Clarabel going through 3 main scenes, the windmill, the rail under road bridge and signal box, and finally ending with Ffarquhar station.

Production Crew Credited:


 * Based on the Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry
 * Adapted by Britt Allcroft
 * Told by Michael Angelis/George Carlin/Alec Baldwin/Michael Brandon
 * Directed By David Mitton

The ending titles had Thomas next to Tidmouth goods sheds looking at the rolling credits.

Throughout these seasons, the logo changed fonts and from colours red to yellow. In their restored versions, they all have the same cloud logo.

Series 6
In this series, it starts off with a snowy scene of the windmill (albeit a different angle), the watermill, the rail under the road bridge and signal box, and Ffarquhar station.

Series 7
Series 7 has the same intro as seasons 1-5, but with the series' current logo and in 16:9 full screen.