Ertl Company

The Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends ERTL models are a set of die-cast models of the characters from the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends TV series and The Railway Series books, by ERTL. The range originally consisted of only the main characters, but it eventually extended to include almost all the characters.

Overview
Ertl created their first Thomas model in 1984. It came with a sticker sheet so you could alter Thomas' face to make him have a different facial expression. This year they also released a larger, motorised version of Thomas.

Later during the year, James and Henry were released. They featured only their happy face. The stickers were soon replaced with fixed plastic faces.

The Ertl range has made new engines nearly every year since then, tallying up to over 100 models, until the range was replaced by Take Along.

During the range's popularity, they made miniature models of each engine, as well as Gold rail models. Some were only released in America, such as Thomas with Annie and Clarabel, Percy and the Foolish Freight cars, as well as Toby, Henrietta and a truck. These were quite big, and lacked in detail, but they were still fun to play with.

Ertl ceased production for the US market in 2001, and for the UK market in 2004. The model range has now been discontinued. Also all packaging from 1989-1999 featured a detailed illustration of the character and with a wonderful background with it which were drawn by the talented Owain Bell.

1989
The Old Coaches
 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Percy
 * Toby
 * Bertie
 * Terence
 * Annie and Clarabel (could only be released in a 3-pack with Thomas or Percy until 1993)

1990

 * Duck
 * Diesel
 * Troublesome Trucks
 * Trevor
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Very Very rare brown troublesome trucks

1991

 * Bill
 * Ben
 * Harold

1992

 * Donald
 * Douglas
 * Henrietta

1993
The ertl brand was now given a re-vamp. The packaging changed. A few models were introduced:


 * Mavis
 * Oliver
 * Daisy
 * Boco
 * City of Truro
 * Milk and Tar Wagons
 * Sodor Fuel Tankers

1994

 * Breakdown Train

1995
This was the first use of a non-TV series character. These were the models:


 * D199
 * Express Coaches
 * Toad

1996
Series 4 had now fully aired. The narrow gauge engines were introduced.


 * Skarloey
 * Rheneas
 * Sir handel
 * Peter Sam
 * Rusty
 * Duncan
 * Godred
 * Culdee
 * Lord Harry

1997
A small handful of models were introduced:


 * Duke
 * Stepney
 * The Diesel D261
 * Caroline

1998
This was the year that the metallic engines came out.


 * Wilbert
 * Sixteen
 * Bluebell
 * Chinese Dragon
 * S.C.Ruffy with a Truck (until 1999)
 * Bulstrode

1999
Season 5 had now fully aired. the packaging changed AGAIN. This one is rather bland. Just blue with the character's name in yellow.


 * Iron 'Arry
 * Iron Bert
 * De-fusit Gunpowder Wagons
 * Sodor canal boat
 * Sodor soft-side truck
 * Lorry 2
 * Lorry 1 on Flatbed

2000

 * Silver Millenium Thomas
 * Lady
 * Diesel 10
 * Splatter
 * Dodge
 * Bertram
 * Derek
 * Old Slow Coach

2001
New models were released. these ones are indeed bright and cheerful, but quite detailed as well


 * Cranky
 * Gordon's Special Coach
 * Scrap Trevor on a flatbed – (Trevor, smothered in 'rust' paint, on a well wagon labelled "Saved from Scrap")
 * Sodor Flat truck
 * Sodor crane
 * Pump Truck
 * Narrow Gauge slate trucks
 * Flying Scotsman
 * Smudger

2002
America had now stopped making models, and Australia are having difficulty getting any new models, but the UK are still making them this year. The packaging changed again. The packaging is now the engine's name in red, with a little cartoon of the character in the top right-hand corner. The coupling style now changed from the basic "Hook and eye" style to a U-hook. it is believed to be sturdier, and lasts longer.


 * Harvey
 * Frank
 * Salty
 * Elizabeth
 * Neil
 * The Silly Trucks
 * Spiteful Brakevan

2003
The TV series was now on its 7th season, and the models were still being shrunk to TT scale in the UK!


 * D7101 "Bear"
 * Isabel
 * Catherine the mountain coach

2004

 * Arthur
 * Jock
 * Jack
 * Alfie
 * Murdoch
 * Fergus
 * Spencer
 * Emily

Special Editions
There have been a few special edition Ertl toys, which are even rarer:


 * Metallic Thomas
 * Metallic Percy
 * Metallic Rheneas
 * Metallic Duncan
 * Metallic Duke
 * Metallic Sir Handel
 * Metallic Rusty
 * Metallic Lord Harry
 * Metallic Engines set – (includes Metallic Thomas, Metallic James, & Metallic Henry)
 * Golden 50 year Thomas (1995)
 * Silver Millenium Thomas
 * Thomas with Mr Conductor
 * Musical Thomas
 * Thomas Christmas Train (Thomas with Christmas Hat, Flatbed with Tree and The Fat Controller as Santa)
 * Thomas Toy Special Train

Miniatures
Around 1991, Ertl started to produce several miniature models of Thomas and his friends. These versions had sticker faces that were previously used in the regular models. They were packaged with random parts of a railway, and, once all were collected, formed a playset. In later years the models were adapted into keyrings. The models that existed were as follows:


 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * James
 * Percy
 * Toby
 * Duck
 * Bertie
 * Trevor
 * Harold
 * Bill
 * Ben
 * Diesel
 * Troublesome Trucks
 * Annie
 * Clarabel

A re-release of the range included Henry and Mavis. An advertisement for the sets featured Troublesome Trucks with tan (china clay) instead of black (coal) tops.

The playsets included:


 * Windmill
 * Airport
 * Sheds
 * Station & Siding
 * Level Crossing
 * Yard
 * Loop track
 * Ramp pieces were also included and later on viaduct connector pieces were included.

Gold Rail series
ERTL also made another short-lived line in the 90's called the Gold Rail Series. The models had magnetic couplings, and had no tracks. The models in this range were a bit smaller than an HO scale train, and were extremely similar to the Bandai range made in Japan. Rather surprisingly, the range included Bill and Ben but omitted Henry. Models:

Playsets were also made.
 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Percy
 * Toby
 * Bill
 * Ben
 * Annie
 * Clarabel
 * Troublesome Truck 1
 * Troublesome Truck 2


 * Ffarquhar Station
 * Lower Suddery Station
 * Engine Sheds
 * Docks