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Background Information
Television Series
In 1995, George first appeared in the show in the fourth series of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, reprising his role in the Railway Series based episode, Steam Roller. In the Railway Series, George's face was green, but in the television series, he has a grey face to match the other characters.
George was going to appear in Thomas and the Magic Railroad as one of Diesel 10's lackeys. However, his role was cut, as his gauge 1 model was never brought to Canada for filming.
George's last speaking role was in the fifth series episode, Bye George!, but he continued making appearances up until the tenth series, mostly as a background character, and also appeared in the specials, Calling All Engines! and The Great Discovery where he had a minor supporting role in the former. He has not appeared in the television series since 2008.
According to Michael White, he had originally written for George to return in the twenty-third series episode, Free the Roads. His role was later replaced by Max and Monty. This would have marked his first appearance in the CGI series. However, George was indirectly mentioned in the twenty-fourth series episode, The Great Little Railway Show.
Behind the Scenes
Gauge 1 model
George's model was custom built from brass for the fourth series, to a 1:32 scale. The model was built to run on Styrofoam road and was painted in glossy car body paint. During that time, wires on his right side were exposed. This was eventually rectified from the sixth series onwards. Like most of the road vehicles during the time of the model's construction, George lacked an eye mechanism due to space concerns, and as such, his eyes were moulded on to his faces and stickers were used for his pupils.
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Reference Sheets
Series 8
Calling All Engines!
Model Changes
George has had some modifications made throughout the television series. These include:
- Series 5:
- His whistle sound changed pitch and to Trevor's whistle sound.
- His pupils became smaller.
- Series 6:
- The wires on his right side have disappeared.
- He gains lining on his rear end.
- Series 9:
Faces
Eight different facial expressions were sculpted for George and used on-screen. The faces were first sculpted in clay and from that resin casts were made using a silicone mould.
Reference Sheets
Usage and Evolution
Present Day
One of George's faces is now preserved by the preservation group, Top Props after being sold by The Prop Gallery, who in turn bought the model of Prop Store in November of 2010. His angry/cross face is also currently on his model at Drayton Manor.
In 2025, as part of Propstore's Thomas & Friends Online Charity Auction 2025, some of George's faces would be put up for auction
Present Day
After production of the model series wrapped in 2008, most of the models and sets would be put into storage, with some being put on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park. All other models would be logged and referenced from 2010 till early 2011 by HiT Entertainment, from this HiT would decide on which models were to enter storage once again, which would be given to crew members and which to be disposed off. Due to only having one model made in gauge 1 scale, George's model would stay under HiT and later Mattel's ownership. It would be listed under "TF00004" and had sustained severe damage and was broken up into several pieces but would be fixed prior to being put on display in 2020.
In early 2020, his model was put on display at the Discover Thomas & Friends Exhibition at Drayton Manor and had his cross face, albeit with one of his chains being broken and his pupils for his cross face (which were missing) being replaced with black tack blobs. On the 31st of August 2021, George's cab roof broke off until it was eventually repaired a few days later, but soon after, the black tack blobs came off, revealing his missing eyes and some staining left behind by the tack. In October 2021, George was given his content face with proper eye stickers on them. It was removed and returned to storage after the exhibit closed and a new layout was constructed elsewhere in the park. As of late 2023, George model has been put back on display at Drayton Manor on the new layout alongside his cross face.
Close-up model
Close-up shots of George was required for scenes where he had to interact with close-up scale figures. It only appeared in the fifth series episode, Lady Hatt's Birthday Party. George's close up model was not completed; only the rear half was built. However, it had two motors; one for the rear wheels and the other for the flywheel.
Voice Actors
- Masato Hirano (Japan)