The following is a list of references in The Railway Series, Thomas & Friends, Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go, and other media revolving around Thomas the Tank Engine.
The Three Railway Engines
- The rhyme at the beginning of the story The Sad Story of Henry is a reference to a vintage 1902 children's book called "Nonsense Nonsense!" written by Walter Jerrold and illustrated by Charles Robinson. The book featured an anthropomorphic steam locomotive and had a similar rhyme.
- This rhyme in turn is a reference to the English nursery rhyme Doctor Foster.
Edward the Blue Engine
- In the story Saved from Scrap, Trevor mentions that he needs some paint, polish and Brasso to be as good as new. The latter is a real-life brand of metal polish.
Duck and the Diesel Engine
- The title of the second story, Pop Goes the Diesel, as well as the song sung by the trucks, are references to the nursery rhyme "Pop Goes the Weasel".
The Twin Engines
- The second story, The Missing Coach, has Gordon and Henry teasing Donald and Douglas for their deep toned whistles. Gordon compares them to Tugboat Annie, a 1933 MGM film about a tough old widow who captains a tugboat.
Oliver the Western Engine
- The name of the first story, Donald's Duck, is a reference to the Disney cartoon character, Donald Duck.
- In the third story, Toad Stands By, the trucks sing Pop Goes Old Ollie, a reference to the nursery rhyme "Pop Goes the Weasel".
Duke the Lost Engine
- The name of the final story, Sleeping Beauty, is a reference to the European fairy tale of the same name.
Tramway Engines
- In the first story, Ghost Train, Percy and Toby's exchange during their trick spoofs The Three Little Pigs.
Series 1
The Sad Story of Henry / Come Out, Henry!
- Like the original story in The Railway Series, the rhyme at the beginning of the episode is a reference to a vintage 1902 children's book called "Nonsense Nonsense!" written by Walter Jerrold and illustrated by Charles Robinson. The book featured an anthropomorphic steam locomotive and had a similar rhyme.
- ** This rhyme in turn is a reference to the English nursery rhyme Doctor Foster.
Off the Rails / Gordon Takes a Dip
- In George Carlin's dub, the boys' song "Silly Old Gordon Fell in the Ditch" has the same tune as the Mother Goose rhyme, Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush.
Series 2
- Like the original story in The Railway Series, the title of this episode and the song sung by the trucks are references to the nursery rhyme "Pop Goes the Weasel".
Ghost Train / Percy's Ghostly Trick
- Like the original story in The Railway Series, Percy and Toby's exchange during their trick spoofs the classic fairy tale, The Three Little Pigs.
Series 3
- Like the original story in The Railway Series, the title of this episode is a reference to the Disney cartoon character, Donald Duck.
Buzz, Buzz / James Goes Buzz Buzz
- The vicar thanks James for saving his bees and laments that it is not Christmas, otherwise they could call him "James the Red-Nosed Engine", referencing the traditional Christmas song, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
- Oliver's theme during his escape from scrap is a musical variation of the main theme to the 1963 film, The Great Escape.
Series 4
- Like the original story in The Railway Series, the title of this episode is a reference to the European fairy tale of the same name.
- The shot of Rusty and Stepney crossing Vicarstown Viaduct in front of the moon in very reminiscent of the iconic bicycle sequence from the Steven Spielberg film, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
- Like the original story in The Railway Series, the song Pop Goes Old Ollie is a reference to the nursery rhyme "Pop Goes the Weasel".
Series 5
- The foreman apologetically tells Toby's driver at the flour mill that "times are a-changing", referencing the Bob Dylan song The Times They Are a-Changin'.
- Thomas laughs at the disgraced lorries and calls "The Brothers Grimm" as a nod to the Lorries suffering the repercussions that were expected to be found in many of the Brothers Grimm stories.
James and the Trouble with Trees
- The title is a potential reference to the Star Trek episode, "The Trouble with Tribbles".
- The tree sliding down the embankment onto James' path is reminiscent of a similar scene from the 1970 film The Railway Children where some trees slide down a cutting, causing rocks to fall onto the rails.
- Percy asks what gremlins are. Thomas answers that they are little green man who play tricks, referencing the Steven Spielberg film, Gremlins.
- Sir Topham Hatt dubbing Old Bailey "the friendliest ghost on the island" could be a reference to Casper the Friendly Ghost.
- Stepney says "There's no place like home", a direct quote from the 1939 MGM film, The Wizard of Oz.
- Sir Topham Hatt ducks to avoid Tiger Moth in a manner similar to the crop duster scene from the Alfred Hitchcock film, North by Northwest.
- Boulder's rampage is heavily inspired by the Indiana Jones film, Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Thomas and the Magic Railroad
- The songs, "Old MacDiesel" and "I've Been Working on the Railway" are based on and named after the nursery rhyme, "Old MacDonald Had a Farm " and the American folk song, "I've Been Working on the Railroad" respectively.
- The posters of Sir Topham Hatt reading "Sir Topham Needs You" featured throughout the film are a reference to the Lord Kitchener and Uncle Sam recruiting posters.
Series 6
- The episode's title is a reference to the quote "A friend in need is a friend indeed".
- The episode's title is a reference to the European mythological figure of the same name.
- The scarecrow that Gordon comes to a stop in front of bears a resemblance to Spud from Bob the Builder.
- The original working title for the episode was called "Bill and Ben's Excellent Adventure", which is a reference to the 1989 movie, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.
- The episode's title is a reference to the nursery rhyme, "Mary Had a Little Lamb".
- The headmaster plays the song "She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain" on the organ as Duncan rounds the cliffside.
Series 7
- As the Fat Controller explains to Percy, Pegasus the carthorse is named after a flying horse in Greek mythology, particularly the story of Hercules.
Jack and the Sodor Construction Company
- The original title of the episode, Who's the Boss?, is a reference to the 1984 sitcom with the same name.
- The episode's original title - Five Easy Pieces - is a reference to the 1970 film of the same name.
- Alfie's line, "Mud, glorious mud!" comes from the chorus of the popular Flanders and Swann song, The Hippopotamus.
- This episode is based on and named after Aesop's fable of the same name.
- The title is a line from the chorus of the popular Flanders and Swann song, The Hippopotamus.
Cancelled episodes
- The episode title is a play on words of John Donne's poem, No Man is an Island.
The Importance of Being Patrick
- The episode's title is a reference to Oscar Wilde's final play, The Importance of Being Earnest.
- Like the Railway Series story and second series episode of the same name, the title of this episode is a reference to the nursery rhyme "Pop Goes the Weasel".
- The title of this episode is a reference to the 1970 movie of the same name.
- The title appears to be a reference to the phrase "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" from The Shining.
- One of two working titles is a reference to the 1960 film, The Grass is Greener.
- The other working title for this episode, "Freaky Friday", is referencing the movie of the same name.
Series 8
- The title of the episode is named after an Achaemenid-Persian military king from Iran, Cyrus the Great.
- The concept of Spencer falling asleep and unintentionally allowing Edward to overtake him by having him win the race is based on Aesop's fable, The Tortoise and the Hare.
- This episode is named after the Joe Turner song "Shake, Rattle and Roll".
Series 9
- At the beginning of the episode, some birds are seen on a line, with a big bird in the middle weighing it down, which is likely a reference to the 2000 Pixar short film "For the Birds".
Series 10
- This episode is named after Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace".
Series 11
- The title is a reference to the Aerosmith song of the same name.
- This episode is named after the 1993 Disney film, "Cool Runnings".
The Great Discovery
- One of the posters on the Sodor Sweets shop in Great Waterton advertises "Coach's Chocolate Salty Balls", a reference to Chef's Chocolate Salty Balls from the South Park episode and song of the same name.
Misty Island Rescue
- The music before the movie starts has most of the notes of the Pirates of the Caribbean theme.
- The music and lyrics from the movie's namesake song are based on the songs She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain When She Comes and The Great Outdoors, a song from the Disneyland attraction The Country Bears Jamboree.
Series 15
- The episode's title is a reference to the Christmas song, "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!" by Vaughn Monroe.
- This episode is named after the Elvis Presley song of the same name.
Series 17
- The plot of the episode is based on the common fairytale, The Boy Who Cried Wolf.
- This episode's title is a reference to a dog from The Simpsons named Santa's Little Helper.
- Sir Robert Norramby's quote, "It's Thomas the red-nosed engine!" is a reference to the traditional Christmas song, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
- When Salty bumps into the oil wagons, he gets oil on his upper lip and chin, which bears a strong resemblance to Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean.
- The episode’s title is a play on the phrase "No More Mr. Nice Guy," a saying also referenced in other mediums.
Tale of the Brave
- The scene of the Fat Controller's silhouette walking onscreen in the intro is similar to that of the intro from classic anthology television series, Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
- Marion makes a reference to William Shakespeare's tragedy "Hamlet" when she catches the fossil of the dinosaur skull in her bucket and exclaims "Alas, poor dinosaur".
Series 18
- Duncan's quote, "Bah humbug!", is a reference to the Charles Dickens novel, A Christmas Carol.
- The roar of the Megalosaurus is a reference to the Tyrannosaurus roar from Jurassic Park.
The Adventure Begins
- When Edward tells the story of why Henry does not like rain, the former says the same rhyme from the Railway Series story and first series episode, The Sad Story of Henry, which is a reference to a vintage children's book featuring an anthropomorphic steam locomotive from 1902 with a similar rhyme.
- Starting from this special onwards, James has obtained a habit of declaring "Here's James!" whenever he appears in certain scenes, a reference to the quote "Here's Johnny!" from the 1980 film, The Shining.
Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure
- The second time Skiff tells Sailor John that they need to leave, the former sings part of the Banana Boat Song.
Series 19
- Henry questioning the words "itchy" and "scratchy" after hearing what chickenpox is references Itchy and Scratchy from The Simpsons.
- This episode's title is a play on the phrase, "There's no place like home", a direct quote from the 1939 MGM film, The Wizard of Oz.
- Whenever the word "Abominable Snowman" is said, Dramatic Impact #2 from the American Production Music (APM) library is heard throughout the episode. This popular cue has been used in multiple other shows and films.
- The episode's title is a reference to the famous quote "Four legs good, two legs bad" from George Orwell's novel "Animal Farm."
The Little Engine Who Raced Ahead
- The title of this episode is a reference to the story of The Little Engine That Could.
- Whether the entire episode is split into two parts or not, it is based off of Charles Dickens' novel "A Christmas Carol", with Diesel playing the role of Ebenezer Scrooge.
The Great Race
- When Thomas asks Victor to repaint him, one of the liveries seen in the fantasy sequence features a red and blue lightning bolt over his right eye, resembling the late singer David Bowie, who sported a similar lightning bolt on his face for the cover of his album Aladdin Sane.
Series 20
- This episode is named after the Elvis Presley song and film of the same name.
- This episode is based around the fairy tale of The Three Billy Goats Gruff; the story is also mentioned in the episode by Percy and Toby.
- The guitar cue for Stephen and Glynn's race is a reference to the 1982 song, Eye of the Tiger by Survivor.
Journey Beyond Sodor
- Theo chanting, "I think I can't, I know I can't" when setting up a diversion during the film's climax is a reference to the story of The Little Engine That Could.
Series 21
- This episode is named after Springtime for Hitler, a fictional musical in Mel Brooks' 1968 film The Producers, his 2001 Broadway Musical adaptation of the original film and Susan Stroman's 2005 remake of the former film.
- Some of the instrumental music heard during the episode bears a slight resemblance to the Bill Withers song, "Lean on Me."
- The guitar cue that plays when Daisy and Harvey glare at each other at the level crossing is a reference to the 1982 song, Eye of the Tiger by Survivor.
- The assistant's line, "Have you tried turning it off and on again, sir?" is a reference to the catchphrase used in the British Sitcom The IT Crowd.
- At the end of the episode, Salty refers as Cranky, Carly and Big Mickey as "the Three Musketeers", a reference to the French historical adventure novel of the same name. The three of them also quote the motto of the Three Musketeers:
Cranky: All for one!
Cranky, Carly and Big Mickey: And one for all!
- At the beginning of the episode, a fawn and a rabbit are seen slipping and skiing on the ice. This is a reference to the 1942 Disney film Bambi.
- The music in the scene where the tree sinks to the bottom of the lake and Terence apologises for it sounds very similar to the soundtrack of the 1997 romantic drama, Titanic. Terence is also wrapped in a blanket afterwards, much like Rose, the film's main character.
Big World! Big Adventures!
- The title of the special's song, "Where in the World is Thomas?" is a reference to the series, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego.
- Ajim's Owner can be heard singing a verse of "This is the Way the Ladies Ride" during the Sahara Desert scene.
Series 22
- The episode's title is a reference to the English pop band, "Frankie Goes to Hollywood".
- The film in Thomas' fantasy is entitled Big Hero One, which may be a reference to the 2014 Disney film and Marvel comic book series Big Hero 6.
- The title is a play on the song "A Coat of Many Colors" from Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
- After Shane rescues Thomas from the bridge and Thomas is telling Shane about his day, Shane says "And you told them we had a Queen named Kylie? We should be so lucky!" This is a reference to Australian singer Kylie Minogue and her single I Should Be So Lucky.
- The episode's title is a pun on the 2003 film and the 2016 Nickelodeon television show, School of Rock.
- The title is likely a reference to the Mission Impossible film franchise.
Series 23
- The title of the episode is a reference to the Neil Young song of the same name and the 1956 Talyllyn Railway documentary "Railway with a Heart of Gold".
- The title is likely a reference to the cartoon Dudley Do Right from The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends.
- The fantasy sequence is a reference to the intro song of the show itself at the time.
- The fantasy sequence with the Road Finisher is a parody of the Terminator franchise.
- Thomas references Braveheart when he rallies the Steam Team.
- The fantasy sequence is a parody of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.
- The fantasy sequence is a reference to the Italian opera, Pagliacci.
Series 24
Thomas and the Inventor's Workshop
- Thomas racing towards the electrical wire is a homage to the 1985 movie, Back to the Future.
Series 1
- The episode's title is a reference to the James Bond movie License to Kill.
- The title sequence is a reference to the gun barrel sequence used in James Bond movies.
- Percy's nickname "Agent 006" is a reference to Bond's codename, Agent 007.
- The episode's title is a reference to the 1939 film, The Rules of the Game, as well as the Geronimo Stilton animated series episode of the same name.
- The title is a reference to the American rock band, Counting Crows.
- The episode's song with the same name is a parody of the nursery song, Wheels on the Bus.
- The beginning of Sir Topham Hatt's speech is a reference to Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
Thomas and Percy's Eggsellent Adventure
- This episode's title is a reference to Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.
- The title of this episode is likely a reference to both the 1967 song "What a Wonderful World" and Disney's long-running anthology TV series The Wonderful World of Disney.
- The episode's song, Feet, Tailbone, Ribs and Claws is a parody of the popular children's song, Head, Shoulders Knees and Toes.
- Percy saying "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can" when going up the hill is a reference to another famous train literature The Little Engine That Could.
- This episode is named after the Saturday Night Live sketch of the same name.
Short Story Adventures
- The title is a reference to the 2005 animated series, Jane and the Dragon.
Series 2
- Percy chanting, "I think I can, I think I can" when climbing up the mountain is a direct reference to The Little Engine That Could.
- This episode is named after the Joe Turner song "Shake, Rattle and Roll".
- The title of the episode's song, Stuck in the Mud at Night is a reference to the 1972 song, "Stuck in the Middle with You" by Stealers Wheel.
- Percy references the lyrics to the traditional Christmas song, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
- The episode's name is a direct reference to a line Juliet makes in the Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet.
The Mystery of Lookout Mountain
- The title of the movie's song, A Whole New Place is a reference to the song A Whole New World from the 1992 Disney animated film and the 2019 live-action remake, Aladdin.
Series 3
- The title is a reference to the 1956 musical and 1960 film with the same name.
- The title is a reference to the famous magician's "magic word", Abracadabra.
- The title is a reference to children's game, Duck Duck Goose.
- The title is a pun on the phrase, "take it easy".
- The title is a reference to the 1962 travelogue, Travels with Charley.
- The title is a reference to the 1993 comedy film, For Love or Money.
- The title is a reference to the Godspell song, All for the Best.
Miscellaneous Thomas Media
- In the 2008 book Halloween in Anopha and the 2015 book A Ghost on the Track, one of the children at the party is dressed as Bob the Builder.
- Bob the Builder would later also be featured in the cab of the Minis Construction Toby.
- In a 2004 promo for Day Out with Thomas, a Spider Man T-Shirt can be seen.
- In the live-action segments in Goal #4 of the All Aboard for Global Goals, Drawings of American cartoon characters such as Jerry Mouse from Hanna Barbera's Tom and Jerry, and SpongeBob, Patrick, and Gary from SpongeBob SquarePants can be seen on the wall.
- The Steam, Rattle & Roll Thomas record features several references to musical pop culture:
- The record is named after the Joe Turner song "Shake, Rattle and Roll".
- Sodorpalooza is a reference to the famous American music festival "Lollapalooza".
- As Salty teaches Thomas how to perform he quotes the idiom "Let's turn this up to eleven!" which is a reference to the music mockumentary This is Spinal Tap.
- At the end of Steam, Rattle & Roll, Thomas calls out "I've got blisters on my pistons!" This is reference to The Beatles song Helter Skelter in which Ringo Starr (the first and second series narrator) famously shouts out "I've got blisters on my fingers!"
- The "Big Galaxy Big Adventures" sub-series of the Thomas Creator Collective official web series is a parody of the Star Wars franchise.
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