| This article is about the song. You may be looking for the DVD, the video game, the Railway Series book, the My First Thomas colouring book or the My Thomas Story Library book. |
Really Useful Engine, alternately titled A Really Useful Engine and He's a Really Useful Engine, is the third song and music video in the UK from the fourth series dedicated to Thomas. In the US, it was first introduced in the Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales episode, Missing Whistles. An orchestral and shortened version of the song, with the original children's voices and added backup vocals by Steven Page, was used in Thomas and the Magic Railroad. A third version was made, with vocals by Robert Hartshorne and the Kidmore Children's Choir and slightly modified lyrics for The Adventure Begins.
Lyrics
Series 4 version
- He's a really useful engine, you know
- All the other engines they'll tell you so
- He huffs and puffs and whistles
- Rushing to and fro
- He's the really useful engine we adore
- Chorus:
- He's the one — he's the one
- He's the really useful engine that we adore
- He's the one — he's the number one
- Thomas the Tank Engine
- He's a really useful engine, you know
- 'Cause The Fat Controller, he told him so
- Now he's got a branch line
- To call his very own
- He's the really useful engine we adore!
- (Chorus)
- Little blue train — he's always there
- Whenever you need a hand
- If you need help with a situation
- Who comes into mind?
- (Chorus)
- He's a really useful engine, you know
- Maybe little, but he's never slow
- Stand back in amazement
- Just you watch him go
- He's the really useful engine we adore
- (Chorus)
- He's the really useful engine we adore
Thomas and the Magic Railroad version
- He's a Really Useful Engine, you know
- All the other engines they'll tell you so
- He huffs and puffs and whistles rushing to and fro
- He's the Really Useful Engine we adore!
- He's a Really Useful Engine, you know
- ‘Cause The Fat Controller, he told him so
- Now he's got a branch line to call his very own
- He's the Really Useful Engine we adore!
- He's the one, he's the Number One
- Thomas the Tank Engine!
- He's the Really Useful Engine we adore!
The Adventure Begins version
Special
First Version
- He's a Really Useful Engine, you know
- All the other engines they'll tell you so
- He huffs and puffs and whistles, rushing to and fro
- He's the Really Useful Engine we adore.
CHORUS:
- He's the one, he's the one
- He's the Really Useful Engine that we adore
- He's the one, he's the one you know
- Thomas the Tank Engine!
- He's a Really Useful Engine, you know
- ‘Cause the Fat Controller, he told him so
- Stand back in amazement, just you watch him go
- He's the Really Useful Engine we adore!
CHORUS:
- He's the one, he's the one
- He's the Really Useful Engine that we adore
- He's the one, he's the one you know
- Thomas the Tank Engine!
- Thomas the Tank Engine!
(NOTE: In the US dub, the lyrics "‘Cause the Fat Controller, he told him so" are changed to "Maybe little, but he's never slow")
Second Version
- He's a Really Useful Engine, you know
- ‘Cause the Fat Controller, he told him so
- Now he's got a branch line, to call his very own
- He's the Really Useful Engine we adore!
CHORUS:
- He's the one, he's the one
- He's the Really Useful Engine that we adore
- He's the one, he's the Number One
- Thomas the Tank Engine!
- He's a Really Useful Engine, you know
- ‘Cause the Fat Controller, he told him so
- Now he's got a branch line, to call his very own
- He's the Really Useful Engine we adore!
CHORUS:
- He's the one, he's the one
- He's the Really Useful Engine that we adore
- He's the one, he's the Number One
- Thomas the Tank Engine!
BRIDGE:
- Little blue train, he's always there
- Whenever you need a hand
- If you need help with a situation
- Who comes into mind?
''CHORUS:
- He's the one, he's the one
- He's the Really Useful Engine that we adore
- He's the one, he's the Number One
- Thomas the Tank Engine!
(NOTE: In the US dub, the lyrics "‘Cause the Fat Controller, he told him so" are changed to "Sir Topham Hatt, well he told him so")
Music Video
- He's a Really Useful Engine, you know
- All the other engines they'll tell you so
- He huffs and puffs and whistles, rushing to and fro
- He's the Really Useful Engine we adore.
CHORUS:
- He's the one, he's the one
- He's the Really Useful Engine that we adore
- He's the one, he's the Number One
- Thomas the Tank Engine!
- He's a Really Useful Engine, you know
- ‘Cause the Fat Controller, he told him so
- Now he's got a branch line, to call his very own
- He's the Really Useful Engine we adore!
CHORUS:
- He's the one, he's the one
- He's the Really Useful Engine that we adore
- He's the one, he's the Number One
- Thomas the Tank Engine!
BRIDGE:
- Little blue train, he's always there
- Whenever you need a hand
- If you need help with a situation
- Who comes into mind?
CHORUS:
- He's the one, he's the one
- He's the Really Useful Engine that we adore
- He's the one, he's the Number One
- Thomas the Tank Engine!
Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales
- He's a Really Useful Engine, you know
- All the other engines they'll tell you so
- He huffs and puffs and whistles rushing to and fro
- He's the Really Useful Engine we adore
CHORUS:
- He's the one, he's the one
- He's the Really Useful Engine that we adore
- He's the one, he's the Number One
- Thomas the Tank Engine
BRIDGE:
- Little blue train, he's always there
- Whenever you need a hand
- If you need help with a situation
- Who comes into mind?
CHORUS:
- He's the one, he's the one
- He's the Really Useful Engine that we adore
- He's the one, he's the Number One
- Thomas the Tank Engine
- He's a Really Useful Engine, you know
- Maybe little, but he's never slow
- Stand back in amazement just you watch him go
- He's the Really Useful Engine we adore
CHORUS:
- He's the one, he's the one
- He's the Really Useful Engine that we adore
- He's the one, he's the Number One
- Thomas the Tank Engine
- He's the Really Useful Engine we adore!
10 Years of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Version
- He's a Really Useful Engine, you know
- All the other engines, they'll tell you so
- He huffs and puffs and whistles, rushing to and fro
- He's the Really Useful Engine we adore!
- He's the one, he's the one
- He's the Really Useful Engine that we adore
- He's the one, he's the number one!
- Thomas the Tank Engine!
Best of James Intermission
- He's a Really Useful Engine, you know
- All the other engines, they'll tell you so
- He huffs and puffs and whistles, rushing to and fro
- He's the Really Useful Engine we adore!
Characters
Series 4 version
Thomas and the Magic Railroad version
- Thomas
- Henry
- Gordon
- James
- Toby
- Annie and Clarabel
- Henrietta
- Troublesome Trucks
- Butch
- Donald or Douglas (scrapped model cameo)
- Sir Topham Hatt (portrait cameo)
The Adventure Begins version
Locations
Series 4 version
Thomas and the Magic Railroad version
The Adventure Begins version
Footage Used
Series 4 version
- Thomas and Gordon
- Thomas' Train
- Thomas and the Trucks
- Thomas and the Breakdown Train
- Thomas, Terence and the Snow
- Thomas and Bertie
- Thomas in Trouble
- Down the Mine
- Thomas' Christmas Party
- Thomas Comes to Breakfast
- Percy's Promise
- Thomas Gets Bumped
- Thomas, Percy and the Dragon
- Trust Thomas
- Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure
- Thomas and Stepney
- Henry and the Elephant
- Thomas and the Special Letter
- Paint Pots and Queens
Best of James Intermissions
Deleted and Extended Scenes
- Thomas and Gordon - An extended faded beginning of Thomas crossing the viaduct.
- Thomas and the Breakdown Train:
- A deleted shot of Thomas leaving the yard after seeing the Breakdown Train.
- A deleted shot sees Thomas pushing the breakdown train into place.
- An extended beginning of James being lowered down by the Breakdown Train.
- An extended shot of Thomas close-up.
- Thomas and Bertie - An extended beginning of Thomas passing Bertie on the Elsbridge Viaduct.
- Percy's Promise - Thomas passing a small bridge with Annie and Clarabel the other way.
- Trust Thomas:
- An extended beginning of Thomas crossing the bridge.
- A deleted scene of Thomas pushing his stone trucks at the quarry.
- Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure - 2 deleted scenes of Thomas with Annie and Clarabel arriving at a church.
- Thomas and Stepney:
- An alternate shot of Thomas passing the mountain side with Annie and Clarabel.
- A deleted close-up of Thomas' whistle.
- Unknown - A deleted scene of when Thomas puffs past the Arlesdale Lake.
Trivia
- A version without subtitles is seen on Your Favourite Story Collection UK VHS and Entertainment to Grow Up With promotional US VHS.
- This is the first song dedicated to a character without being based on the character's theme, and the second song to be dedicated to Thomas.
- There is a differently mixed instrumental and pronounced vocals from Thomas and the Best-Kept Station Competition.
- The first few seconds are cut off from Singalong with Thomas.
- This is the fourth song to be re-released with different lyrics and footage. The first was Engine Roll Call, the second was Go, Go Thomas and the third was Working Together.
- The Adventure Begins version of this song is the first song since Where, oh Where is Thomas? to be sung by children.
- In The Adventure Begins, as Thomas approaches Edward before he asks, "What are you so happy about today, Thomas?" Thomas can be heard humming the song. This is only present in the US version.
- A small riff of this song is heard in Philip to the Rescue when Edward tells Thomas that Philip reminds him of a little tank engine who wanted to see the world.
- The 1993 and 2000 recordings are performed in B flat, whereas the 2015 recording is performed in A flat.
- On the Sing-Along and Stories VHS and DVD, the chuffing and whistle from the beginning of Thomas' Anthem can be heard at the end before the credits.
- There are two ending variants of this song one ends with the whistle sound effect from Thomas' Anthem and the other ends with no whistle sound effect
- The sing along lyrics on Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales are taken from the VHS, The Gallant Old Engine.
- This song played in the background when seeing the Motor Road and Rail Thomas & Friends set at the Day Out with Thomas segment on the 10 Years of Thomas US home release.
Goofs
- During the scene from Thomas and the Trucks after the first chorus, there is a film cut, as the smoke changes positions.
- In the second verse during the line "He's a really useful engine you know" the lyrics fade in too late.
In Other Languages
| Language | Title |
|---|---|
| Brazilian Portuguese | Thomas o Trem Azul Ele é Muito Prestativo O Locomotiva Realmente Útil (Thomas e a Ferrovia Mágica) |
| French | Le Meilleure Locomotive du Coin (Thomas et la Voie Ferrée Magique) Le Moteur de Vraiment Utile (Thomas et le Magie Ferroviaire) La plus utile de toutes les locos (La Première Aventure) |
| German | Eine Lok Und Nützlich im Gebrauch |
| Greek | Εγω πραγματικά χρήσιμο τρένο (Ο μαγικός κόσμος του Τόμας) |
| Hebrew | לא ראיתם עוד קטר כה מקסים (תומס ומסילת הקסמים) |
| Japanese | やくにたつきかんしゃ |
| Korean | 훌륭한 기관차 (DVD Acadamy) 참 멋진 기관차 (Musical/CD) |
| Latin American Spanish | Viene y Va Una Máquina Muy Útil es el (Thomas y el Tren Mágico) Un Motor que es de Gran Utilidad (Thomas y el Ferrocarril Mágico) Es Realmente Útil (La Aventura Comienza) |
| Norwegian | Thomas kan brukes til alt |
Home Media Releases
UK/IRLUS
CAN
DVD Boxsets
AUS
DVD BoxsetsNZ
JPNKORLATAM
|
CDS
- Thomas and the Best-Kept Station Competition
- Thomas and the Magic Railroad (soundtrack)
- Thomas' Songs & Roundhouse Rhythms
- Hop on Board: Songs and Stories bonus CD
Song
Really Useful Engine - Music Video
Original Music Video
Really Useful Engine - Thomas and the Magic Railroad Music Video
Thomas and the Magic Railroad Music Video
Really Useful Engine (HD) (The Adventure Begins)
The Adventure Begins Music Video
