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Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia
Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia
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Really Useful Engine

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This article is about the song. You may be looking for the video game, the DVD, 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 first 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:

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!

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

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 one you know (UK/US version 1)/he's the Number One (UK/US bonus feature music video)
Thomas the Tank Engine!
He's a Really Useful Engine, you know
'Cause The Fat Controller, he told him so (UK version 2 and bonus feature music video)/Sir Topham Hatt, well, he told him so (US version 2 and bonus feature music video)
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 one
He's the Really Useful Engine that we adore
He's the one, he's the Number One
Thomas the Tank Engine!
Little blue train, he's always there
Whenever you need a hand
If you need help with a situation
Who comes into mind?
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 (UK Version 1)
Maybe little, but he's never slow (US Version 1)
Stand back in amazement, just you watch him go
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 one you know
Thomas the Tank Engine!
Thomas the Tank Engine!

Characters

Series 4 version

Thomas and the Magic Railroad version

The Adventure Begins version

Locations

Series 4 version

Thomas and the Magic Railroad version

The Adventure Begins version

Footage Used

Series 4 version

The Adventure Begins version

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 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 - 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.
  • Unknown:

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.
  • This is a differently mixed instrumental and pronounced vocals from Thomas and the Best-Kept Station Competition.
  • This is a 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 says, "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.

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)
Le plus utile de tout le loco (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 Una Locomotora Realmente Útil
Una Máquina Muy Útil es el (Thomas y el Tren Mágico)
Un Motor que es de Gran Utilidad (Thomas y el Ferrocarril Mágico)
Norwegian Thomas kan brukes til alt

Home Media Releases

UK

US

DVD Boxsets

AUS

  • Playtime
  • The Adventure Begins (CGI version)

DVD Boxsets

NZ

  • Playtime

JPN

KOR

CDS

Song

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