The ninth series of Thomas & Friends was first broadcast in September 2005. The series was narrated by Michael Angelis in the UK and Michael Brandon in the US. It ran for twenty-six episodes.
Production
Series 9 was filmed around the time HiT Entertainment had put themselves for sale because of straining toy firms. Private equity investment group Apax Partners decided to purchase HiT to save them from any possible downfall. 2005 was also the same year that included the hiring of Sharon Miller as she was enlisted to be Script Editor.
Episodes
Screenshot | UK title (top) US title (bottom) |
Written by | Original UK release date | Episode number # |
---|---|---|---|---|
Percy and the Oil Painting | Abi Grant | 4 September 2005 | #01 | |
Percy takes a fussy painter around Sodor so that he can paint a picture of "The Spirit of Sodor." | ||||
Thomas and the Rainbow | Abi Grant | 4 September 2005 | #02 | |
Thomas is distracted by a rainbow and comes off the tracks. | ||||
Thomas' Milkshake Muddle | Marc Seal | 11 September 2005 | #03 | |
Thomas is sent to get ingredients for cake & ice cream for a summer party, but almost ruins it by rushing around too much. | ||||
Mighty Mac | Paul Larson | 11 September 2005 | #04 | |
Mighty Mac, an engine with two faces, has a problem deciding where to go. | ||||
Molly's Special Special | Paul Larson | 18 September 2005 | #05 | |
Thomas helps the new engine named Molly to make her empty trucks/freight cars look more important than Gordon’s express. | ||||
Respect for Gordon | James Mason | 18 September 2005 | #06 | |
Gordon begins bossing the others about, until he crashed into some jam tankers. | ||||
Thomas and the Birthday Picnic | Sharon Miller | 25 September 2005 | #07 | |
Thomas tries to find a perfect place for Dowager Hatt's birthday picnic. | ||||
Tuneful Toots | Sharon Miller | 25 September 2005 | #08 | |
Rusty gets stranded while showing the brass band around and uses his horn to save the day. | ||||
Thomas and the Toy Shop Thomas and the Toy Workshop |
James Mason | 2 October 2005 | #09 | |
Thomas takes some toys to the Knapford toy shop as well as children from school, but needs Henry’s assistance because he the train is too heavy. | ||||
Rheneas and the Dinosaur | Paul Larson | 2 October 2005 | #10 | |
Rheneas tries to take a dinosaur skeleton to the Transfer Yards on his own, much to Skarloey's dismay. | ||||
Thomas and the New Engine | Marc Seal | 9 October 2005 | #11 | |
Thomas sees Iron 'Arry and Iron Bert talking to Neville and thinks the three are against steamies, which spreads rumours to the Steam Team. | ||||
Toby Feels Left Out | Simon A. Brown | 9 October 2005 | #12 | |
A museum is being opened and Toby is worried he will be put in it. | ||||
Thomas Tries His Best | James Mason | 16 October 2005 | #13 | |
Thomas wants to go to a fair while he has to wait for Farmer McColl with his chickens. | ||||
The Magic Lamp | Sharon Miller | 16 October 2005 | #14 | |
Peter Sam goes looking for a magic lamp after Skarloey tells him the story of Proteus. | ||||
Thomas and the Statue | Marc Seal | 21 October 2005 | #15 | |
Thomas is chosen to take a statue, which he believes is of him, causing him to anger his friends. | ||||
Henry and the Flagpole | Paul Larson | 21 October 2005 | #16 | |
Henry fears his favourite tree will be cut down to provide a flagpole for Callan Castle. | ||||
Emily Knows Best | Marc Seal | 28 October 2005 | #17 | |
Emily pretends to be a queen, only to cause confusion and delay. | ||||
Thomas' Day Off | Sharon Miller | 28 October 2005 | #18 | |
Dennis the diesel acts lazy and gets Thomas to do his work. | ||||
Thomas' New Trucks | Paul Larson | 4 November 2005 | #19 | |
Thomas is jealous when James gets new trucks. He soon gets his own, but they keep getting dirty. | ||||
Duncan and the Old Mine | James Mason | 4 November 2005 | #20 | |
Duncan, looking for adventure, ventures into a disused mine. | ||||
Bold and Brave | James Mason | 11 November 2005 | #21 | |
Diesel tells Thomas about the curse of the cliffs which makes him worried. | ||||
Skarloey the Brave | Paul Larson | 11 November 2005 | #22 | |
Skarloey proves to be a daredevil when he tries to ride up the incline. | ||||
Saving Edward | James Mason | 18 November 2005 | #23 | |
Edward cannot take his train and fears he will be scrapped. | ||||
Thomas and the Golden Eagle | Abi Grant | 18 November 2005 | #24 | |
Thomas & Percy try to see a rare golden eagle. | ||||
Keeping Up with James | Abi Grant | 25 November 2005 | #25 | |
James' impatience with Edward proves to be disastrous. | ||||
Flour Power | Abi Grant | 25 November 2005 | #26 | |
Diesel spooks Thomas, but he gets payback at him. |
Songs
Screenshot | Title | Composers | Original release date |
---|---|---|---|
Buffer Up and Share | Ed Welch | 10 September 2005 (US) | |
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File:CallingAllEngines!510.png | Brave | Ed Welch | 11 November 2005 (UK) |
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Day and Night | Ed Welch | 15 October 2005 (US) | |
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Party Time | Ed Welch | 24th September 2005 (US) | |
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Pride | Ed Welch | 28 October 2005 (UK) | |
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Every Day's a Special Day on Sodor | Ed Welch | 25 November 2005 (UK) | |
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Togetherness | Ed Welch | 6 May 2008 (US; DVD) | |
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Characters
- Thomas
- Edward
- Henry
- Gordon
- James
- Percy
- Toby
- Bill and Ben
- Harvey
- Emily
- Diesel
- Mavis
- 'Arry and Bert
- Salty
- Skarloey
- Rheneas
- Peter Sam
- Duncan
- Rusty
- Annie and Clarabel
- Troublesome Trucks
- Bertie
- Trevor
- Harold
- Cranky
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Sodor Brass Band
- The Dockyard Manager
- The Ice-Cream Factory Manager
- The Dairy Manager
- The Abbey Stationmaster
- The Dryaw Stationmaster
- The Knapford Stationmaster
- The Peel Stationmaster
- The Signalman
- Dowager Hatt (not named in US narration)
- Lady Hatt (does not speak)
- Farmer McColl (does not speak)
- The Mayor of Sodor (does not speak)
- The Photographer (does not speak)
- Some Workmen (do not speak)
- Henrietta (cameo)
- George (cameo)
- Caroline (cameo)
- The Horrid Lorries (cameo)
- Butch (cameo)
- Tiger Moth (cameo)
- Big Mickey (cameo)
- Stephen Hatt (cameo)
- Bridget Hatt (cameo)
- Refreshment Lady (cameo)
- Lord Callan (cameo)
- The Storyteller (cameo)
- The Lighthouse Keeper (cameo)
- City of Truro (picture cameo)
- Cyril the Fogman (not named; mentioned)
- Arthur (music video cameo)
- Derek (music video cameo)
- Elizabeth (music video cameo)
- Jem Cole (music video cameo)
- Toad (faceless; music video cameo)
- Allicia Botti (learning segment)
- The Duke of Boxford (learning segment)
- The Tailor (learning segment)
Characters Introduced
- Molly
- Neville
- Dennis
- Mighty Mac
- Mr. Percival
- The Baker
- The Famous Artist
- The School Choir (vocalizes)
- Proteus (does not speak)
- Duchess of Hamilton (poster cameo)
Half Hour Format
When Series 9 aired on PBS Kids, Nick Jr. and Treehouse, the airings were paired with not just Series 7 episodes, but even some Series 6 episodes which were originally narrated by Alec Baldwin and re-dubbed by Michael Brandon in the US, with Michael Angelis re-dubbing his narrations in the UK. In the Series 6 episodes, music was also re-dubbed with music from episodes produced by HiT Entertainment as well. In the beginning of the Nick Jr. airings in the UK, an opening when Thomas' crew gets him ready for another day's work and an ending when Thomas' crew cleans him after a day's work was added.
Colour (UK)/Color (US)
- Percy and the Oil Painting
- Learning Segment: Who's Under the Coal Dust? - James
- James and the Red Balloon
- Learning Segment: Same Colour
- Thomas and the Rainbow
Caring/Taking Care
- Thomas' Milkshake Muddle
- Song: Buffer Up and Share
- Spotless Record
- Learning Segment: Thomas and the Shape Bridge
- Mighty Mac
Respect
- Molly's Special Special
- Learning Segment: Getting to the Washdown
- Edward the Really Useful Engine
- Learning Segment: Emily Respects
- Respect for Gordon
Celebration
- Thomas and the Birthday Picnic
- Song: Party Time
- Learning Segment: Which Load for Which Party?
- Harold and the Flying Horse
- Learning Segment: Guess the Engine - Gordon
- Tuneful Toots
Achievement
- Thomas and the Toy Shop
- Learning Segment: Which Load to Which Station?
- Something Fishy
- Learning Segment: What Route Should Thomas Take?
- Rheneas and the Dinosaur
Change
- Thomas and the New Engine
- Learning Segment: Changing Sounds
- Learning Segment: What's New at the Station?
- Bulgy Rides Again
- Learning Segment: Getting to Bluff's Cove
- Toby Feels Left Out
Night and Day
- Thomas Tries his Best
- Song: Day and Night
- Learning Segment: Seeing in the Dark
- No Sleep for Cranky
- Learning Segment: Percy in the Dark
- The Magic Lamp
Shapes
- Thomas and the Statue
- Learning Segment: What is Thomas Thinking of?
- Toby's Windmill
- Learning Segment: Which Load for Which Route?
- Henry and the Flagpole
Pride
- Emily Knows Best
- Song: Pride
- Learning Segment: What Makes Thomas Happy?
- Gordon Takes a Tumble
- Learning Segment: Which Engine for Which Job?
- Thomas' Day Off
Lost and Found
- Thomas' New Trucks
- Learning Segment: Job Destinations
- Toby Had a Little Lamb
- Learning Segment: Dot to Dot - Thomas
- Learning Segment: Where can Neville find Salty?
- Duncan And The Old Mine
Bravery
- Bold and Brave
- Song: Brave
- Learning Segment: Dot to Dot - James
- Fergus Breaks the Rules
- Learning Segment: Knowing What to do
- Skarloey The Brave
Loyalty
- Saving Edward
- Learning Segment: Fixing the Engines
- A Bad Day for Harold
- Learning Segment: Being Kind
- Thomas and The Golden Eagle
Seasons
- Keeping Up with James
- Song: Every Day's a Special Day on Sodor
- Learning Segment: What can Cool Down Thomas?
- Edward's Brass Band
- Learning Segment: Cool Down Delivery
- Flour Power
Trivia
- This is the last series of a few things:
- The last series in which the half hour formats feature episodes directed by David Mitton.
- The last series to have any of its episodes released on VHS in the US.
- The last series to be narrated by Daniel Vulcu in Romania and Ian MacAmhlaigh in Scotland.
- Rusty was referred to as a female in early American narrations of Tuneful Toots and Duncan and the Old Mine that broadcast on PBS Kids. This was corrected in later airings and on the DVD releases.
- This was Sharon Miller's first series as part of the writing team and as script editor. She later became the first head writer in the twelfth series.
- A large-scale model of Thomas was built for when he interacted with the Narrow Gauge Engines.
- This marks the only series Simon A. Brown was apart of the writing team.
- This series marks the first for several things:
- The first series where Thomas appears in every episode, albeit not speaking in all of them.
- The first series to air on Milkshake in 2006-2007.
- The first series where the title cards are read aloud by the narrator including some of Series 6 and 7. However, a few US episodes did not have their titles read aloud in the Thomas and the Toy Workshop US DVD.
- The first series in which Arthur, Murdoch, Spencer, Elizabeth and Jem Cole do not appear since their introductions. However, Elizabeth and Jem Cole make appearances in music videos, as does Arthur in a DVD game.
- The first series in which Maron station does not appear since its return in the sixth series.
- The first series produced by HiT Entertainment under ownership ofApax Partners.
- Marc Seal's first series as Additional Material Written.
Series 9 |
#01 Percy and the Oil Painting | #10 Rheneas and the Dinosaur | #19 Thomas' New Trucks |
#02 Thomas and the Rainbow | #11 Thomas and the New Engine | #20 Duncan and the Old Mine |
#03 Thomas' Milkshake Muddle | #12 Toby Feels Left Out | #21 Bold and Brave |
#04 Mighty Mac | #13 Thomas Tries His Best | #22 Skarloey the Brave |
#05 Molly's Special Special | #14 The Magic Lamp | #23 Saving Edward |
#06 Respect for Gordon | #15 Thomas and the Statue | #24 Thomas and the Golden Eagle |
#07 Thomas and the Birthday Picnic | #16 Henry and the Flagpole | #25 Keeping Up with James |
#08 Tuneful Toots | #17 Emily Knows Best | #26 Flour Power |
#09 Thomas and the Toy Shop | #18 Thomas' Day Off | |