The Complete First Series, also known as The Original Adventures of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, is a 1998 UK VHS featuring all twenty-six first series episodes narrated by Ringo Starr. It was released on DVD in the UK in 2004 as part of the Classic Collection boxset before being released individually in 2005. It was released on DVD in Australia in 2006 under the title Series One. It was re-released on DVD in the UK in 2010 under the title Complete Series 1 and re-released again in 2012 under the title The Complete Series 1. The 2012 release features the restored versions of the episodes.
Description
1998 UK VHS
All aboard for this special edition classic collection of Original Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends stories. Join Thomas, together with his friends Edward, Gordon, Henry, James, Bertie, Percy, Toby, and of course The Fat Controller on the Island of Sodor in this fun-packed classic collection of 26 episodes. Find out how Thomas earns his own branch railway line, and how James has trouble with the trucks as you join them all in two and a half hours of frantic fun and frolics!
The Fat Controller's Letter (VHS)
My Dear Friends
Welcome to a very special compilation of video stories featuring my family of Really Useful Engines - "The Classic Collection".
As you can see from the title, this is no ordinary compilation. 'Pon my soul, it is a collector's item, containing all 26 stories from the first ever series of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.
I dare say these splendid stories are older than many of you - it never ceases to amaze me how the years travel by even quicker than Gordon on the Main Line!
The memory of my first meeting with award-winning producers Britt Allcroft and David Mitton way back in 1984 is as clear and vivid as yesterday's lunch. Little did we realise how popular these tales about Sodor Railways would become. The rest, as they say, is history!
Anyway, enough of my ramblings. I must return to my Railway-running responsibilities. Thomas and all the other Engines hope this video brings you hours of fun.
Until we correspond once more, with kind regards I remain
Yours truly
Sir Topham HattThe Fat Controller
2004 UK DVD
All aboard for this special edition classic collection of Original Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends stories. Join Thomas, together with his friends Edward, Gordon, Henry, James, Bertie, Percy, Toby, and of course The Fat Controller on the Island of Sodor in this fun-packed classic collection of 26 episodes. Find out how Thomas earns his own branch railway line and how James has trouble with the trucks. You can join them all in over two hours of frantic fun and frolics!
26 classic episodes not to be missed!
2006 AUS DVD
All aboard for this classic collection of original Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends stories. Join Thomas, together with his friends Edward, Gordon, Henry, James, Bertie, Percy, Toby, and of course The Fat Controller on the Island of Sodor in this fun-packed classic collection of 26 episodes. Find out how Thomas earns his own branch railway line and how James has trouble with the trucks. You can join them all in over 2 hours of frantic fun and frolics!
2010 UK DVD
All aboard for this special edition classic collection of original Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends stories. Join Thomas, together with his friends Edward, Gordon, Henry, James, Bertie, Percy, Toby, and of course The Fat Controller. Find out how Thomas earns his own branch railway line and how James has trouble with the trucks.
26 classic episodes not to be missed!
2012 UK DVD
All aboard for the first-ever series of Thomas & Friends™. Join Thomas, together with his friends Edward, Gordon, Henry, James, Percy, and, of course, The Fat Controller. Watch how Thomas earns his own branch railway line and how James has trouble with the trucks.Episodes
- Thomas and Gordon
- Edward and Gordon
- The Sad Story of Henry *
- Edward, Gordon and Henry *
- Thomas' Train *
- Thomas and the Trucks
- Thomas and the Breakdown Train *
- James and the Coaches
- Troublesome Trucks
- James and the Express *
- Thomas and the Guard *
- Thomas Goes Fishing *
- Thomas, Terence and the Snow
- Thomas and Bertie *
- Tenders and Turntables
- Trouble in the Shed
- Percy Runs Away
- Coal * / **
- The Flying Kipper **
- Whistles and Sneezes * / **
- Toby and the Stout Gentleman *
- Thomas in Trouble *
- Dirty Objects * / **
- Off the Rails
- Down the Mine * / **
- Thomas' Christmas Party **
(Note: * means episode is not present on other UK DVD releases)
(Note: ** means episode is not present on other Australian DVD releases)
Trivia
- The original UK VHS was released both as a single cassette and a double cassette release.
- This is the only complete series VHS to feature a promo at the start.
- The single cassette and the first tape on the double cassette release are the the final VHS cassettes to feature the VCI children's promo that was used from 1996 to 1998.
- The inner sleeve of the VHS features an advertisement for Spooks and Surprises.
- The 1998 VHS release spine uses stills from Train Stops Play, No Joke for James, and Wrong Road. Bill, Ben and Stepney can be seen in two of the pictures.
- The DVD was released in 2004 as part of the Classic Collection boxset before being released individually in 2005.
- On the 2004, 2005 and 2010 DVD releases, restored footage is present in Down the Mine. The restored footage first appears from the scene of the first head-on close up of Thomas in the hole and ends after the scene of Gordon arriving at the mine.
- The back cover of the Australian double pack features images from Thomas and the Lighthouse and Three Cheers for Thomas.
Goofs
- The inner sleeve of the VHS mentions the Fat Controller featuring in Edward and Gordon and the description for Troublesome Trucks says that Edward helped James. However this is incorrect, because James handled the trucks himself.
DVD Packs
UK
AUS
- Classic Collection: Series 1-5
- The Complete Series 1-10
- Series One and Series Two Double Pack
See Also
Race for the Sodor Cup |