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Please visit the Thomas the Tank Engine wiki, based on the sister series of TUGS.


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Thomas & Friends (titled Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends from 1984-2002) is a famous long-running British television series created by Britt Allcroft, and based on 'The Railway Series' by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry. The series is one of David Mitton and Robert D. Cardona's other works.

After TUGS' production ended, many of the incredible models/props were sold to the series' creator Britt Allcroft, and used for production in Thomas & Friends from 1991 until the series transitioned to full CGI animation in 2009. Some TUGS models were reconstructed for use in the CGI, such as Big Mickey and S.S. Vienna (as S.S. Roxstar).

Some buildings from the series also appeared on Thomas & Friends, including the Steel Company building, the Railhead building, the Fire Station building, the three-berth garage building, the LT warehouse, the brown industrial building, the Sawmill shed and the Fuel Depot Manager's office and some props including some of the cranes, a coal hopper from the coal yard, a water tower, a storage tank, two towers from Ballantine's and the steel rig from High Tide were also used on Thomas & Friends.

The series ended after a 36-year run in 2020 and a flash-animated reboot series, Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go, began airing in the latter half of 2021. The reboot has utilized minimal assets from TUGS but continues to reuse some of its designs.

Recycled Models[]

Watercrafts and Other Vehicles[]

  • O.J. - Before appearing in Thomas & Friends, O.J.'s model was repainted white, replacing the yellow paint. The model was then renamed to "Lakesider III". In 1995, during the fourth series, Lakesider III was used as a paddle boat situated at the harbour location of Lakeside. It cameoed in all of Lakeside's appearances and once in another harbour, but was never used again in subsequent series. In late 2012, the wheelhouse of Lakesider III was seen with O.J.'s original head in its place. After the model was purchased by TUGS: The Exhibition in early 2013, it was refitted with O.J.'s original "Star Fleet" smokestack and glasses.
  • S.S. Vienna - When S.S. Vienna first appeared in Thomas & Friends, it kept the same livery as it had from TUGS. The model later gained red smokestacks. Both those/these changes were only seen in the third series. In the fourth series, the S.S. Vienna's Model was given a black livery and black and white smokestacks; the model was also renamed to "S.S. Roxstar" ever since the model kept the same changes. The model was seen at Brendam Docks since the third series.
  • The Shrimpers - Before appearing in Thomas & Friends, the Shrimpers' Megaphones were removed; then the models were repainted and seen in different locations across the Island. Some of them even gained names.
  • Other Boats - Lots of other boats which were used in TUGS made several appearances in Thomas & Friends. A Fishing Boat was seen in the third series episode, All At Sea. It is unknown if the model made any other appearances. A Cargo Boat was also seen as one of the Boats at Suddery in the third series; it is also unknown if the model appeared again. There were no changes made to those/these models.
  • Bulldozer - A Bulldozer model was also used as rolling stock in TUGS; it was used as a scrap dressing set. The model also made several appearances in Thomas & Friends, and it was only seen in the third series. The model was later modified in the the fifth series with a raised seat and a exhaust pipe.
  • Rolling Stock - Boxcars and flatbeds were both reused in Thomas & Friends. The flatbed was given four poles, two on either side, which gave it the ability to carry poles and other loads. They first appeared in the third series and later in the fourth. The boxcars, or ÖBB boxcars, however were repurposed for scrap dressing and only appeared in the fifth series. Although the hook coupling for one made an appearance in the following sixth series.

Buildings[]

  • Fire Dept - The Fire Dept consisted of a couple buildings, some of which later appeared in Thomas & Friends. It was first used at the big harbour only in the third series.
  • Steel Company - The Steel Company first appeared in the show's third series, most notably at the harbour which Big Mickey, S.S. Vienna and other models were also used on. In the fifth series it received new paint going from a dark grey to a light, dirty green with a orange roof. It made it's final appearance in the seventh series.
  • The Fuel Manager's Office - Before appearing in Thomas, the megaphone was removed from the office. It made appearances throughout the third and fourth series.
  • LT Warehouse - The LT Warehouse was used commonly on the Canal set. It first appeared in the fifth Thomas & Friends series and lastly the seventh.
  • Logging Camp - The Logging Camp station was first used in the episode Up River. It made its debut in Thomas & Friends in it's third series and wasn't seen again until the fifth where it was modified to look old and derelict.
  • The EJ LAPco TN Garage - The EJ LAPco TN Garage model, seen notably by the Ferry Pier and rebuilt Canal set, made it's first appearance on Thomas in it's third series. It was used until the fifth series.
  • Brown Industrial Building - The brown building was used on the main port and minor Up River sets. The large sign seen atop it was removed before appearing in the third series. It was used up until the eighth series.
  • Sawmill Shed - The Sawmill shed was a grey and orange, also repainted light blue at some point, canopy-like shed.
  • Coal Yard Structure - The grey building was seen notably on the Coal Yard and the Liner Dock sets. It first appeared in the third series at the dock and quarries and was used up until the eleventh series.
  • Boomer's Greenhouse - When Boomer was converted to a houseboat, he was also fitted with a greenhouse on his lifeboat deck. It was reused in the sixth series episodes Middle Engine and Twin Trouble.
  • The Lighthouse - The lighthouse was placed behind the Coast Guard's dock at the Estuary entry point. When it appeared in the third series it was repainted red and white and retained the colour until the fourth series, where it made it's last appearance before being replaced with a taller and more detailed lighthouse.
  • Other Buildings and Structures

Miscellaneous[]

Behind the Scenes[]

Model Specification Images[]

Trivia[]

  • Big Mickey and S.S. Vienna are the only TUGS characters to make it into the CGI Series, albeit Vienna not retaining her name.
  • Big Mickey is the only TUGS character so far, to make it into Thomas & Friends All Engines Go!
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