Roll Along gets extended

Nick. Jr are currently airing the Thirteenth Series, where one song has been released properly.

The 2009 song Roll Along which originally ran for over 1 minute and a half aired in one of the 30 minute shows recently, but in it's supposed full 2 minute and 10 second form.

My good friend Chris Thomson (ThomasPercyandToby2) has posted the full version on YouTube. The music video features more clips from the series and lyrics never before heard in the UK.

US fans who watched the Thomas and the Runaway Kite theatre screenings might have seen the full version at the start of the performances.

WATCH THE FULL ROLL ALONG HERE

You can watch Thomas & Friends - Season Thirteen for half an hour at 12pm on Nick. Jr in the UK.

Just to clarify.....

For the latest news, articles, events and other things going on in Thomas, I will be honest...

I always use Google and type in Thomas the Tank Engine/Thomas & Friends for recent news FIRST. Anybody who thinks that I don't credit anyone for news is untrue. I have credited people like SI3DFilms.

For the Sif Forums, I only find small bits of info on there that I can't find elsewhere, as a couple of them had TheColonel being credited.

As for one certain spammer who has posted a lot of rude comments for at least 15 of my blog posts will have their comments removed forever if I find if that person is being innapropriate.

Anybody twisting their comments on me will not be acceptable, I am being honest to all I say here and I don't criticise anyone.
Thank you for listening.....

Hit in new buyer twist

As Apax continues to offer the future of Hit Entertainment and Thomas, some familiar if yet unusual buyers enter the fray.

The Telegraph reports that in a bizarre twist to the sale, toy makers Mattel and Hasbro are now being offered to Hit. While Disney, Viacom and Choiron follow interest, Apax hopes to sell the whole of Hit.

Apax's preference of selling all of Hit either breaths a sigh of relief or not, as Thomas at present might not be sold alone.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

'Henry's Magic Box' reconfirmed for November

As previously thought for Christmas, Henry's Magic Box has been confirmed for an earlier date on five in the UK.

As confirmed by Digiguide and The Colonel from the Sif Forums, the remainer Season Fourteen episode will air in a fifth week, rather than have to wait for the Christmas period.

Season Fourteen of Thomas & Friends continues on five and five HD in the UK on Monday 18th October 2010 at 8:35am, while Henry's Magic Box will be shown on November 8th at the same time slot.

Official: Arry and Bert return to the series

After a break from the series of one year for Season Thirteen, Arry and Bert have officially returned to the series.

In the latest episode of the Fourteenth Series, Victor Says Yes, broadcast on Thursday 21st October 2010, the Diesels played a secondary role alongside half of the Steam Team waiting for Victor to give them new valves.

When I viewed the episode, I really didn't expect any more returning characters, but I yelped then cheered when Arry and Bert came back. I was so ecstatic and glad that they were here to stay, again!

Arry and Bert both spoke with slightly gruff voices with West London accents.

Season Fourteen of Thomas & Friends continues on five and five HD in the UK on Friday 22nd October 2010 at 8:35am and will return for the third week of episodes on Monday 25th October at the same time slot.

Various new 'Wooden Railways' announced

The Train Cellar have announced a long line of new Wooden Railway items to be available, starting from this year's Winter Season, through to 2011.

The list follows all the new items from the Wooden Railway range in alphabetical order;

Battery Powered Charlie - May 2011

Battery Powered Rosie - Feburary 2011

Butch (Modified) - December 2010

Dash and the Launching Log (2 Pack) - December 2010

Farm House Rescue Set - July 2011

Fergus and the Power Cars - January 2011

Fuel Depot - June 2011

Holiday Lights Thomas - June 2011

James Lights the Way - January 2011

Mavis and the Fuel Tankers (2 Pack) - June 2011

The Quarry (4 Pack) - December 2010

Rumble Race Mountain Set - November 2010

Skarloey (Modified) - December 2010

Thomas and the Musical Candy Cane Car - 2011

Thomas' Tall Friends (3 Pack) - June 2011

Toby and Bash on the Farm (3 Pack) - June 2011

Toby and the Whistling Woods Set - 2011

Up and Around Sodor Set - June 2011

Victor and the Engine Repair Car - December 2010

'Scruff' and 'Old Wheezy' in Wooden Railway

New characters Old Wheezy and the upcoming Scruff have been revealed for the Wooden Railway Range.

Scruff and Old Wheezy will be available currently in the US starting from December 2010.

Take 'n' Play 'Emily' announced

Amazon.com have announced that a Talking version of Emily will be available as a Take 'n' Play model.

Emily is the latest in the line of engines to have phrases heard when used after the Steam Team, Rosie, Diesel and Spencer.

An image has yet to be revealed.

Take 'n' Play Emily will currently be released in the US on January 1st 2011.

PRE-ORDER HERE

Thomas for the Play Awards

The People's Play Awards 2010 are giving the public a chance to vote for various character brands for awards.

Thomas has been nominated for the following three awards;

Fisher Prices' Follow Me Thomas toy for the Pre-School Toy award,
MEGA BLOCKS' Adventure at Misty Island set for the Construction award,
Learning Curves' Busy Day at Sodor set for the Vehicle award.

Voting closes on Friday November 29th 2010 while the results will be announced on Wednesday December 3rd.

VOTE FOR THOMAS HERE

CLICK ON THE NOMINATIONS FOR VIDEOS ON EACH TOY

Nitrogen confirms resumed production

Nitrogen Studios have updated their website, by displaying on the homepage news on Thomas.

It has now been confirmed by Nitrogen that production has started on the 15th and 16th series of Thomas & Friends and also on the next feature-length special, Day of the Diesels. Due to the fast production pace between Season Thirteen and Fourteen, we should see the two new series, very soon.

Nitrogen have also expressed their delight that the Thirteenth Series has been doing well worldwide, as does Misty Island Rescue, even garnering interest by the media.

Seasons Fifteen and Sixteen, along with Day of the Diesels are likely to be broadcast in the UK at Q2 and Q4 2011 respectively.

Bachmann Large Scale James revealed

Bachmann have unveiled the official images showing the new G Scale models of James and two tankers.

The James G Scale model is the latest character from Thomas to be extended and immortalised in size, starting with Thomas and Percy. His model features his CGI-implemented happy face from Season Twelve and onwards.

Also revealed is two rolling stock, again immortalised in large scale. The first is a Milk Tanker with an icon of a cow inside a circle while the other is an Oil Tanker in yellow with hazard and petrol symbols.

The James model is likely to be released as a set with tracks and the two tankers.

The G Scale Models of James, the Milk Tanker and the Oil Tanker will be available soon in the US and later in the UK by Bachmann.

Larger version of 'WW&W's' cover & Scruff

Here is a larger sized version of the cover for the US DVD, Wobbly Wheels & Whistles.

For fan anticipation, I present to you, a larger image of new engine Scruff, as seen on the cover.

Wobbly Wheels & Whistles hits US DVD shelves on January 4th 2011 and will also be available On Demand and on Digital Download.

CREDIT SI3DFILMS FOR THE DVD COVER AND CREDIT THETOPHATTS FOR THE SCRUFF IMAGE IF USED

Confirmed:' Henry's Magic Box' for Christmas

There has been a fair amount of rumours as to why Henry's Magic Box from the current Season Fourteen is not being shown in the last week of broadcast here in the UK.

My good friend Daniel Coffey (BusterTheSteamroller on YouTube) had sent five an email questioning when it will be broadcast.

five have since confirmed that Henry's christmas episode will be pushed back, as this extract from the email shows; Yes we are indeed holding the final episode back until Christmas so it hasn't gone missing and will definitely be shown this year!

Now as a Thomas fan myself, I am dissapointed that the remainder episode of Season Fourteen is going be a while till it's on TV but I am not going to view the US version at all. One reason I will mention is because the UK voice cast is more superior than the US one .


Season Fourteen of Thomas & Friends continues on five and five HD in the UK on Monday 18th October 2010 at 8:35am, while Henry's Magic Box will be shown at Christmas time, later this year.

Episodes revealed for Season Fourteen, Final Week

Digiguide have revealed the fourth and final week of episodes for Season Fourteen in the UK.

Thomas and Scruff

Thomas decides that it is high time new engine Scruff took a bath. But when the grubby newcomer gets wind of Thomas's plan, he flees in terror!

Airs Monday November 1st on five and five HD at 8:35am.

Oh, the Indignity

Gordon is horrified to be put in charge of Whiff's Waste Dump for the day.

Airs Tuesday November 2nd on five and five HD at 8:35am.

Jitters and Japes

Thomas is given the job of escorting the Fat Controller's mother, Dowager Hatt, on a tour of Sodor.

Airs Wednesday November 3rd on five and five HD at 8:35am.

Merry Misty Island

Bash, Dash and Ferdinand decide to throw a Christmas party, but before long, the logging locos have caused chaos on Misty Island.

Airs Thursday November 4th on five and five HD at 8:35am.

It seems that Henry's Magic Box will not be shown on the Friday slot, as a repeat of Thomas' Tall Friend will be shown on that day. Either this could be an error by Digiguide, or that Henry's christmas episode might be pushed back till christmas.

More new episodes to follow from the next season, hopefully by next Summer!


Season Fourteen of Thomas & Friends continues on five and five HD in the UK on Monday 18th October 2010 at 8:35am.

Second Season Fourteen DVD for US

HitNewsOnline have revealed another DVD featuring four episodes from the Fourteenth Series.

Wobbly Wheels & Whistles is the second DVD for US fans with another four episodes from the 2010 series being included.

The DVD's decription reads, Travel along with Thomas for a wonderfully wobbly and wheel-spinning good time! The No. 1 blue engine has bridges to cross and tracks to uncover in these exciting adventures. When Victor gets overloaded with too many tasks, can Thomas help him let out steam? And while trying to get Scruff as clean as a whistle, will Thomas have to get his own wheels dirty? Just when things seem to be rolling along, will Ol' Wheezy make a wobbly mess of Thomas' special delivery? Hold on for exciting surprises waiting to be delivered just for you!
 
Episodes include;
- Jumping Jobi Wood
- Thomas and Scruff
- Victor Says Yes
- Toby and the Whistling Woods

Extras include;
- The Steam Team Puzzle
- Timmy Time - "Timmy's Plane (The Wallace & Gromit spinoff series)

Wobbly Wheels & Whistles hits US DVD shelves on January 4th 2011 and will also be available On Demand and on Digital Download.

Another Season Fourteen commercial

Digital channel five's breakfast slot milkshake has broadcasted a commercial for the Fourteenth Series of Thomas & Friends.

The commercial shows more scenes from the latest series including a scene from Charlie and Eddie where Bertie passes through a crossing while Charlie and Edward go through it just as it opens.

Another clip which appears in Pingy Pongy Pick Up shows James applying his brakes and hitting some buffers.

The commercial runs for 20 seconds.

WATCH THE COMMERCIAL HERE

'Early stages' for Chorion and Thomas

Chorion who is the company responsible for making various children series including The Mr. Men Show are reportedly in early stages to make a deal with Hit Entertainment over the future of Thomas.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Speculation that Chorion is closing in on a $700 million deal to acquire Thomas the Tank Engine from Apax is very premature according to people involved in the sale.

No deal is imminent. Plans are all in the very early stages, said the source, pointing out that banking and financial advisors have yet to be appointed to any potential disposal of the global franchise.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

'Christmas Express' cover revealed

TheHut.com have revealed the cover for the upcoming Christmas DVD compilation, Christmas Express.

The cover strongly resembles the US cover for Holiday Express a few years back, which in this case is the UK version of Holiday Express. The DVD comes bundled with a free Wooden Railway model of Thomas.

As reported several days ago, the episodes that will be featured are;

- Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough
- Don't Tell Thomas
- Keeping Up With James
- Skarloey the Brave
- Thomas' Frosty Friend
- Henry's Lucky Day

The DVD will run at a duration of 61 minutes confirmed by the bbfc and so far has no extras.

Christmas Express hits UK DVD shelves on November 8th 2010.

The Mr. Men make an offer to Thomas

As equity firm Apax makes a deal to Hit Entertainment of £440 million to secure the Thomas the Tank Engine rights, the Mr. Men could lend a hand.

Chorion, who is the company behind the new Mr. Men series as offered itself to own the little blue engine as Hit struggles to find a new funder.

Founder of Chorion, Lord Waheed Alli, is interested in owning Thomas with much enthusiasm and believes that he can secure Hit's funding for the deal. As Hit is lent the offer, Entertainment One, Viacom and Disney are all interested for buying Thomas. 

Any of you want to know who I think will be very realible to the little blue engine, would be Choiron. They have done a good job with the Mr. Men and other series and so would be faithful to Thomas, as Lord Alli shows.

Disney could prove, in my opinion, disastrous...

Episodes revealed for Season Fourteen, Week 3

Digiguide have revealed the third week of episodes for Season Fourteen in the UK.

Being Percy

Percy decides to imitate wise old Gordon in order to win the respect of the other engines.

Airs Monday October 25th on five and five HD at 8:35am.

 

Thomas' Winter Wish

Thomas is given the very important job of delivering the Star of Knapford.

Airs Tuesday October 26th on five and five HD at 8:35am.

Thomas and the Hats

Thomas is anxious to help the children find some hats for their snowmen, so he decides to borrow some without asking permission first.

Airs Wednesday October 27th on five and five HD at 8:35am.

Thomas' Crazy Day

The Fat Controller enlists Thomas to teach the silly Logging Locos how to be useful, but he has already promised to play a game with Percy...

Airs Thursday October 28th on five and five HD at 8:35am.

Jumping Jobi Wood

Thomas is ordered to collect some precious Jobi wood from Misty Island, but chaos ensues when Old Wheezy starts throwing the logs around.

The third seems like a mixed bag. Thomas stars in four episodes while Percy and Gordon appear in the first. I am already concerned at the number of episodes that Thomas is getting this season as it seems as though he already has 7.

Let's just hope that the last week will be a positive and at least have Thomas in 1 episode, not 5 hopefully!

More to follow on the fourth and last week...

Season Fourteen of Thomas & Friends premieres on five and five HD in the UK on Monday 11th October 2010 at 8:30am

Thomas earns a No.1 every year

Thomas has officialy reached worldwide sales of £1 billion a year.

In an exclusive article by The Sun, more information is revealed that add up to the £1 billion goldmine. His tales are broadcast to more than a billion households in 185 countries each week. He has sold 98 million videos and DVDs as well as 200 million books.

The Sun even goes as far to mentiont that there have been 336 episodes and 14 television series of Thomas & Friends.

At the end of the article, a tagline reads, So there's no sign of Thomas hitting the buffers for a long time to come.

 

Let's hope not.....

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

Hartshorne showcases Thomas songs

Current Thomas & Friends composer Robert Hartshorne has showcased his Thomas music by showcasing four of his songs on his official and updated website.

The songs are the music videos from the 2009 CGI era to the present 2010 year, where you can now see the full 3 minute version of Go, Go Thomas from Hero of the Rails, minus some instruments.

Also presented is a 1 minute extract of Roll Along also missing some background music, presuming that it must be a draft version, although to me, the echoing vocals at the beginning does give it some edge.

The two recent 2010 songs from the Misty Island Rescue DVD The Fat Controller Song and Misty Island Rescue can also be seen.

All songs appear as their music videos minus the lyrics, funnel and the bouncing cloud.

WATCH ROBERT HARTSHORNE'S THOMAS SONGS

Stars in attendance for MIR premiere

Recognisable faces attended the UK premiere of Misty Island Rescue at Leicester Square on October 2nd 2010.

Perhaps the most highest profiled attendee appearing with his wife and children was former cabinet minister David Miliband, whom I did see a glance of him through a window inside the Vue cinema. Sadly, that's all I got to see of the celebs.

Singers Beverley Knight and Javine Hylton also appeared with their children along with actors Rupert Graves, Tricia Penrose, Holby City's Tina Hobley and Former Eastender Jill Halfpenny.

Presenter Kirsty Gallacher, author Jason Bradbury, radio DJ Zane Lowe and weatherwoman Emily Maitlis also joined in on the celebrations. Even The Fat Controller himself was there, who I luckily got to see!

CHECK OUT WIREIMAGE'S GALLERY FROM THE PREMIERE.

'Christmas Express' episodes revealed

The bbfc have confirmed the episodes that will be appearing on the upcoming Christmas DVD for the UK.

The episodes will comprise of 6 from the Steve Asquith era of Thomas from 2004-2007, before the CGI entered the series;

- Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough
- Don't Tell Thomas
- Keeping Up With James
- Skarloey the Brave
- Thomas' Frosty Friend
- Henry's Lucky Day

The DVD will run at a duration of 61 minutes also confirmed by the bbfc, although a cover has yet to be revealed.


Christmas Express hits UK DVD shelves on November 8th 2010.

Episodes revealed for Season Fourteen, Week 2

Digiguide have revealed the second week of episodes for Season Fourteen in the UK.

Henry's Health and Safety

After a chat about the meaning of health and safety, Henry sets about interfering with everybody's jobs.

Airs Monday October 18th on five and five HD at 8:35am.

Diesel's Special Delivery 

 

Diesel swaps his dull load of slate for a haul of shiny red apples in order to please Sodor's schoolchildren.

Airs Tuesday October 19th on five and five HD at 8:35am.

Pop Goes Thomas 

Thomas is amused by the popping sounds coming from his load of lemonade, but when he delivers the cargo he discovers that the bottles are empty.

Airs Wednesday October 19th on five and five HD at 8:35am.

Victor Says Yes

Victor bites off more than he can chew when he agrees to fix almost every engine on Sodor on the same day.

Airs Thursday October 20th on five and five HD at 8:35am.

Thomas in Charge 

The Island Inspector pays a visit to Sodor, but Thomas's ambitious plans to impress him lead to chaos and flying coal trucks!

Airs Friday October 21st on five and five HD at 8:35am.

The second week looks promising. We now know that Henry will get two episodes counting the one for that upcoming US DVD, Diesel gets his own episode and so does Victor. Fingers crossed for more promises...!

More to follow on the third week...


Season Fourteen of Thomas & Friends premieres on five and five HD in the UK on Monday 11th October 2010 at 8:30am