Series 5

Thomas & Friends (previously known as Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends) is a children's television series about the engines and other characters working on the railways of the Island of Sodor, and is based on The Railway Series books written by the Rev. W. Awdry.

This article lists and details episodes from the fifth series of the show, which was first broadcast in 1998. This series is narrated by Michael Angelis for the U.K. audiences, while Alec Baldwin narrated the episodes for the U.S. audiences.

Stories
The show's staff had decided since Series 3 that most of the best stories of The Railway Series had been adapted, the rest involving too many new characters or closely resembling previous stories.[1] With Series 5, the decision was made to write a full series of original, staff-written stories. One reason for this was producer Britt Allcroft's desire to create a theatrical Thomas the Tank Engine movie, and requested that director David Mitton show off his modelling skills.[2] Series 5 aired in 1998, and the movie Thomas and the Magic Railroad was released two years later.

Some inspiration for the stories came from a former LMR manager named David Maidment. In 1997, Maidment met with Steven Wright about the possibility of supporting the Railway Children charity, and while Wright told him the series' staff commonly received such requests, they would consider. During their meeting, Maidment relayed stories about his railway experiences working in South Wales and as the manager at Crewe station. Days later, Maidment received a call asking if he would allow some of his stories to be used as material – the stories from The Railway Series were frequently based on true events, and Allcroft and Mitton preferred this. Maidment agreed, and was also asked to review each story to make sure that the railway in the show operated realistically. As a result, Maidment received writing credit alongside Allcroft and Mitton. 10,000 pounds ($14,406 in U.S. dollars) was donated to the Railway Children for his work.[2]

These stories are amongst those adapted: Additionally, "A Better View for Gordon" was based on a famous incident at Gare Montparnasse in 1895.[2]
 * "Baa!" – a ram invades a railway station and attacks some vandals; additionally, the idea of a "Best Kept Station" competition.
 * "James and the Trouble with Trees" – rain erodes an embankment, causing a tree to slide down and stand upright on the tracks.
 * "Double Teething Troubles" – a British Rail Class 17 diesel stalls while banking a train.
 * "Gordon and the Gremlin" – bathwater in a luxury coach splashes around the compartment.

The design for each new character would be chosen by David Eves, and given to David Mitton for approval.[1]

Filming
Mitton shot 2,700 slates for Series 5, the most of any of the series he shot for Thomas. Stock Footage Theme Music From Season 3-4.[2]

Broadcast
Previously Thomas had only appeared in the US as a segment on the TV show Shining Time Station, but Series 5 aired in the US as part of the half-hour Storytime with Thomas program. Each episode would include a new Series 5 episode narrated by Alec Baldwin, an episode of Britt Allcroft's Magic Adventures of Mumfie, and a Series 4 episode narrated by George Carlin, with music videos and footage of Day out with Thomas in between. A Britt Allcroft Production

Episodes

 * 1) Cranky Bugs Britt Allcroft And David Mitton
 * 2) Horrid Lorry Britt Allcroft And David Mitton
 * 3) A Better View For Gordon
 * 4) Lady Hatt's Birthday Party
 * 5) James And The Trouble With Trees
 * 6) Gordon And The Gremlin
 * 7) Bye George!
 * 8) Baa!
 * 9) Put Upon Percy
 * 10) Toby And The Flood
 * 11) Haunted Henry
 * 12) Double Teething Troubles
 * 13) Stepney Gets Lost
 * 14) Toby's Discovery
 * 15) Something In The Air
 * 16) Thomas, Percy And Old Slow Coach
 * 17) Thomas And The Rumours
 * 18) Oliver's Find
 * 19) Happy Ever After
 * 20) Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday
 * 21) A Surprise For Percy
 * 22) Make Someone Happy
 * 23) Busy Going Backwards
 * 24) Duncan Gets Spooked
 * 25) Snow
 * 26) Rusty And The Boulder

Characters

 * 1) Thomas
 * 2) Edward
 * 3) Henry
 * 4) Gordon
 * 5) James
 * 6) Percy
 * 7) Toby
 * 8) Duck
 * 9) Oliver
 * 10) Bill and Ben
 * 11) Stepney
 * 12) BoCo
 * 13) Mavis
 * 14) Skarloey
 * 15) Rheneas
 * 16) Duncan
 * 17) Rusty
 * 18) Annie and Clarabel
 * 19) Toad
 * 20) Terence
 * 21) Bertie
 * 22) George
 * 23) Caroline
 * 24) Harold
 * 25) Sir Topham Hatt
 * 26) Lady Hatt
 * 27) Stephen Hatt
 * 28) Bridget Hatt
 * 29) Mrs. Kyndley
 * 30) The Firelighter
 * 31) The Little Boys
 * 32) Sir Handel (music video cameo)
 * 33) Jem Cole (not named)
 * 34) Farmer Trotter (not named)
 * 35) Peter Sam (does not speak)
 * 36) Henrietta (does not speak)
 * 37) Donald and Douglas (cameo)
 * 38) Trevor (cameo)
 * 39) Big Mickey (cameo)
 * 40) Jeremiah Jobling (cameo)
 * 41) The Vicar of Wellsworth (cameo)
 * 42) Refreshment Lady (cameo)
 * 43) Nancy (cameo)
 * 44) Farmer Finney (cameo)
 * 45) The Storyteller (cameo)
 * 46) The Butler (cameo)
 * 47) The Crovan's Gate Policeman (cameo)
 * 48) The Tailor (cameo)
 * 49) Duke (portrait cameo)
 * 50) Bulstrode (faceless; cameo)
 * 51) Diesel (music video cameo)
 * 52) Class 40 (music video cameo)
 * 53) Tom Tipper (music video cameo)
 * 54) Queen Elizabeth II (music video cameo)
 * 55) The Policeman (music video cameo)
 * 56) The Stone-dropping Boys (music video cameo)
 * 57) The Barber (music video cameo)
 * 58) The Careless Cleaner (music video cameo)
 * 59) The Ffarquhar Stationmaster and his Family (music video cameo)
 * 60) The Quarry-master (music video cameo)
 * 61) The Injured Sailor (music video cameo)
 * 62) S.C. Ruffey (deleted scene cameo)

Characters introduced

 * 1) Old Slow Coach
 * 2) Cranky
 * 3) The Horrid Lorries
 * 4) Old Bailey
 * 5) The Special Visitor
 * 6) Mrs. Kyndley's Daughter
 * 7) Tiger Moth's Pilot
 * 8) Derek (not named)
 * 9) 'Arry (not named)
 * 10) Dowager Hatt (not named)
 * 11) The Lighthouse Keeper (not named)
 * 12) Bert (does not speak)
 * 13) Bertram (does not speak)
 * 14) Rusty's Ghost Engine (does not speak)
 * 15) Thumper (does not speak)
 * 16) Butch (does not speak)
 * 17) Tiger Moth (does not speak)
 * 18) Harry Topper (mentioned)
 * 19) Boulder (does not speak)
 * 20) Special Express Coaches
 * 21) Sir Topham Hatt Blue Car
 * 22) Snowploughs

Trivia

 * This season marks the first of a couple of things:
 * The first season in which Bulgy does not appear since his introduction in the third season.
 * The first season since returning in the fourth season in which Daisy does not appear since her introduction in the second season.
 * The first season in where Class 40, Duke, Smudger and Bulstrode do not appear since their introductions in the fourth season.