Thomas & Friends (formerly Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends) is a British children's television series, first broadcast on Anglia Television in September of 1984.

It is based on The Railway Series of books created by the Reverend Wilbert V. Awdry. These deal with the adventures of a group of subanthropomorphised trains and road vehicles who live on the fictional Island of Sodor. The books were based on stories Awdry told to entertain his son Christopher during his recovery from measles. Many of the stories are based on events from Awdry's personal experience.

During the 1980s, the television rights were sold to Britt Allcroft, who started producing the television series. It premiered in the UK in 1984. The show has been narrated by Ringo Starr (1984-88), Michael Angelis (1991-07), George Carlin (1991-96), Alec Baldwin (1998-02), Michael Brandon (2003-07) and the upcoming series will be narrated by Pierce Brosnan.

Many businesses have been eager to cash-in on the world-wide popularity of the series. 'Thomas'-themed merchandise has appeared in almost every form imaginable, from books and magazines, through vast series of models, to duvet covers, cutlery, soft drinks and even spaghetti shapes.

Heritage railways have also benefitted from the series. "Day Out With Thomas" events, where passengers are given the chance to ride on full-size trains pulled by Thomas or his friends, provide a considerable source of income, and attract those who might not otherwise visit the railway.

omas: Do you smell a smell? nie: I can't smell a smell.

rdon: [James is about to go on the turn table] Take care. You might stick too. mes: No fear, I'm not as fat as you.

omas: Well bust my buffers!

rrance: I'm Terrance, I'm plowing. omas: I'm Thomas, I'm pulling a train. What ugly wheels you've got. rrance: There's not ugly. They're caterpillars. I can go anywhere. I don't need rails. omas: I don't want to go anywhere. I like my rails, thank you.

r Topham Hatt: Stephney, it appears saving you from scrap has become a habit. Please stop it.

rdon: Disgraceful! mes: Disgusting! nry: Despicable!

uck and Percy have left Thomas at the smelters and are idling at the station before going to watch the fireworks] ck: It was wrong of Thomas to tease you, Percy. rcy: It's okay. He was only playing. I hope he hurries up. I wouldn't want him to be late for the fireworks. homas, after having been spooked rockets by the two engines and out of sight] omas: He's after meeeeee! ck: [to Percy] I don't think he'll be late.

homas careens down the track with a jet engine propelling him from behind. Up ahead at the crossing gates waits Bertie] rtie: Want a race Thomas? homas, in a flash, speeds by] rtie: Never mind.

r Handel: [Gordon talked Sir Handel into pretending he is sick, causing Peter Sam to have an accident] I'm sorry about your accident. I always stand well back. Cars don't like me. ter Sam: Why didn't you warn me? r Handel: I didn't think. r Topham Hatt: You never do. You can start thinking now while you're doing Peter Sam's work as well as your own. That'll teach you to pretend you're ill! Narrator: Sir Handel did start thinking... about Gordon.

r Topham Hatt: No passengers means no polish. ncan: [to himself] No polish means no passengers!

nald: It's tae leave ye behind, I'd be wanting! eak Van: You can't; I'm essential! nald: Och aye! You're nothing but a screechin' and a noise when all said and done! Spite Dougie, would ye? Take that! umps Van] eak Van: Oh - oh, oh! rrator: The van behaved better after that!

esel: Your Worthy Top... ck: Sir Topham Hatt to you! esel: Your worthy Sir Topham Hatt thinks I need to learn. He is mistaken. We diesels don't need to learn; we know everything. We come to a yard and improve it. We are revolutionary. ck: Oh? If you're revo-thing-amie, perhaps you would collect my cars while I collect Gordon's coaches.

ck: [Diesel shunts the wrong cars for Duck] Thank you for arranging these, Diesel. I must go now. esel: Don't you want this lot? ck: No thank you. esel: [Gulps] And I've taken all this trouble. Why didn't you tell me? ck: You never asked me. Besides, you were having such fun being rev- whatever it was you said. Goodbye! [Leaves] esel: Ruugh! Gruugh! Ruugh!

oublesome Trucks: [to "Pop Goes the Weasel"] Cars waiting in the yard / Tacking them with ease-el / "Show the world what I can do" / Gaily boasts the diesel / In and out he shrieks about / Like a big black weasel / When he pulls the wrong cars out / Pop goes the diesel!

nald: It's tae leave ye behind, I'd be wanting! You're nothing but a screechin' and a noise when all said and done. Spite Dougie would ye? Take that! SPITEFUL BRAKE VAN: Oh - oh, oh! DONALD: There's more coming, should ye misbehave! eak Van: You can't; I'm essential! nald: Och aye! You're nothing but a screechin' and a noise when all said and done! Spite Dougie, would ye? Take that! [Bumps Van] eak Van: Oh - oh, oh! rrator: The van behaved better after that!

mes: Anyone would think that Donald had had his accident on purpose! uglas: I heard tell about an engine and some tar wagons. mes: Shut up! It's not funny! uglas: Well, Well, Well! Surely, it wasnae you, James? Ye didnae say!

oublesome Trucks: [Chasing Duck down Gordon's hill] Chase 'im! Bump 'im! Throw 'im off the rails!

oublesome Trucks: Oliver's no use at all / And thinks he's very clever / And Says that he can manage us / That's the best joke ever / When he orders us about / With the greatest folly / We just push him down the well / Pop goes old Ollie!

rdon, James, and Henry: [Gordon, James, and Henry are blocking the entrance to the shed] Get out! ck: Stop fooling! I'm tired. rdon, James, and Henry: So are we. We're tired of you. We like Diesel. We don't like you. You tell tales about us to the trucks. ck: I don't! rdon, James, and Henry: You do! ck: I don't! rdon, James, and Henry: You do!

ncan: Haunted bridge? Rubbish! It's as tame as a pet rabbit.

rdon: Duck called me a galloping sausage! mes: Rusty red scrap iron! nry: I'm old square-wheels! r Topham Hatt: Well, Duck? ck: I only wish, sir, that I'd thought of those names myself. If the dome fits... rdon, James, and Henry: [Sir Topham Hatt coughs] He made cars laugh at us! rrator: Sir Topham Hatt recovered - he'd been trying not to laugh himself.

icket Team: [after losing the ball in one of Stepney's Trucks] Our one and only ball!

nry: [the other Engines hear all about Oliver's Tale of escaping scrap] Amazing! mes: Oliver has resource. rdon: And sagacity. rcy: What does that mean? omas: I think it's about being clever and wise. rdon: He is an example to us all!

ulgy the double decker bus is Wedged underneath the bridge Duck has to cross] lgy: Stop, it might fall on me! ck: That would serve you right for telling lies.