NEED TO KNOW
- Thomas & Friends is celebrating 80 years of the beloved character and his stories
- PEOPLE has a first look at the never-before-seen 1983 pilot episode of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends
- Thomas fans everywhere can view the pilot on YouTube beginning Friday, May 9, at 1 p.m. ET and participate in other fun anniversary activities by listening to podcasts, bidding in auctions and more
Thomas the Tank Engine has been a beloved constant for kids for 80 years!
In celebration of eight decades of Thomas and his friends, which began with Wilbert Awdry’s The Railway Series and evolved into a global entertainment phenomenon centered on the beloved blue engine, Thomas & Friends is opening up the archives to fans in a special way.
Thomas & Friends is releasing the original, never-before-seen 1983 pilot episode of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends on YouTube for the first time ever. PEOPLE has a sneak peek at the special episode, which also features a never-before-heard voiceover by Ringo Starr, who narrated the original series and starred in its spin-off, Shining Time Station.
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The episode, titled “Down the Mine,” began filming in April 1983. The episode features a cheeky Thomas joking around with friends, only to feel embarrassed about his behavior when he later needs someone to help him out of a sticky situation.
The pilot was pieced together and digitized from 40-year-old 35mm film trims. Thomas & Friends has rebuilt both the picture and sound to show everyone what the very first test shoot looked like.
Mike O’Donnell, who served as series composer from 1984 to 2003, also created a new bespoke musical arrangement for this special episode.
After a number of unsuccessful attempts to bring Thomas’ stories to television from the 1950s to the 1970s, it was producer Britt Allcroft — who died in January 2025 at the age of 81 — who would ultimately succeed. The British television producer read books from The Railway Series as she prepared to work on a railway-related documentary. She was struck by the stories and what they could offer children.
It took years of fundraising for Allcroft to secure the television rights to the series and move forward with production. In 1983, all the pieces came together and thus, the pilot was created.
That’s not the only celebration in store. There are eight new Thomas & Friends Storytime podcast episodes, each highlighting a different theme from the brand’s 80-year legacy.
Each episode will feature special guests who have been integral in the history of Thomas, spanning illustrators, writers, directors and more. These guests will talk about their places in Thomas history, as well as help along a full retelling of a classic Thomas story. These new episodes are set to debut on May 12 and will be released weekly, wherever you listen to your podcasts.
For collectors and the most diehard fans, there’s also a special anniversary auction that will put pieces of Thomas history into the hands of the public.
When it was announced in 2008 that Thomas & Friends would move into a new age of CGI, some of the show’s engines and props went on display around the world. Those that were packaged up and sent to storage are now in need of loving homes.
To celebrate 80 years of the legacy of Thomas, Thomas & Friends is teaming up with Propstore to host an online charity auction. The auction will open to bids worldwide beginning May 12, featuring around 200 items, from vehicles and figurines to animals and buildings.
The auction, proceeds from which will support the National Autistic Society, will include set pieces like Topham Hall, character models used in episodes and promotional materials, sketches and character pieces including Sir Topham Hatt and Lady Hatt.
A key part of the franchise’s legacy has been the star power behind it. Adding to the excitement, Olivia Colman, Eddie Redmayne and Hugh Bonneville, longtime fans and former Thomas & Friends narrators, will be personally signing select auction items.
“Reaching our 80th anniversary is an exciting milestone that highlights the timeless appeal of Thomas & Friends and the joy it’s brought to generations,” said Roberto Stanichi, Executive Vice President of Hot Wheels and Global Head of Vehicles & Building Sets, Mattel.
“As part of the celebration, we’re thrilled to unveil 40-year-old archival footage — offering a nostalgic nod to our past while inviting fans to rediscover the brand in a fresh, new way. This milestone is both a reflection of our history and a renewed commitment to engaging our community as we look to the future.”
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